Having walked/biked the Thorp portion of the John Wayne Trail many times, we decided to check out this part of it for a change. Judging by a couple of trip reports it looked very pretty. We weren't sure exactly where to join the trail, but followed the (excellent) directions from one of the reports and got into the trail toward the end of Lower Peoh Road as you head out of South Cle Elum.
This is a bucolic and beautiful area and we enjoyed the surroundings very much, especially the Yakima River keeping us company all along. We did not enjoy having to choose between treading on the car track (too narrow) and the uneven and slushy area between the tracks. We finally put on our yak traks, but wished we had crampons as we still kept sliding. It was very tedious going and was a lot more difficult than it should have been, considering it was completely level! I'm not a cross-country skier, but this seems like a good place for that. Someone had been snow shoeing so that could work too. It was still a very peaceful walk. We only ventured a couple of miles in because we were becoming fatigued.
Quick lunch at the Turkey Gulch picnic area, then a desperate trudge back. We were inexplicably sore all over by the time we made it back to the car.
Best to save this one for spring. We're looking forward to riding our bikes to Thorp, through the tunnels, only 13.8 miles.
Big highlight: Stopping by Basecamp Books in Roslyn for a delicious grilled cheese/avocado sandwich, cookies and cappuccino!
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