Condition of North Shore Channel Trail?

Does anybody know the current condition of this trail? Is it plowed during the winter months? Would you recommend that I use it or is it better to use Kedzie riding in from the north  this time of year? I am heading to a destination not far from Julie's this weekend. I know that Ravenswood is an option and will keep it in mind. I was just wondering about the trail. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on March 7, 2014 at 4:11pm

David - I'm not sure about the entirety of the trail, but I do see stretches of it on my daily commute to work. From Golf on down to Howard, it's plowed decently. From Howard to Devon, it's OK, except from where the street hits the trail. Further south than that, you're on your own. 

Regarding using Ravenswood - may mercy be had on your soul, should you decide to use it. I live on Ravenswood and this has been one of the worst years I've ever seen for potholes. The city has been neglecting this street for at least 3 years. 

Permalink Reply by Fran Kondorf on March 7, 2014 at 5:36pm

Yeah, what is it with that stretch northbound after Bryn Mawr? I love all the nice flora and fauna but there oughta' be a community 'Pothole Party' as soon as the weather breaks. ;)



Lanterne Rouge said:

Regarding using Ravenswood - may mercy be had on your soul, should you decide to use it. I live on Ravenswood and this has been one of the worst years I've ever seen for potholes. The city has been neglecting this street for at least 3 years. 

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on March 8, 2014 at 5:00am

And to be honest, I'm not even sure why the city allows it to languish. Perhaps they don't know that Ravenswood is more heavily traveled than they think it is? Oddly, it's in mostly passable condition through virtually all points south of Bryn Mawr (discounting a few spots north of Lawrence, from construction.)

Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on March 8, 2014 at 9:21am

I have a feeling the trails are not cleared. I was around Busse Woods today, and saw the trail was pretty decimated. I am going to assume the same conditions are the same for all nearby trails, i.e. North Shore Channel and North Branch. Hopefully it melts soon.

Permalink Reply by Charlie Short 2.9 on March 8, 2014 at 10:01am

I rode it yesterday and while it's "clear" there's a lot of black ice from run-off. I only ride it from Devon to Lawrence, but you can use the ped trails between Foster and Peterson to avoid the patches of ice. California and Kedzie are decent alternates, but neither are perfect, and Kedzie has a TON of potholes.

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on March 9, 2014 at 12:08pm

I just got back from riding the trail from the same points Charlie did. Due to today's slight warm-up, there was a lot of slush to muck through. Better that than black ice, I suppose. However, as Charlie noted, there was still a lot of black ice from runoff - underpasses are worse off. I wish I would have had my phone on me for a quick pic; the huge freeze from the runoff of the foster underpass looks like a frozen waterfall. Pretty cool, but very treacherous. I was going to use the trail to commute to work in Glenview tomorrow, but I'm still not thinking it's ready for prime time yet.

Permalink Reply by Fran Kondorf on March 9, 2014 at 1:44pm

That Foster underpass ice sheet was the site of my only spill this season. "Oh, I can make it- keep it steady..., stay upright..., steady..., *BAM!*" Lesson learned.



Lanterne Rouge said:

I just got back from riding the trail from the same points Charlie did. Due to today's slight warm-up, there was a lot of slush to muck through. Better that than black ice, I suppose. However, as Charlie noted, there was still a lot of black ice from runoff - underpasses are worse off. I wish I would have had my phone on me for a quick pic; the huge freeze from the runoff of the foster underpass looks like a frozen waterfall. Pretty cool, but very treacherous. I was going to use the trail to commute to work in Glenview tomorrow, but I'm still not thinking it's ready for prime time yet.

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on March 9, 2014 at 2:20pm

Oof. I was cruising at a nice speed when I spotted that last minute. I tip-toed ever so carefully across those in my MTB shoes and I STILL almost took a spill. Unless you've got studded tires, you're going down. 

Fran Kondorf said:

That Foster underpass ice sheet was the site of my only spill this season. "Oh, I can make it- keep it steady..., stay upright..., steady..., *BAM!*" Lesson learned.



Lanterne Rouge said:

I just got back from riding the trail from the same points Charlie did. Due to today's slight warm-up, there was a lot of slush to muck through. Better that than black ice, I suppose. However, as Charlie noted, there was still a lot of black ice from runoff - underpasses are worse off. I wish I would have had my phone on me for a quick pic; the huge freeze from the runoff of the foster underpass looks like a frozen waterfall. Pretty cool, but very treacherous. I was going to use the trail to commute to work in Glenview tomorrow, but I'm still not thinking it's ready for prime time yet.

Permalink Reply by Melissa Manak on March 9, 2014 at 4:09pm

Devon to north its pretty clear, puddles for sure.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on March 10, 2014 at 2:33am

I did not bother with the trail south of Devon. I took California in and Kedzie out. I did take the trail from Devon to Main. It was fine. During the warmer weather Sunday the snow melt had put water on the path but the water was just that, water. This may ice up over the next couple days. The path goes behind a parking lot between Touhy and Howard and there were some slushy sections there where I got off the bike. I might not have had to do that if I simply rode through the parking lot.

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