Lakefront Trail Conditions 2/7

I rode the Lakefront Trail this Sunday morning (2/7) from Ardmore to 51st St.

The Trail conditions range from dry pavement in many places to a sheet of ice in others. Please use caution when riding the Trail at this time. Hopefully the sun will melt some of the snow and ice that is on the Trail and the Park District will plow and salt these areas as well.

Areas of particular concern include ice completely covering the Trail north of Fullerton around the Theater on the Lake. I took a spill in this area today.

Snow and ice are also covering both the hard surface and soft surface Trail south of Fullerton.

The Oak Street Bend is actually in not too bad of shape. I walked a short bit of the Bend where the ice was at its worst but was able to ride on the walkway next to LSD from the Bend to Ohio Street. The walkway was completely free of snow and ice.

Snow and ice cover the Trail at a number of other locations as well, including a really bad spot around 33rd Street (where the trail bends to the west as you travel south) as well as:

• around 50th Street
• just south of McCormick Place
• next to the Revetment construction south of Belmont
• Near Irving Park
• several sections between Hollywood and Ardmore

Where the Trail was completely covered with snow and/or ice, I was able to ride on the grass around these areas.

Lakefront Trail Conditions 1/20

We have not had warm enough weather yet to melt the significant ice just south of Fullerton or around the Oak Street Bend. The dirt path to the west of the Trail, just south of Fullerton, is firm and in good condition for a brief detour in that area.

The Oak Street Bend to Ohio Street alternative is typically Inner Lake Shore Drive via the Oak St. and Ohio St. underpasses. Both underpasses are in good shape.

The only other ice between Ardmore and Museum Campus is north of Foster. That ice, however, is patchy and if you are careful and ride in a straight line over the brief icy sections, it is passable.

Lakefront Trail Conditions 1/11/10

The Lakefront Trail had a fresh layer of salt from Ardmore to Foster, which should help to melt some of the remaining ice on that section of the Trail. Bare pavement was present from Foster to Oak Street except for one small section between the Totem Pole and where the Trail crosses Recreation Drive. Snow covers the Trail in this area, which is on a curve, so it is potentially dangerous for that 25 or so foot section.

The Oak Street underpass is snowy and icy but I was able to ride it this Monday (1/11) morning without dismounting.

Lakefront Trail Conditions 1/4/10

I rode the Lakefront Trail this Monday afternoon from Ardmore to Jackson. From Ardmore to Foster the Trail has spots with ice but is passable with caution. From Foster to Oak Street, the trail has dry pavement.

The Oak Street Bend is covered with snow and ice. I took the Oak St. underpass to Inner Lakeshore Drive to the Ohio St. underpass. Both underpasses were in good shape. The Trail south of Randolph has some sections of ice that were also passable with caution.

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