JWPT Take 2! - Day 3

After spending a lovely night in Thorp by the Yakima River, being able to clean up in the river and dry out our gear we had a conversation about how far we wanted to continue down the trail or not. Nick felt he had experienced the trail and knew that farther down the trail it was not going to get any smoother or easier.  We decided to ride a short distance to Ellensburg and would then turn around to head home.

The day was cool and grey with off and on sprinkling, mistiness that eventually became constant rain. After Ellensburg we turned around and headed back towards home, but the trail and weather was kicking our butts. We took a brief break and ate at Smokey's BBQ which was delicious! Back on the trail, as we left the canyon leading back towards Cle Elum, we decided to divert up onto the road and ride the road for a ways to give our bodies a break. The road was quite challenging, but we managed to make it to Lake Easton where we set-up camp in one of the small bike camp sites. Whether you are headed West or East, this is a great campground to stop at! Bike campsites can be directly ridden to after registering at the ranger station and there are lovely hot showers that you can purchase tokens for.  We definitely took advantage of this as we were frozen and soaked when we reached Lake Easton.

Trail riding notes: to reach Lake Easton's campground from the trail (not road riding like we did!) watch for a brown trail sign off to the left (if you are heading East)/right (if you are heading West) indicating a very small trail that leads you through the forest [if you reach the large trestle over the Yakima River in-flow to Lake Easton you've gone too far (heading East); short trail is very shortly past trestle on the right (heading West)]; the trail takes a sharp left hand turn after 0.3 miles and continues on for another 0.4 miles where it will make a right hand turn onto old US Hwy 10. You'll travel on this road for 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Lake Easton State Park Rd to register at the ranger station. They will provide you with a map to the bike campsites and shower tokens are available for purchase.  Whether you are heading East or West the next day simply follow these directions in reverse to return to the JWPT.

Memorable moments: Wind, rain, fog = freezing! Rode the road a bit which felt so good on our derrieres. Met 2 ladies walking a section of the trail. Met a guy riding since July 10 from Newport to Plummer to Tekoa to Issaquah and home again due to an article he read about the trail closing. HOT SHOWERS at Lake Easton!! Lovely Smokey's BBQ where we ate a delicious meal. Decided not to ride through Ellensburg, turned back at the trail sign.

Wildlife sightings: Hairy woodpecker, 2 HUGE turkey vultures in a snag, 5 bear scat, 1 ground squirrel, Cedar Waxwings eating Saskatoon berries, 8 deer (1 was a buck), Quail coveys, Bald eagle flew over our camp in the morning

Vital stats:

35 trestles

16 gates

2 tunnels

41.83 miles

ATM = 5:41:27

MXS = 21.6 mph

AVS = 7.3 mph

Nick's GPS:

43.1 miles

Camp to Ellensburg = 5.26 miles one way

Ellensburg to Lake Easton = 37.8 miles

ATM = 7:44:19

AVS = 5.57 mph

600 feet elevation gain

269 feet elevation loss

JWPT Take 2 - Day 3

JWPT Take 2! - Day 2

We got up with the bird song and the sun(!) which helped us warm up before setting off down the trail.  Our intention was to ride from Hyak to Thorp and camp at the same spot the Trio had in July. The sun was gloriously warm and the fall colors out in force.  When we reached the canyon outside of Cle Elum that leads to Thorp we rode through an archway of gorgeous, brilliant yellow Black Cottonwood trees.  We saw loads of bear scat and were very aware of our surroundings; which is why when we happened on a herd of free range cattle (1 of which was sleeping in the ditch next to the trail) it was very startling and when the sleeping cow stood up our brains had a bit of a stutter between cow versus bear.  It was pretty hilarious and we laughed for quite some time!!

**If you are needing trail directions please reference our July Ride**

Memorable moments: scared by black bear-cow (hilarious moment!); gorgeous fall colors!! So, so very sweet to camp at the same spot the Trio did.

Wildlife sightings: 2 ground squirrels, 1 Douglas squirrel, 2 turkey vultures checking us out, scared a Raven, Pileated woodpecker, 1 sage grouse in full freeze mode, 3 huge piles of bear scat, 1 baby garter snake

Vital stats:
26 trestles
22 gates
4 tunnels
12 canyon cut-throughs
46.85 miles
ATM = 5:15:38
MXS = 17.5 mph
AVS = 8.8 mph

Nick's GPS:
48.7 miles
ATM = 6:47:36
AVS = 7.17 mph
118 feet of elevation gain
866 feet of elevation loss

JWPT Take 2 - Day 2

2016 John Wayne Pioneer Trail - Day 2

During my training and riding I had decided I would ride my Specialized cross bike with touring size tires, 4 panniers (2 small, 2 large) and a handlebar bag.  I also ended up adding a backpack to carry extra water in that was lashed between my two large, rear panniers.  Day 2 is when the trail started to reveal the level of different terrains we'd be facing - some heavier river rock, deep gravel and super rugged areas over multi-use sections in Cle Elum.  These are sections of the trail where ATV's are allowed to also use the trail.  I have lots of different feelings about mixed-use trails, but I'll talk about that in another post...

Trail riding notes: We were not able to make Hyak on our first day of riding, but on my ride in the fall we were able to do so.  When you reach Hyak, the tunnel is very dark and cold; be sure to have adequate headlights/headlamps and you might want to add a jacket or layer.  Water drips from the ceiling and the sides of the trail through the tunnel drop off to keep water off the trail.  Be sure to ride towards the middle of the tunnel rather than the sides as you risk falling when you ride on the sides. The tunnel can also be crowded at times with other riders and lots of walkers. Once you reach the other side of the tunnel there are primitive campsites a little ways past Hyak; at Hyak there are restrooms and showers to use (you need coinage to operate the shower).  The trail continues on from Hyak with no detours and is slightly downhill (a welcome respite after your climb!!).  There are several camp sites and pit toilets along the way between Hyak and Thorp, including the sweet Iron Horse Inn B&B in Cle Elum.  There are several gates prior to gravel road crossings that you can ride or walk around; make sure you close, re-chain and/or lock any gates you go through.  As you approach Thorp you will ride through several tunnels.  These tunnels have been repaired and are safe to ride through; some you will need lights for and others just be sure to take your sunglasses off. 😉 When you reach Thorp, ride a short ways past the fruit/antique stand to the trestle that crosses the Yakima River. Directly before the trestle, down to the right is a very sweet riverside campsite.  Easy river access, lovely sandy spot, flat-ish campsite area, trees to hang clothes on and wonderful place of rest. Please keep this place clean and well kept for future trail users!

Here's our day 2 entry...

Wildlife settings: 3 Douglas squirrels, 3 rabbits, lots of birds, 1 bull snake, 1 lizard, at the last tunnel going into Thorp we saw bats in the tunnel, saw our first livestock - cows

Trail people met: Byron with Bike Hugger, Greg with The Starving Cyclist, Dan on his way to Cle Elum (he helped us unlock Sandy's chain and was our first Trail Angel)

Memorable Moments: Epic ecological transitions, Sandy's chain bent and got stuck, Rachel stabbed herself in the leg with her large bike gear.  So windy on the East side!!  Thank goodness for tail wind!! Set up camp next to the Yakima river at a sweet little spot and bathed in the river.  Smells of dust, smoke and Pine.

Vital Stats:
26 bridges/trestles
5 tunnels (1 was the epic long Snoqualmie/Hyak tunnel)
2 sets of chained gates - no locks
Lots of road crossings
2 railroad crossings
57.4 miles
ATM = 6:46:24
MXS = 34.7 mph
AVS = 8.4 mph

JWPT Day 2