[Nadine]

Hi — Nadine here. Sorry, I haven’t got checking the WABA forum in my daily habits yet…..
BTW it’s a lovely rare spring day. I guess most of you guys are probably out already, but if anyone wants to ride this afternoon, please lmk! email might work faster — pearbeck@aol.com.

I hafta go to farmer’s market first, so probably be able to ride by 1:30-2

Nadine

[Nadine]

I’m planning to come & hoping to arrange to caravan with at least one other person afterwards, a little on the early side.

Looks like a fair number of people are talking about bike caravaning back on the Custis trail. ANyone want to do that at ~ 6:30-7?

The woman-alone-at-night thing sometimes grabs me by the shirt and shakes me. I have been known to blow off plans because of it. So I’m more likely to go and actually be able to relax and have a beer (if they have a good IPA on tap ) if I know I have at least one for pretty sure person to ride back with….. I see that both organizing Steves live near me, but I bet they’re not leaving before 8….

Nadine

[Nadine]

I’m so proud of myself — I shoveled the Custis trail today! I started out with a friend at 1:40 on the snowy part of the path near COurthouse/Claredon, and later made an impromptu shoveling brigade with these other 3 people and shoveled all afternoon. The trail is passable now — though just one lane near Clarendon/COurthouse. There was water running towards us as we made our way back to our cars afterwards so watch out for black ice along the shoveled areas — esp. in the morning when it’s colder. It’s supposed to get into the 40s all week, so midday & afternoons should be fine. If your plowing friend has a chance it would be good to plow the other side of the trail so both lanes are clear and less melt and refreeze and black ice…

Also I have it from several people who were biking & walking on the path that the fallen trees have been cleared!

I hear that the CCT has been plowed in DC — but not in MD – and that the Mount Vernon trail is good. (DOn’t know if it;s been plowed since those earlier requests or the person who told me had only been on a bit of it.) I hear the W&OD is good in Arlington & Falls CHurch and then it stops….. and restarts later — basically Fairfax COunty didn’t plow, but other towns did, like Reston and Ashburn.

Thanks to Brad, NIco and Debbie for shoveling with me today — and Joan. Oh and for anyone else who goes out to shovel trails, I would advise you to bring extra shovels if you can. People were getting off their bikes and offering to help!!!

[Nadine]

I’m so proud of myself — I shoveled the Custis trail today! I started out with a friend at 1:40 on the snowy part of the path near COurthouse/Claredon, and later made an impromptu shoveling brigade with these other 3 people and shoveled all afternoon. The trail is passable now — though just one lane near Clarendon/COurthouse. There was water running towards us as we made our way back to our cars afterwards so watch out for black ice along the shoveled areas — esp. in the morning when it’s colder. It’s supposed to get into the 40s all week, so midday & afternoons should be fine. If your plowing friend has a chance it would be good to plow the other side of the trail so both lanes are clear and less melt and refreeze and black ice…

Also I have it from several people who were biking & walking on the path that the fallen trees have been cleared!

I hear that the CCT has been plowed in DC — but not in MD – and that the Mount Vernon trail is good. (DOn’t know if it;s been plowed since those earlier requests or the person who told me had only been on a bit of it.) I hear the W&OD is good in Arlington & Falls CHurch and then it stops….. and restarts later — basically Fairfax COunty didn’t plow, but other towns did, like Reston and Ashburn.

[Nadine]

@consularrider 213 wrote:

From my rides yesterday and today, it does not appear that any of the access trails to the W&OD or Custis Trails have been cleared. Since I live near one, I will undertake to clear it tonight. Any more volunteers?

I’m interested in shoveling the trouble spots on the Custis. I rode it today & it’s a lot more passable than I’d expected. I think it was plowed after that 2-3 foot snowfall we got around 2/6, but before the 6-10″ we got on the 11th-12th (I think I have the dates right.) There’s a good bit of snow between COurthouse and Spout Run — probably not higher than a couple of inches in any one place, and not more than 3-6 hours’ shoveling. Other than that area, there are maybe an hour’s worth of snowy/icy spots that could use a bit of cleanup, but they can be gotten around. I might work on it some tomorrow — but expect to spend more time on it on SUnday.

So — unfortunately it’s a completely different area from where you’re looking for volunteers…… but at least you know there are other people shoveling other bits of bikepath……

OH and the downed trees are a problem too. 5 trouble spots on the Custis. Two were obstructing the path almost completely — but I was able to get my bike under them. HOpe Arlington COunty can take care of them sometime — they’re usually great about that. Must be the same people who’ve been getting the snow……

[Nadine]

I took my bike out today for the first time since the big snowfall. I thought I’d have to bike on streets but it’s much clearer than that. I think it was probably plowed after the big snow and before the last 6-10 inch snowfall that happened a few days later. Now it’s mostly clear except for that place between COurthouse and Spout run that always holds snow. It’s more snow than I’ve seen there before, but it was short enough that it was worth walking for that stretch and staying on the trail as opposed to riding on streets — which really impressed me! Also, it’s only a couple of inches deep in the deepest places, and would only take 4-6 hours to shovel, all told. Besides that area, there’s probably less than an hour of cleaning up that could be done to make it nice in bits here and there — but not necessary. I’d like to get that snowy area cleaned though. I was itching to shovel it but didn’t have my shovel. ANyone interested in shoveling with me? (Or not with me…..doesn’t matter.) I have a little time tomorrow and more on Sunday. ANyone up for shoveling? I don’t know that it’s going to get done otherwise…..

This is a totally doable project — it’s less than a quarter the work that the Patrick Henry overpass was, and we did that…..

The only other obstacle on the Custis is the downed trees. Not sure what’s up with them; the county is usually totally on top of that….. if anyone knows who to contact to ask about it I’d love to know. Most are downed pine trees — and one bamboo patch near the Quincy st exit. Two of the downed trees obstruct the path almost completely. I had to crawl under them and was glad I had a helmet on when I did….

Nadine

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[Nadine]

@Unregistered 164 wrote:

For the Arlington trails (Custis & W&OB), I would be willing to shovel.

Maybe volunteer shovel brigades could get the job done? Of course, the snow might be frozen solid now and impossible to remove w/standard snow shovels.

I’d shovel. It won’t be frozen solid now — with these last few days in the 40s even the hard ice chunks have lost their punch. (I was able to shovel out a parking space today that was only vacant because it was a snow mountain — and all I had on me was a plastic child’s shovel.) We might be able to get a good bit of the trail done. Alternatively — I was thinking that if lots of people just went out and shoveled bits of the trail — really just whatever we feel comfortable shoveling, or have time to shovel — the counties might come in and finish the job. Even if they don’t it will help the melt, especially if we aim for the low-lying & shady spots, which melt last.

Definitely if anyone wants to start a shoveling brigade count me in. I started one on the sidewalks on the Patrick Henry overpass over route 66. We got one sidewalk done on President’s day, JUST in time for kids to walk to school the next day — and then I was halfway across the other side last Thursday when a county truck pulled over and told me they’d come do it. They were clearly embarassed – there I was all by myself with half a bridgefull of virgin snow in front of me….. I was enjoying myself, though, and not convinced they’d do it before Monday, so I kept shoveling. But they came! They came and trucked the snow away from the sidewalks on both sides of the overpass, on Friday and Saturday. It blew me away! And it reminded me — if the people lead, sometimes the county actually gets it together…… Maybe it looked like JUST TOO MUCH SNOW to deal with — but the sight of individuals shoveling put that into perspective. That could work for the paths too. I know we’re not a school, but I think i might be worth trying……

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