Madison Cap City Trail Plowed

[De Fietser]

As of last night, the 7 inches of ice was removed from the non-city section of the Capital City Trail in Madison. Not sure if they had to use dynamite to get through.

[jbmadtown]

Nice, maybe I'll take my mtb out for a spin this weekend.

[testtube]

Just found this thread...

My update:

Trail was plowed yesterday (12/16/2007) ~2p. Before I passed the plow I found a few icy spots (soft snow on top of slick ice) between Lake Farm and Southtown crossings.

Also, unless something has changed they are not plowing the short access trails. If you want to hop on the trail do it where it crosses or abuts a road. Though I did notice the access trail from the Dunn's Marsh parking lot (Seminole Hwy) was plowed this morning...

[De Fietser]

The Capital City Trail is plowed by D R S Ltd of Fitchburg. They donate all of their time and equipment in order to keep the trail clear. Their number is in the Madison Yellow Pages if anyone would like to call to thank them for their service to the bicycling community. Please don't call and demand that they plow the trail, as they have paying clients that require their attention as well.

Also, I just spoke to Dave at D R S to say thanks from the Bike Fed, and he indicated that there are times that he could use some help in the task of trail maintence. Typically, he needs someone to follow him around in the pickup if he's plowing with the Bobcat, and also could use a few shovellers as well. If anyone is interested in being part of the "Capital City Trail Volunteer Crew", please let me know.

By the way...8 wild turkeys on the trail last week. (the birds, not the whiskey!) Summer or winter, it's still a great way to get to work in the morning.

[testtube]

The Capital City Trail is plowed by D R S Ltd of Fitchburg. They donate all of their time and equipment in order to keep the trail clear. Their number is in the Madison Yellow Pages if anyone would like to call to thank them for their service to the bicycling community. Please don't call and demand that they plow the trail, as they have paying clients that require their attention as well.

I called to give thanks. I left a message for Dave to see what kind of help they will need. I was hoping to refer some friends for residential plowing but they only plow commercial properties. I was told that they do residential asphalt in the summer. Please keep D R S in mind if you need work on your driveway!

[jbmadtown]

Good info ^, thanks!

I just sent them an email thanking them for their efforts.

[testtube]

Update, 12/19/2007:

Been riding trail all week. Trail is still compact snow/ice with some bare pavement. It's in a condition where pedestrian traffic is not fouling trail. Some spots w/ small snow piles (4" deep by ~2' wide across trail), not much of a problem. ride-on.

[testtube]

Update, 01/03/2008:

(back from vacation!)

Rode this morning from Madison SW trail to Edenberry crossing. The trail is in good shape, light snow dusting on top of plowed/compacted snow, some bare pavement and ice.

Rode this evening eastbound from Glacial Valley Rd. Trail, again, is in good shape, light snow dusting on top of plowed/compacted snow, some bare pavement and ice. *BUT* one exception. The section that parallels E. Clayton Rd. from Cty MM to Larson Rd. is covered in 6+" of drifted/compacted snow and is impassible by bike. If you are riding the trail hop onto E. Clayton Rd between MM and Larson Rd.

Let me know if these updates help anyone, otherwise I can let this thread die...

[Wiswell]

tt,
This is great information, especially with the warmer weekend coming up that may knock down some of those piles and allow those without winter bikes like me to ride on them.

[testtube]

tt,
This is great information, especially with the warmer weekend coming up that may knock down some of those piles and allow those without winter bikes like me to ride on them.

Cool, if this information helps others I will update trail conditions as I observe them change. I ride the trail almost every weekday with the exception of the Edenberry to Glacial Valley Rd. segment(I *detour* to the office) but I usually do the complete trail on weekends. I do have a winter setup with studded 700x35 Nokian W106 so understand this is my reference point.

Update, 01/04/2007:
Looks like the a short segment 0.25 miles before (eastbound) Edenberry has some drifted snow from yesterday afternoon's wind, expect a short walk or detour (eastbound) from Seminole Hwy to Dawley Dr to Edenberry. (again note that I don't ride Edenberry to Glacial Valley Rd on weekdays).

[testtube]

Update, 01/14/2007:

Trail was plowed. Currently covered with a dusting of snow on top of pavement or ICE. If you're going to ride the trail do it with care. I rode it this evening and even with studs it was very slick.

[JPradun]

So who wants to have trainer parties?

[testtube]

Update, 01/16/2008:

Much better than 2 days ago. I don't know what cleared the ice, maybe sublimation...

From SW trail to Edenberry crossing: mostly compacted snow and some ice , a little pavement showing but not much

From Glacial Valley Rd. to Waunona Way: Much better than 2 days ago. I don't know what cleared the ice, maybe sublimation... Exposed sections are mix of clear pavement and ice. Covered sections are compacted snow and some ice.

[testtube]

Update, 01/18/2008:

D R S is still quick to clear the trail. After yesterday's snow the trail was clear this morning.

From SW trail to Edenberry crossing: Mostly compacted snow and some ice, little pavement showing. There's a 200 ft section of ~6" deep drifted snow between Seminole and Edenberry, soft, fluffy and rideable...

From Glacial Valley Rd. to Waunona Way: Mix of clear pavement and compacted snow/ice. No major snow drifting...

[testtube]

Update, 01/22/2008:

Trail is plowed. Rode this evening from Glacial Valley Rd. to Waunona Way, mostly compacted snow, some ice, some bare pavement. Minor drifting but nothing impassible.

[testtube]

Update, 01/26/2008:

Trail is plowed. Mostly compacted snow and ice, some bare pavement.

[testtube]

Teaser update, 1/29/2008:

Trail is (mostly) clear pavement, you have 3 hours to enjoy it!

[De Fietser]

2:03 PM 1/29/08 Update:

Bring your hockey skates.

[testtube]

Update, 01/30/2008:

Rode this evening from Glacial Valley Rd. to Waunona Way: Trail is covered with compact layer of wind blown snow. Not as icy as expected. No significant drifting with the exception of two 20 ft segments west of the E. Clayton and Larson Rd intersection.

tt.

[testtube]

Trail is not plowed.

Rode trail this afternoon at 4p. It's hasn't been plowed and there's ~2" of snow on the trail. Lots of foot prints (and bike tire tracks). I checked again at 11p and still not plowed. If you're in the mood the trail is mostly ridable with some drifting at the usual spot (just west of E. Clayton and Larson Rd.). It's significant enough that one may want to detour onto E. Clayton from between Cty MM and Larson.

[testtube]

Update, 2/3/2008:

The trail was plowed this morning. Compact snow and ice will greet you if you choose to ride it.

[testtube]

Update, 2/10/2008:

Trail is pretty much drifted over.

[recursive]

Update, 2/10/2008:

Trail is pretty much drifted over.

How could you possibly know that? I highly doubt anyone would go out and ride in these types of conditions.

[Wiswell]

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/272133

Should we be thanking testtube for this?

[testtube]

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/272133

Should we be thanking testtube for this?

Ha, maybe thank De Fietser. I didn't even know about the bridge until he mentioned it on our first weekend winter ride. This will be nice as they don't even clear the snow on the east side of Fish Hatch where the trail crosses. They plow the trail to a dead end with a nice 4' high snow bank along the road. They were even nice enough to dig out the walk button (which you can see if you're willing to climb the snow bank)

[testtube]

Update, 2/13/2008:

I've ridden the trail from the SW trail to Edenberry the past few days. It looks like the drifting from Sunday has been cleared but not the most recent snowfall. There are some soft spots, maybe 3-6" deep (not too many) with the rest of the tail covered in ~2" of powder. I will brave the rest of the trail tonight and report back. Those snow banks are getting high, starting to look like a bobsled run...

[testtube]

Updated Update, 2/13/2008:

Ridable from SW trail to ~100 yds. short of E. Clayton and Larson. One exception is eastbound from the McCoy/Hwy 14 intersection to where the trail leaves the road on E. Clayton. (Keep in mind I don't ride from Edenberry to Fish Hatch on weekdays)

Looks like the plow was unable to clear the drifting (~3'+) around E. Clayton and Larson. Eastbound from that intersection the trail has not been cleared since Sunday and is heavily drifted over. Going to need a Bobcat to clear that up.

[recursive]

Looks like the plow was unable to clear the drifting (~3'+) around E. Clayton and Larson. Eastbound from that intersection the trail has not been cleared since Sunday and is heavily drifted over. Going to need a Bobcat to clear that up.

http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/older_and_under/assets/bobcat.jpg

Glad to help.

[testtube]

Update, 2/15/2008:

Trail is entirely cleared. Looks like they brought in a BFT (big ******* truck) and cleared the drifts out on 2/14. Trail currently has light snow cover and not as hard packed as it's been in the past but definitely passable.

http://www.kunicki.net/~tom/pix/subzerobobcat.jpg

[testtube]

Update, 2/18/2008:

Trail has been cleared. One small exception is eastbound from Hwy MM until the trail diverges from on E. Clayton road. Almost all compact snow and ice. Drifting wasn't too bad at 8p but may be getting worse on the section paralleling Lakefarm Rd.

[lshiva]

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/273502

WED., FEB 20, 2008 - 11:06 PM
Who plows? Only the phantom knows.
GENA KITTNER
608-252-6139
gkittner@madison.com

He's known as the phantom plower.

For about seven years after every major snowfall, this Fitchburg man, who enjoys bicycling and says he just wants to give back to his community, quietly plows about 12 miles of the Capital City Trail, making it usable for walkers and bikers.

He remained so elusive that it took a county park ranger staking out the area to catch him.

"It took us a while to find out who was doing it," said Kevin Swenson, park manager for the Capital Springs Centennial State Park and Recreation Area, which includes the Capital City Trail.

He's hard to miss. An asphalt paving manufacturer and contractor whose company plows snow during the off season, he drives a bright red pickup with flames down the sides, equipped with a V-shaped plow.

He knew the county hadn't set aside any money for plowing the trail, so he decided to take a chance — to go ahead and plow — and "beg for forgiveness later."

And then it happened — David Strassman was caught in the act.

"I think I did it three years before I got caught," he said, remembering a park ranger on a snowmobile stopping him mid-plow about four years ago.

So he went through all the proper channels, signed some paperwork (mostly pledging to plow for the entire season and to carry liability insurance) and now it's a permanent, volunteer gig.

Now, once he's finished his commercial plow jobs, he hits the trail, clearing a path from the trail head at Verona Road to where it intersects with the John Nolen Path near Nob Hill Road. Sometimes when he's done he goes for a bike ride.

"It was a way for me to give back ... and I enjoy it too."

Swenson said it's not uncommon for people to volunteer on area trails but Strassman "has gone far and above any expectation that we could anticipate" — especially considering the record amount of snow this season.

Although several people and groups asked for assurances that the trail be plowed when it was built, the county hasn't funded that, he said. Conservatively, about 200,000 people travel the trail each year and it's used quite a bit by commuters in the winter, he said.

Now people depend on Strassman and his plow, and Swenson said he's even gotten calls from users upset when the trail hasn't been plowed immediately after a snow.

But "a lot of people don't know that there's actually a volunteer out doing it," Swenson said. When they do, they often offer to make a donation.

Strassman said he still enjoys the work, despite this season's abundance of snow.

"When you volunteer to do something, you don't quit because it gets hard," he said.

[Chances]

Holy crap that man is awesome.

[testtube]

Yes it is awesome... Dave really does put a lot of work into that trail.

I rode it last night. He had cleaned it up again on Tuesday to clear up minor drifting, it was in great shape. Right now it's a little slick and I took a nice fall after I was caught staring at the lunar eclipse.

It's just amazing that Dave keeps this resource available to us in the winter.

[Wiswell]

tt,
Do you think with two days of melting it will be reasonable clear (as in pavement) for Sunday? I'm thinking of going out on the road bike. I know it will be wet, but that's ok.

[testtube]

tt,
Do you think with two days of melting it will be reasonable clear (as in pavement) for Sunday? I'm thinking of going out on the road bike. I know it will be wet, but that's ok.

Keep in mind the trail is only surface plowed, no use of salt or sand, so unless the temperature is above freezing not much is going to happen. I last rode it Wednesday night and from Glacial Valley Rd. eastbound it was mostly a single sheet of ice w/o any pavement showing. I went down pretty hard even with my studded tires (Nokian W106, maybe a tire with a higher stud count would have been better). The ice seems to have gotten slicker over the week with wind and sublimation smoothing the surface out.

From the SW path the Edenberry (possibly to Fish Hatchery but I haven't ridden this) there is compacted snow on the trail which helps with traction. From Glacial Valley Rd to Nob Hill the trail was plowed on Tuesday which removed the snow cover, this is the segement where you'll find the slick surface.

Looks like Sunday will barely get above freezing but I think that might make the trail a little trickier for those w/o studs. The ice is thick enough where it maybe water on top of ice considering the short duration of the thaw...

I will report back tonight after my ride tonight...

<edit>
oops, forgot about that big yellow ball in the sky, maybe it will help...
</edit>

[stahr]

Dunn's Marsh will be horrible when it does melt. Back in January where we had the week of 40 degree weather, it caused that portion of the trail to be as deep as the snowbank - which at the time was about a foot high. Right now that same snow bank is at over 3 feet. It's not likely to thaw that much this weekend, but there will be lots of flooding when we get a few days of sun and above freezing temperatures.

[Wiswell]

CC still crappy, I assume? I don't mind getting a little wet, I just want solid ground.
The path along John Nolen is starting to look better.
I don't care if there is snow on the ground, I just want it off the roads and paths!

[Shanana]

The east isthmus part of the CCT (part of my commute) was still covered in bumpy ice this morning. It's going to take a few days of warm temps to clear that up. If the plow fairies have their thinking caps on, they'll hit the path with a plow this afternoon when things are softened up.

By the way, last Sunday, the John Nolen and south CCT paths were worse than my section of path.

[testtube]

SW to Edenberry was plowed and is compacted snow on top of ice. One nice stretch of pavement just before Seminole going west.

I haven't done the whole loop since Tuesday. The ice was starting to clear up some, maybe after the weekend thaw it will be in better shape.

Haven't been riding much as I tweaked my back on some ice sliding out while riding last Wednesday (a week ago but it's getting worse... ?!). It's all good unless I turn right... I guess I have a should keep riding the SW/CC loop counter-clockwise...

[testtube]

Trail is in good shape. Looks like Dave brought out the heavy equipment when the trail was soft. It's almost all clear (light snow dusting tonight) where there's sun exposure and compact snow and ice in areas w/o much exposure. The problem spots by Dunn's marsh were cleared out and the snow banks pushed back (on Monday my feet were underwater, yow...).

[stahr]

I saw Dave (or someone) with a Bobcat clearing the trail at Dunn's Marsh yesterday morning. But I didn't see any toe warmers.

[Wiswell]

Good stuff. I may try giving this a slow/cautious try on Tuesday.

Specifically, how do things looks from the Madison trailhead (South Broadway, give or take) down to a bit past the Dane County Park (Lussiter Center?) and that electrical substation? I imagine after that point those shady areas won't quite be fit for me.

[testtube]

Good stuff. I may try giving this a slow/cautious try on Tuesday.

Specifically, how do things looks from the Madison trailhead (South Broadway, give or take) down to a bit past the Dane County Park (Lussiter Center?) and that electrical substation? I imagine after that point those shady areas won't quite be fit for me.

It's basically all clear from Nob Hill Rd. to Lussier Center/Lake Farms park. Then westbound to Glacial Valley Rd. the longest iced up section you'll find might be about 50 yards long. I would expect slick tires would have issues westbound from Fish Hatchery Rd to the SW trail. I can report more tomorrow evening...