This page is like an open bulletin board. Reports posted here are not checked for accuracy and may no longer apply. Please contribute by emailing reports about conditions or accidents on any part of the CCT or Interim CCT to waynep@silverspringtrails.org. Full names and email addresses will not be posted.

Watch out for poison ivy on the CCT:

Watch for poison ivy when crossing fallen trees: After two trees fell across the trail on June 22, just north of the 7 mile marker, many cyclists carried their bicycles over the fallen trees. One cyclist who carried her bike over the trees reported that she developed a rash on her arm about two days later. The rash worsened and was diagnosed as poison ivy. The cyclist urges all trail users to watch for poison ivy on the trail, both on the ground and in fallen trees. Click here for more information about poison ivy on the trail.

WTOP Report on July 2 head-on accident:

WTOP reports at Head-on collision grim reminder of bike safety that two cyclists were hospitalized after a serious accident on the CCT on Friday, July 2. One of the cyclists, Jay Roberts, is quoted in the article: "A cyclist just emerged from behind them," Roberts says. "I had basically no time to even touch my brake. It was almost out of nowhere, I was like, 'Where did this guy come from?"

WashCycle blog reported this earlier here, and that post drew over 40 comments from cyclists reacting to the story.

We can all agree with this statement in the WTOP report: "Police remind cyclists to signal their intention to pass by calling out or using a bell, passing only on the left, and moderate their speed depending on traffic."

Wednesday, June 23:

- from 'John'

"Riding from Bethesda at 0610 [a.m.], there were two trees down across the CCT about 15~20 feet apart just north of Mile marker 7.0."

[This has been reported to the NPS and they will send a crew out ASAP to remove the trees. Trail users can report urgent trail maintenance problems on the D.C. portion of the CCT to NPS directly at mike_seibert@nps.gov. - Webmaster]

Wednesday, June 16:

- An Accident Report, from 'Ron'

The regular Tuesday night PPTC ride down the trail and back was upbound and a few hundred feet north of the Canal Road overpass when one of the riders went down. It was painful enough to see the rider, [...edit], go straight down onto his hip, absent of any further forward motion, roll or sliding, but seeing the pain in his face afterward was worse. He passed out breifly due to the pain, but CCT regulars include so many professionals, he was being tended to by two biking physicians within a minute or two. We heard sirens less than a minute after a 911 call. As usual, other users were all very helpful, and respectful of the situation.

The 911 operator couldn't seem to deal with "Capital Crescent Trail" though, they needed a set of crossroads. Arizona Avenue Bridge meant nothing to them either. I finally suggested to the guy making the call to tell them C&O Canal ... that worked (we need to work on that issue). The fire department on the other hand knew to park at the corner of Arizona and Canal and climb the steep footpath to the bridge. They were quick and professional, and carried [...edit] back down the steep path to the road. Traffic on Canal Road, on the other hand, didn't appreciate the fire department's presence.

The cause of the accident was bikes riding too close to one another. It could have been any of us. I nearly went over the embankment trying to avoid hitting him. There was a contributing factor though. Plant growth along the DC portion of the trail is tall, thick and broad, and encroaching on the trail. The travel lanes are narrowed as a result. This causes everyone to ride further from the outer edges. This situation also worsens the impact of a blind curve between the hill and the bridge. I heard that there had a been an accident on the curve on Monday night.

[...edit] spent the night in a lot of pain, and is undergoing surgery today for a broken hip (screws and plates). I hope to see him later this week, but I doubt we'll see him on a bike anytime soon.

Again, this was caused by bikes too close to one another riding socially (not paceline), but it was a bad accident nonetheless in one of the CCT's more dangerous stretches.

Wednesday, June 16:

- from webmaster

Lost - a brand new black Iphone with a rubber protective cover, lost by "Tracy" about two weeks ago on the CCT between Bethesda Ave. and River Road. If you find it, contact us at contact@cctrail.org.

Wednesday, May 26:

- from webmaster

Montgomery County Parks Maintenance staff report they will be doing repairs to a bridge on the Little Falls Trail beginning next week. The repairs will require detouring the Little Falls Trail traffic to cross the Capital Crescent Trail at-grade.

Please be alert to trail crossing traffic near the Little Falls Trail, north of the Dalecarlia Tunnel and near CCT milepost 6.0.

Friday, May 21:

- from Scott

"Noting the issues of electric bikes in previous posts, I too encountered a shockingly fast, silent electric bike Thursday morning (May 20th) at 6:22am at Fletcher's Boathouse on the CCT. I was riding from Georgetown to Bethesda and as I glanced up, I noticed a bike light in the appear in the distance, heading towards Georgetown. I returned my focus to a spot 25 feet or so in front of my front tire, a couple of seconds later I was startled to see the bike already within my field of vision and then passing in the opposite direction. The "rider" was wearing a yellow jacket and the bike appeared to be all black with a small rack over the rear tire, the bike was easily in excess of 25mph. Had I made a left turn based on my initial view of the bike, I would have turned directly into his path. This is a recipe for disaster, I have the US and MC Park Police numbers on speed dial now- "

Tuesday, May 18:

- from 'Steve'

"Heading towards Bethesda, near the Delcarlia Tunnel, around 5:30PM, I was passed by a motorized bike going in excess of 25mph in a posted 15mph zone. This could have been the same vehicle I reported the other day but this time the operator was wearing a yellow/green reflective jacket."

"The speed of the motorized bike going 30mph in a 15mph zone is comparable to a car going 100mph in a 50mph zone, the difference is, people are pushing baby strollers on the same surface as the motorized vehicle."

"For many years the trail has been a refuge from motorized vehicles, it is now becoming an expressway for motorized vehicles, they are annoying, dangerous and illegal. We should not have to beg for the law to be enforced."

Saturday, May 15:

- from 'Gail'

Bike accident May 13, 2010

"I was involved in a collision with another cyclist on Thursday May 13 near the Georgetown head of the CC trail. I blacked out and the other gentlrman did as well. We were both taken to GW Hospital via ambulance."

"Someone at the accident scene took our bikes for safe keeping. From what I was told it was someone from the boat houses or the townhouses by the head of the trail."

"I understand that my bike was toast but I would like to get it bake because I had a "keep it rolling plan" which would replace the bike. I'm not sure I can take advantage of the program without the damaged bike."

[webmaster - email us at contact@cctrail.org if you can help recover the bike.]

Wednesday, March 31:

- from 'Simon' at 11:41 a.m.

"Trees all cleared"

Friday, March 26:

- from 'Simon'

"Friday night 730pm: tree was still there"

- 9:17 a.m. from 'Paul'

"...there's a huge tree down across the trail just inside the dc border, where the trail bends the curve around the delecarlia reservoir... it requires lifting bikes a good two feet or so of the ground to get over it... and of course there's the usual twigs and small branches this morning that one would expect after a night of rain and high winds.."

Friday, March 19:

- 12:20 p.m. from 'David'
[about yesterday's "bust", below]

"Incidentally, the officer had clocked him traveling "in excess of 25 mph." He was writing up a ticket (for a fine or warning I don't know) when I arrived. I had phoned in and warned the police when the guy passed me just past Georgetown, so they were ready for him. A couple of other cyclists apparently stopped while the guy was pulled over and gave him of piece of their minds as well."

"If you continue to see this guy traveling at an excessive speed on the trail, please phone him in. The MC Park Police will respond. Be sure to note that he's the same guy who was stopped on March 18, because the officer also spotted another motor-equipped bicycle that did not appear to be speeding or endangering anyone."

Thursday, March 18:

- 7:56 p.m. from 'Michael'

"The Montgomery County Police caught the speeder at about 5:30 pm, just north of the Dalecarlia tunnel."

- 9:25 a.m. from 'David'

"Regarding the speeding motorized bicycle I wrote about in a recent posting: The Montgomery County Park Police are going to post officers on the trail between the water treatment plant and the Mass. Ave. bridge starting today or tomorrow to catch the reckless speeder. If you spot him, call the MC park police at 301-949-3010. It's important that we get this person off the trail."

- 11:24 a.m. from 'Jim'

"I encountered the same hybrid heading north on the CCT after the tunnel traveling at a rate of at least 25 mph on Tuesday, 3/16, around 5:30. It appears he has a predictable commuting pattern."

Wednesday, March 17:

- 9:20 a.m. from 'Simon'

"Trail is fantastic."

Tuesday, March 16:

- 11:40 a.m. from webmaster:

A MCDOT work crew was on the trail at 10 a.m. and had cleared the downed tree near the country club. They were working their way west toward the Bethesda Tunnel and trimming bamboo back as they went, so the bamboo that partially blocks the trail should be gone soon. The mud reported by 'Simon' below remains, however.

- 11:17 a.m. from 'Simon':

"Trail is in pretty good condition from Silver Spring to G'town, with the exception of Connecticut to Bethesda. Some serious mud and a downed tree in the vicinity of the country club, and still some partial blocking of the trail with bamboo. Clueless joggers are your biggest hazard however."

- 10:28 a.m. from 'Jeff':

"Cycled from Little Falls to Georgetown this morning (about 6:00 a.m.) and there was no flooding. Some trees were down along the side of the trail, but did not block the trail by much, just along the sides."

Monday, March 15:

- 11:55 a.m. from 'Nick':

"The CCT was clear from Bethesda to Water Street (no flooding) as of 8:45. There's a tree down 200m from the Air Rights Building tunnel on the Georgetown Branch, but it's easily passable. Finally, someone did some more bamboo trimming, so about 1/2 the trail is available at the big downfall instead of a little footpath."

- 8:42 a.m. from 'Simon':

"The river has flooded but levels are not as bad as forecast, and I have seen people coming down K street from the CCT."

- flooding alert:

WashCycle has this alert from the National Weather Service:

THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 12.8 FEET BY TOMORROW EARLY AFTERNOON. THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE LATE TUESDAY MORNING.
AT 12.0 FEET, WATER WILL BEGIN TO INUNDATE THE C&O TOWPATH, ALONG THE MARYLAND SIDE OF THE RIVER.

DOWNSTREAM IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AT WISCONSIN AVENUE, the tidal and freshwater components will combine to produce a 11 to 12 ft high tide monday morning. water levels will remain above 10 feet through the day. at 10 ft, water approaches k street in Georgetown. at 10.5 ft water approaches independence ave at 17th street and the George Washington memorial parkway at the railroad bridge north of Reagan national airport.

The CCT may be flooded at the Georgetown end at Water Street. Do not try to ride through moving water.

- from 'Jeff' on the electric bike:

"I saw him too - Tuesday, Mar 9th. approx. 5:40pm going up the hill. Bat out of Hell pretty much describes him."

Friday, March 12:

- on a moving hazard, from 'David':

"Please alert your members of the following:

I just began commuting this week on the CCT between River Road and Georgetown, and twice on my afternoon commutes I've been passed from behind by a motor-assisted bicycle traveling northwest at a very high rate of speed. I've just reported him (I believe its a male) by phone to both the U.S. Park Police and Montgomery County Park Police. I encourage anyone else who encounters this person to do the same. He is extremely dangerous.

The bicycle appears to be a hybrid, not a racing bike, with a rear rack that appears to have a very large battery pack or motor of some sort attached to it. The person is pedaling at a moderate rate but traveling very fast--perhaps 25 to 30 mph. The electric motor is silent and he doesn't signal, so you don't know he's coming until he flashes by you. Both times I encountered him I was bicycling on an upgrade at about 12 mph, and he overtook me and passed me like I was standing still.

Sightings:

Monday, March 8, at around 5:30 p.m. on the hill approaching Massachusetts Avenue. He appeared to leave the trail there.

Thursday, March 11, at 5:20 p.m. in the Palisades area just south of the water treatment plant.

U.S. Park Police: 202-619-7300
M.C. Park Police: 301-949-3010

Thank you.

Thursday, March 11:

- 9:24 a.m. from 'Simon'

"There is evidence that some bamboo along the trail [east of the Bethesda tunnel] has been cut, probably by the owners of the properties: cut stalks, stacked up bamboo. The main bamboo barrier, however, is still in place."

Wednesday, March 10:

- 8:55 p.m. from 'Simon'

"I was riding back this evening, in the dark, but it seemed that some of the bamboo was cleared."

- 11 a.m. from webmaster

The CCT is now all clear, with only a thin strip if ice remaining on the centerline for a few feet between mile 5.5 and 6.0.

The Interim CCT (a.k.a. Georgetown Branch Trail) still has this -

Interim CCT at the Town of Chevy Chase on March 10, 2010

This section of downed bamboo is several hundred yards east of the Bethesda Tunnel, where the Interim CCT borders the Town of Chevy Chase. There is only a narrow, muddy path clear at the lip of the drainage ditch.

This has been reported to the County, but since the MCDOT maintenance budget for trails was completely eliminated earlier this year it is very uncertain whether the County will respond.

'Simon' sends this: "...is there any interest in a bamboo clearing party on the weekend? I have cut bamboo in the past and know that it can be pretty difficult to clear. What suggestions do people have for clearing a large amount? Is it better to slash with a machete, or is saw better: I'm not interested in keeping the stuff, just laying it waste."

Monday, March 8:

- 10 p.m. from 'Simon'

"I rode back this evening. Lots of bikes. Snow is disappearing, but still some patches, and some very muddy sections. The fallen bamboo near the Bethesda tunnel is crazy: can you imagine this being allowed on the DC roads? Anyway, thanks for the reminder to be considerate and take turns, especially where it is single track only. I would add: slow down!"

- 12:45 p.m. from 'David'

"I rode the CCT from Jones Mill Rd to Bethesda this morning. There are 2 bad stretches:

- Ice covering the trail for about 25 feet just west of Connecticut Ave
- Bamboo trees down for about 100 feet just east of the Wisconsin Ave tunnel

I had to dismount and walk around these two areas. Other than that, the trail is in great condition."

- 11 a.m. from webmaster

Rode from Georgetown to S.S. this morning. Georgetown to Bethesda is clear except for the patch of ice between mile 5.5 and 6.0, where there is a section of about 100' where there is only a single track clear, requiring courtesy to take turns.

Looking north between Mile 6.0 and 5.5.

Bethesda to Stewart Avenue on the Interim CCT (a.k.a. Georgetown Branch Trail) is as Simon describes - several short sections between Bethesda and Connecticut Avenue still with ice and/or down bamboo. I was on a hybrid bike and still felt it wise to dismount.

- 9:40 a.m. from 'Simon'

"Rode from SS to G'town this morning. A few patches of ice, branches, bamboo. The worst area is between Connecticut Ave and Bethesda. However, you can ride the whole way on a Mountain Bike without dismounting."

Saturday, March 6:

- 6 p.m. from 'Ron'

"For anyone going down to the VASA ride Sunday morning via the trail, you'll find the trail to be mostly clear and quite manageable."

- 5 p.m. from 'Jon'

"Rode from Silver Spring, via CCT at Jones Mill road, to DC and back this morning. The trail is bike-able. Few short icy stretches between SS and Bethesda required brief walking (couple yards at most), then clear rest of the way."

- 4 p.m. from 'Judy'

"Re Friday's efforts to clear some of the ice and snow between miles 6 and 5.5: Another trail user (who, it turns out, has done lots of shoveling of the trail this winter) came by, and we were able to clear a single lane. The surface was too packed down and icy for us to clear half the trail, as I'd originally hoped. But with consistently warmer temperature and sun over the next few days, things should open up."

- 12:30 p.m. from webmaster

The Interim CCT (a.k.a. Georgetown Branch Trail) has several short stretches that are still covered with ice from side to side. One, just east of the Bethesda Tunnel, also has bamboo down that is blocking much of the path. Two more sections are at the Country Club. Cyclists must dismount and walk through these sections. The ice is thick and in shade, so it is unlikely the ice will melt within a day or so, even with the warmer weather.

The remainder of the trail is clear enough for cycling to the end at Stewart Avenue. The surface is not as muddy as is sometimes the case this time of year. Overall the trail is OK for cycling, even with the several dismounts at the short icy sections.

Looking west between the Bethesda Tunnel and East-West Highway.

Friday, March 5:

- 6 p.m. from webmaster

'Nancy' just posted on WashCycle that the CCT now has a clear path continuous from Georgetown to Bethesda: "Yesterday I went to check it out and there was still a long swath north of the tunnel that was completely covered with snow, but someone must have gone out yesterday or today and shoveled a bit."

See below to see who to thank for that.

- 1:30 p.m., from 'Judy'

"I'm leaving now with two snow shovels to go to the trail (will be there approx. 1:45) if anyone else is available to help try to clear a path. Will start just uphill from milepost 6 (heading toward milepost 5.5). If we can clean half the trail, it will be easy sailing from Georgetown to Bethesda Ave except for a short section at the overpass near Little Falls Pkwy."

- Ron Tripp forwards this report he found from 'D. Nadine' on "Babes on Bikes"

"I biked on the CCT today and it was really pretty good. I had to walk over one big snowy patch and a smaller one - maybe 100-150 feet total (I could make it passable with a shovel in an hour... and I was fantasizing about doing that the whole time I was walking my bike over it.....) There are other passable snowy patches that I had to ride between carefully (like tightrope walking, but not that bad.) The snowy patches are (as usual) between the tunnel under MacArthur and River st."

"But really I would not hesitate to ride the CCT. I walked for lesss than 5 minutes. I had an appointment in Bethesda & I wasn't even late! Oh, and all fallen trees have been cleared - as on the Custis (which by the way is REALLY clear now!)"

- 10 a.m., from 'Mark'

"Rode the CCT from Chain Bridge (Mile 7) to Little Falls Road (Mile 4) as part of my commute this morning. Only a couple of short stretches between Mile 5.5 - 6.0 where it is edge to edge snow. With decent mountain biking skills, even those can be ridden. Otherwise, there is at least a footpath width of clear pavement, often almost totally clear."

Thursday, March 4:

- noon, from 'Toros'

"Rode from Silver Spring to DC today around noon. Two bad stretches. One, by the Columbia country club, before the Wisconsin tunnel. Other, between the two overpasses [between Mile 5.5 and Dalecalia Tunnel]. Most of the time, if there is snow and ice, there is a narrow path to ride on. Once [in D.C.] the trail is clear."

- 10 a.m. from 'Anny'

"I ran from Bethesda to Mile Marker 9 at about 10, and the Montgomery Cty portion of the trail is definitely improving. Except for the half mile from mile marker 5.5 to mile marker 6 (just above the tunnel), there's at least a foot-wide track on almost the entire distance. That half mile is mixed, parts are okay, others are still not runnable, at least without YakTrax, or ridable."

Tuesday, March 2:

- 10 a.m. from 'Paul'

"'rode' the trail this morn from bethesda to dc... the contempt that our government has for its bicyclists is on full display... the worst part is again the half-mile or so north of the macarthur tunnel, much of which requires walking over ice and snow... much of the remainder of the maryland side back to bethesda has a thin line of pavement apparently worn there by walkers and can be handled by a combination of walking and riding slowly, assuming nobody is coming the other way... a few trees remain down, partially blocking the trail in spots... the dc side is fully clear, though the surrounding evidence suggests that's the result of natural forces not any actual plowing..."

Sunday, February 28:

- 9:40-11:55 a.m. from 'Mark'

Saturday, February 27:

- 11:30 a.m. from webmaster

- 9 a.m. from 'Art'

"Wisconsin Tunnel to Rock Creek Trestle:
From the tunnel to Connecticut Ave, mostly hard, packed snow, very uneven surface, similar to Mark's mile 4.0 photo. I ran it in Yaktrax. There are occasional stretches where the edge of the trail is clear.
From Connecticut to Jones Mill Road is plowed and completely runnable/bike-able.
Jones Mill to the trestle has a clear edge most of the way.
East of the trestle appears to be hard, packed snow, very uneven surface, similar to Mark's mile 4.0 photo. (But I didn't run much past the trestle itself.)"

Help us by reporting trail conditions to webmaster@cctrail.org.