Hi guys,

After a failed attempt to run on the Mt. Vernon Trail this morning, I found out information where we can complain about the complete lack of snow removal on the trails. I just sent an email, but it would be great if everyone put a complaint in. Until the ice melts (and it will take weeks), we won't be able to use the trail, unless the responsible parties decide to do their part and clear the trails, if only partially.

Here are the sites where you can register your complaints:
-Mt. Vernon Trail: http://www.nps.gov/gw... (click on "send email" -- the whole link gets corrupted once I post it on meetup...)

-Capital Crescent Trail & C&O Canal (DC side): http://www.nps.gov/ch... (Apparently, those trails have fallen branches and trees blocking the way -- snow removal will not be sufficient, a complete clearing of the trail needs to be done to make it useful).

-W&OD Trail: http://www.nvrpa.org/...

You can read more about this here: http://www.thewashcyc...

Carla

Thanks Carla....just put in my two cents on the NPS site. Good call.

Katy

Received a reply from NPS today, concerning snow removal on the Mt. Vernon Trail:

"I understand your concern regarding the Mount Vernon Trail. By way of background, it was built as a multi-use trail which included winter use such as cross country skiiing. The bridges are all wood construction; only
shovels and snow blowers can be used to treat the trail. Unfortunately, our trail crew is now down to one person (we had five at one time). Our lawyers have advised us that if we begin to treat the trail in any
location, we will have to treat the entire trail on a daily basis. Clearly, we don't have the workforce to support that kind of effort. We have requested additional resources to perform snow removal, but because of the inconsistent nature of the requirement, I am not optimistic that this request will be approved.

I realize this is not the answer you were looking for, but at least you have know why it is not being done.

Dottie P. Marshall
Park Superintendent"

I got the exact same reply. And the "our lawyers have advised us that if we begin to treat the trail in any location we will have to treat the entire trail" is BS. The same way that city prioritizes streets, there's no reason why a trail, that is used as transportation by many (myself included during the spring/summer), can't be handled the same way.