Athelney Pass via Salal Creek

Athelney Pass is only a150 miles from Vancouver and you can drive most of the way there. Finding the trailhead though could prove to be a significant obstacle and while the pass is with in a day's hike from the trailhead it is physically demanding, and not suitable for the average hiker.

"The adventure begins at Salal Creek, unsigned and hidden within a maze logging roads. The distance into Athelney Pass is only 6 miles, but it is slow and brutal travel. There is no trail; there is some flagging but mostly it is cross-country and requires route finding. The first bit is a lovely forest walk but it is not long before you are bushwhacking through alder. Once you spill out onto the shores of Salal Creek the navigation part becomes pretty simple, just follow the creek the whole way; the challenge is finding the path of least resistance. The creek is very strong and fording the main portion is not possible, so where the creek touches the banks, you need to detour up steep embankments and climb through the forest. After a swift knee deep stream crossing and ascending more yuck rock you reach the pass. The sides of the valley are bright green and punctuated by large waterfalls that feed a meandering network of small streams and support an explosion of bright pink flowers. High above are several huge baby blue glaciers hanging precariously off the jagged peaks. There is no trail or path through this place, it is a wide-open, vast landscape; you can wander anywhere you want. There is something to delight your eyes in every direction."