Potomac River Run - 5K

Date: Saturday January 1, 2011
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Reston Town Center
Notes: January 1st Potomac River Running conducting a 5k on the trail from Reston Town Center down to Sallie Mae / American Dream Way bridge and returning to the Town Center. About 300 participants (maximum)

Trail mostly clear from Sunrise Valley Dr to Vienna

We took a brief walk along the trail today near Sunrise Valley Dr and it appeared to be mostly clear. A cyclist coming from Vienna reported that it was clear from that direction. The photo at the right was taken just east of Sunrise Valley Dr where the trail is shaded. Even there a narrow clear area is present, where the NVRPA truck drove over the snow.

NOTICE for Dec 2 evening trail users!

From the FABB Blog:

Open season December 2 - Fairfax County police will be conducting a "deer
culling" operation adjacent to the W&OD Trail at Clarks Crossing Road where the
soccer fields are located. According to signs posted there, the trail will be
closed on December 2 from 5pm to 5am. As we all know, the trail is officially
closed after dark but many people use it in the Fall and Winter for traveling
between Reston and Vienna.

For more information about the W&OD Trail see the W&OD Trail Report, the Friend
of the W&OD Trail site or the NVRPA W&OD Trail page.

Update - 12:30pm Nov. 30: I just spoke with a county wildlife biologist who
stated that the trail will be closed at 5pm on Dec. 2 and that police will be
using rifles to shoot deer in the area. Cyclists will not be able to get
through, from approximate Clarks Crossing Rd to Hunter Mill Rd. See the Fairfax
County bike map for alternate routes.

Labels: NVRPA, W and OD Trail
posted by Bruce Wright at 11:24 AM #

Trail reopens west of Leesburg

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) is pleased to announce the two-mile stretch of the W&OD Trail between mile markers 36 and 38 west of Leesburg has been re-opened for public use.

This portion of the trail was closed to the public in December of 2009 to enable Dominion Virginia Power to install an underground transmission line. The Park Authority and Dominion worked together to ensure the trail would remain open during the year-long process by arranging the construction of a paved detour. The affected area started at milepost 36, approximately 3/5 of a mile west of the Route 7 trail crossing.

Trail repaving

Beginning November 30th the trail will be repaved starting in the Isaac Newton / Private Drive section of Reston and heading east to Hunter Mill Road. Total time for this project will be approximately two weeks (assuming no weather issues). The trail will be detoured onto the horse trail and signs deployed alerting trail users. As time/funds permit other sections of the trail will be addressed as well. Future projects include paving from Hunter Mill down to Vienna Train station, paving west of Reston into Herndon, and a small stretch near Broad Run Bridge (mile marker 24.5) where the pavement is sloughing off.

Thanksgiving day 5k run

Giving Thanks 5K Run

Date: Thursday November 25, 2010
Time: 8:00 am - 10:00 am
The run will have a maximum of 100 people. It will utilize the trail from Vienna Station to Clark's Crossing.

Construction on cut-through near Washington Blvd.

Be advised that the cut-through that links the W&OD to 19th St. near East Falls Church has ripped up pavement, down to mud. Some have ridden through, but be prepared to dismount if conditions warrant.

Optimist Club Walk

Date: Saturday September 25, 2010
Time: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Vienna - Clark's Xing
Notes: Saturday September 25th the Vienna Optimist Club will conduct a walk from the Vienna Train Station / Caboose area out to Clark's Crossing Park and returning to the station/caboose. They will begin around 8 AM and conclude by 1 PM. There will be approximately 250 people for this event.

MS Capital Challenge Walk

Date: Saturday September 25, 2010
Time: 6:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Vienna - Arlington
Notes: Saturday September 25th the MS Capitol Challenge Walk will be conducted from Vienna to Arlington from 6 AM to 4 PM. The MS walk will begin off of the trail and the MS folks will enter the trail around Park Street/Talahi Road area in Vienna and walk east and leave the trail in Arlington (Lee Highway area). There will be approximately 500 people for this event.

Tree work west of Leesburg

Bartlett Tree Company will be out along the trail in the area from Purcellville to Loudoun County 4H Fairgrounds to cut down dead trees, broken branches, etc. They started yesterday and will finish by late next month (September). They have been educated in trail etiquette and will have signs/flagmen stationed to guide trail users around the work area. In some areas the entire trail will be blocked; in such instances trail traffic will be detoured onto the horse trail. Forward this email along as necessary and let me know if you have questions. Thanks,

Karl Mohle
Park Manager
W&OD Railroad Regional Park
21293 Smiths Switch Road
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 729-0596 - office
(703) 724-0898 - fax

Pacific Blvd. Bridge Dedication

Date: Wednesday August 25, 2010
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Pacific Blvd. Bridge over the Trail, just west of Rt 28.

Beltway Bridge Construction

The NVPA reports: "As part of the Capital Beltway HOT Lanes project, the new W&OD Trail bridge over the Beltway is under construction on the north side of the existing trail bridge. The existing bridge and trail will remain open during construction. Currently, on both sides of the Beltway, bridge abutment walls are being constructed next to the existing bridge and trail. PLEASE USE CAUTION WHILE IN THESE WORK ZONES. The bridge beams are scheduled to be installed in October and the bridge deck is scheduled to be installed in November. Once the new bridge is open to trail users, the existing bridge will be removed."

Reston Bike Club Century

Date: Sunday August 22, 2010
Time: 6:30 am - 5:30 pm

Location: eastbound W&OD Leesburg-Reston
Approximately 1200 riders start at Reston Town Center. The portion of the W&OD used for this event is from Grace Street in Herndon to Ashburn Road (westbound leg) and returning from Leesburg to Reston Town Center via trail in its entirety (eastbound leg).

WEATHER WARNING & INFORMATION

The following information was provided by the Boy Scouts National Capitol Area Council thru the Trail Patrol

A heat advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. Drink plenty of fluids... stay in an air-conditioned room... stay out of the sun... and check up on elderly relatives and neighbors. Never leave children or pets unaccompanied in a parked vehicle - even with the windows cracked. An excessive heat watch means that a prolonged period of hot temperatures is expected.

Watch for signs of dehydration! The simplest way to check for dehydration is to check urine color. It should be clear or very pale yellow. If it begins to darken in color, fluid intake should increase. (Note: If you've increased water intake -- but thirst, headache or other symptoms persist -- check with your doctor. It might simply be that a fluid containing electrolytes is needed to restore a normal balance. It could also be that some other underlying cause requires medical attention.) Remember: if you try to drink a large amount of water all at once, your kidneys will simply flush the excess fluid by sending you to the bathroom. It's better to drink regular amounts of fluid throughout the day. Each morning, pour the liquid you need to drink and make sure that by the end of the day, it's gone. That way, you won't forget how much you've already had.

Mild Dehydration: (increase fluid intake -- and for babies, call a medical professional): Thirst, dry lips, dry mouth, flushed skin, fatigue, irritability, headache, urine begins to darken in color, urine output decreases.
Moderate Dehydration: (call a medical professional): All of the signs of mild dehydration, plus: skin doesn't bounce back quickly when pressed, very dry mouth, sunken eyes, (in infant - sunken fontanel, the soft spot on the head), output of urine will be limited and color of urine will be dark yellow, cramps, stiff and/or painful joints, severe irritability, fatigue, severe headache.
Severe Dehydration: (call emergency number): All of the signs of mild and moderate dehydration, plus: blue lips, blotchy skin, confusion, lethargy, cold hands and feet, rapid breathing, rapid and weak pulse, low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, high fever, inability to pee or cry tears, disinterest in drinking fluid.

Signs of Heat Cramps, Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke

Experts say that adults with heat exhaustion should stop the activity, move into a cool environment, remove excess clothing and drink hydrating liquids (NOT coffee, tea, sodas or juice!). They say that adults with heatstroke, however, are suffering an emergency. Their body needs to be cooled with ice packs or immersion in cold water, and immediate and professional medical attention must be called. We say: Don't take chances. We believe that any sign of moderate to severe dehydration should be promptly attended to and medical professionals called -- especially in particularly vulnerable populations like babies, children, anyone with an illness, and seniors. If you're in doubt, please call for help. No competent medical professional will mind being called for help with a possible case of moderate to severe dehydration, heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Heat Cramps: brief but painful involuntary muscle spasms. They usually occur in the muscles being used during the exercise, and are a result of insufficient liquid intake
Heat Exhaustion: difficulty breathing, headache, feeling hot on head and neck, dizziness, heat cramps, chills, nausea, irritability, vomiting, extreme weakness or fatigue
Heatstroke: rapid and shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, unusually high or low blood pressure, lack of sweating, mental confusion and disorientation, unconsciousness, physical collapse

Temporary closures in August

DULLES CORRIDOR METRORAIL PROJECTIntermittent Closures of W&OD Trail Expected Early August as Rail Bridge Construction AcceleratesThe section of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail beneath the Dulles International Airport Access Highway and the Dulles Toll Road near Reston will be closed for short periods during several weeks in August.The closings are necessary because Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project construction crews will be ramping up work on the new bridge that will carry the rail tracks, which will run in the median of the airport and toll roads, over the trail. Crews have been working on the bridge for several months and trail users have encountered some detours.During the first week of August, crews will start site preparations for hanging and placing large steel girders on the ridge over the trail. The girder placements are currently scheduled to begin on or about Tuesday, Aug. 10.The steel girder erection work will be done during daytime hours because there are overhead power lines at this work site that would be difficult for workers to see at night.The trail will only close temporarily when the steel girders are lifted and installed. Closures are executed to last approximately 15 minutes or less for each girder.The affected section is located between Wiehle Avenue and Hunter Mill Road, where it crosses under the Dulles International Airport Access Highway (DIAAH) near the trail's mile marker 16. Because the future Metrorail line will run down the median of the DIAAH, this bridge is being built to support the tracks over the W&OD Trail.After the erection work is completed, crews will be building the bridge itself. Most of that work will be done at night and will require full closures of the trail. A schedule will be released later this fall and the work is expected to be completed before Thanksgiving.

Ride to Provid--Sunday July 18

Opening ceremony is at 11:00 at the Reston Town Center . The 35 mile ride leaves at 11:15 and the 20 mile leave at 11:30. Rides will be going from Reston to Columbia Pike and back or some portion thereof.

Civil War Hike--July 17, 2010

Civil War hike from Wiehle Avenue to Hunter Mill Road. About a dozen participants from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Friends of the W&OD 10K –July 31, 2010

On the W&OD Trail from Old Vienna Train Station to Hunter Mill Road & back
6:30 pm – 10K –Run or walk

6:31 pm – Baby Stroller Division non-competitive 10K

Attack on Trail

There was evidently an attack on a female runner on the trail today west of the 22.5 marker in Sterling. The attacker was described as wearing a Motley Crue t-shirt and having both a ponytail and a goatee. Police were notified.

Sinkhole at Brandymore Castle

There's a sinkhole on the W&OD trail at Brandymore Castle, east of East Falls Church, in Arlington.  The hole is on the east side of the hill and has been marked by cones. 

Arlington Parks and Rec is aware of the situation.  There's been maintenance work on the lights along that stretch of trail over the last few months but no word if that's the cause.

Stay safe.