From Mike Faletti between June 6th and 9th 1999 (MILW onelist member)
"Jeff Goutcher and I biked the John Wayne Trail from Renslow to the Columbia River Sunday- what a ride! Here's a field report:
The west end access is reached by taking the Kittitas exit, and working your way back along the south side of the freeway. Just past the trestle at Renslow is a parking lot. The east parking lot is just east of Doris. Follow Huntzinger road past the dam, cross over the grade, and look for a two-lane gravel road to the right. It's poorly signed, but there is a directional marker a little ways up the road (it's visible from Huntzinger, barely) follow the road up to the parking lot.
The trail was pretty tough going up to the tunnel from the west due to loose sand. The Tunnel is ballasted with everyones favorite pink rock, so it's a breeze. Don't forget a flashlight! On the back side, it was a relatively easy run down to Doris, dynamic brakes would have been nice. The view is spectacular! Especially below Rye where you can see miles of grade going through endless cut/fills. It is obvious that many great photographs were possible here, and only the surface ever got scratched. The trip took seven hours, but that included dimensioning several of the bridges for a future layout, and poking around along the way. Take lot's of water- we burned through several liters each and the temperatures were in the 60's (instead of the 90's more typical of June).
As to railroad archeology, there is very little left, no poles are still in, the communications lines are completely gone, and much the high voltage line has been replaced and moved. Most of the signal bases have been pushed off the side. At Rye, look for the old bed frame and chair over the side. Doris is just a foundation.
All in all, a very enjoyable run. Must have been quite a sight to those folks from the plains coming out on the Hi."
Helmut's note: Mike Faletti gave me permission to use this. He also advises to contact the Ginko/Wanapum Park before using this part of the trail, as they army still occasionally does use it.
He goes on to say, "You don't really have to worry about rounds skipping over the grade. But the sound of artillery impacts does add to the trip... (the impact area is on the other side of the ridge). There's access only at the ends, and twenty miles in between. But if you're in better shape than me, you certainly could pedal uphill till you're tired, and coast back! It will be in the 100's in August going up the hill !
FYI the grade out of Beverly to the East requires a DNR permit, and is a mess to ride due to it's all being loose sand. I've been hiking it in pieces, as time permits. If I still had my horse, I'd do it with him vs. a bike, as he doesn't care about sand. (Jim at the DNR (Ellensburg) is very nice about permits), just ask. I believe that the trail (east) will still be closed in August however."'
Additional information on another posting by Mike Faletti
"The East access road essentially goes to the east end of Doris siding (which is where the parking lot and new campground are, per the earlier post). You can see the location from the far side of the river, the new water tank sticks out like a sore thumb. The road up to Boylston is now a very nice two lane graveled road, but like all the others is gated, and trespassing prohibited (same with the old road to Doris). Most of the roads inside the firing center have been upgraded, and there are several new roads the Delorme Atlas (based on the '55 survey!) lacks, but all of them are for military use only. There are also warnings at the trailhead to stick to the ROW. As a trespassing citation from the Army carries more weight than from the county (and military activities tend to be hard on unexpected civilians), I tend to take their signage at face value. You could call the army, and see if they'll let you be dropped off at Boylston. Worst case is that if the sand's too much work is you have to push your bike three miles to the top of the hill (we ended up walking about a third of it). It'll only add an hour to the trip. Once over the top, it's easy going (Especially if the wind's at your back!).
Question for the folks who worked on the hill: why is there a second set of signal bases several hundred feet west of the signals at the west Doris switch?"
All above information by Mike Faletti