Forum Index > Trip Reports > My Dream Hike - Salal Creek/Athelney Pass
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Karen²
A Real Canadian Girl



Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 1367 | TRs | Pics
Location: Behind the Lens
Karen²
A Real Canadian Girl
PostTue Sep 01, 2009 9:35 pm 
Few people have trekked into the rugged wilderness to Athelney Pass. The ones who have made the journey come back moved, unable to covey just how magical the place can be. It is difficult to find photos of this elusive landscape however the few that are out there are simply amazing. I desperately wanted to go but I knew I was dreaming if I thought I could find willing partners, get the time off work and have a good forecast. The adventure begins at Salal Creek, unsigned and hidden within a maze logging roads north of Whistler, BC. The distance into Athelney Pass is only 6 miles, but it is slow and brutal travel.
Fun footing
Fun footing
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.
Karen2 bushwacking through the alder
Karen2 bushwacking through the 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.
Salal Creek
Salal Creek
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.
Unpleasant detour
Unpleasant detour
Emerging from the bush
Emerging from the bush
Our sunny forecast didn't happen so by the time we reached camp we were cold, wet and eager for dinner.
Heading to camp
Heading to camp
Before the rains hit
Before the rains hit
After supper it really started pouring so I settled into my wet down sleeping bag, wearing my wet down coat in my not entirely waterproof bivy. As if I was not uncomfortable enough, my Thermarest sprung a slow leak and I kept waking up every hour uncomfortable and having to re-inflate it. What is with me and gear failure this year? As usual I was up early and there was no semblance of a sunrise so with everyone still sawing logs I explored the area around our camp. I climbed a moraine that lead to a small waterfall pouring off a hanging glacier. (first photo taken next day with clearer skies)
Awesome campsite
Awesome campsite
Glacier above camp
Glacier above camp
cirque
cirque
Broad-leaved Willowherb
Broad-leaved Willowherb
It was a beautiful little cirque with grey/blue glacial streams winding through luscious green moss and lined with pink flowers, a taste of what was yet to come.
A taste of what was to come
A taste of what was to come
Once we finally got moving our first task was a swift knee deep stream crossing,
Nothing like a fast, ice cold stream crossing to wake you up in the morning
Nothing like a fast, ice cold stream crossing to wake you up in the morning
then after ascending more yuck rock we reached the pass.
Heading up more ick rock
Heading up more ick rock
Close your eyes and picture the the most enchanting valley you can imagine.
Little Red Hiking Hood descends from the pass
Little Red Hiking Hood descends from 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.
waterfalls running down the valley's sides
waterfalls running down the valley's sides
Creeklets feeding stream in the valley bottom
Creeklets feeding stream in the valley bottom
Creek crossing and broad leaved willowherb
Creek crossing and broad leaved willowherb
High above are several huge baby blue glaciers hanging precariously off the jagged peaks.
In awe of glaciers
In awe of glaciers
Little Red Hiking Hood
Little Red Hiking Hood
From the pass
From the pass
Creek near Athelney Pass
Creek near Athelney Pass
There is no trail or path through this place, it is a wide-open, vast landscape; you can wander anywhere you want.
Free to roam
Free to roam
Expansive landscape
Expansive landscape
There is something to delight your eyes in every direction. You can walk along the streams or take your shoes off and walk through the streams. Perhaps you can poke around some tarns
Flower lined tarn
Flower lined tarn
See the tiny hikers?  That is one big rock!
See the tiny hikers? That is one big rock!
Mt Ethelweard
Mt Ethelweard
Mt Ethelweard
Mt Ethelweard
Tarn
Tarn
or walk through the sand with no footprints to be found except those that you are leaving.
Leave only footprints
Leave only footprints
Maybe check out the old abandoned mining hut,
Abandoned mining camp
Abandoned mining camp
Or enjoy the wildlife
Curious little creature
Curious little creature
Baby marmot
Baby marmot
Marmot hole
Marmot hole
White tailed ptarmigan - mama
White tailed ptarmigan - mama
White tailed ptarmigan chick
White tailed ptarmigan chick
Watch out for grizzly bears though, this is prime habitat and most people who have ventured here have had encounters, some of them scary (except us – because I brought my super duper bear deterrent – my telephoto lens). I knew I could not capture the feeling of this place no matter how hard I tried. There was too much ground to cover and the weather was not very good. The lighting was horrible, but when the sun came out, the colors just popped and the place became even more magical.
Our turn around point
Our turn around point
Lake next to the Ethelweard glacier
Lake next to the Ethelweard glacier
I didn't have the luxury of time to sit and wait for the sun to shine through the infrequent sucker holes at every composition so I left my tripod in my pack most of the day and settled for snapshots.
From the pass
From the pass
Sunrveying the way home
Sunrveying the way home
Hiking back through the valley
Hiking back through the valley
Home sweet home
Home sweet home
What time is it?  Why berry time of course
What time is it? Why berry time of course
I hope to return to this place some day, with more time to explore and better weather because trekking here just left me with a bigger appetite for Athelney Pass. Of all the beautiful places I have seen over the years, nothing compares to this wild nirvana. It was simply a dream come true. wub.gif

I leave only footprints...and lens caps. http://weekendswithmarmots.zenfolio.com
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Ingunn
Hiking Viking



Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics
Location: Redmond
Ingunn
Hiking Viking
PostTue Sep 01, 2009 9:52 pm 
This is fantastic!! Sorry you didn't have better weather (or functioning gear..), but the clouds do add a certain dramatic quality to your photos. agree.gif I hope you took that baby marmot with you to give to me so I can raise him as my own! wub.gif

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More Cowbell
Warrior Princess



Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Posts: 5657 | TRs | Pics
Location: Alive on Earth
More Cowbell
Warrior Princess
PostTue Sep 01, 2009 9:54 pm 
Pretty Damn Fine! You did a most excellent job of capturing this area.

“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
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Gil
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Joined: 29 Sep 2004
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Gil
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PostTue Sep 01, 2009 10:54 pm 
Wow! Great spot!

Friends help the miles go easier. Klahini
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chiwakum
not credible



Joined: 29 Jun 2009
Posts: 980 | TRs | Pics
Location: Ballard
chiwakum
not credible
PostTue Sep 01, 2009 11:05 pm 
Oh my, that was incredible thanks! What a humbling area. That kind of scale refocuses things, doesn't it?

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wamtngal
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wamtngal
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PostWed Sep 02, 2009 6:55 am 
Beautiful photos! It does indeed look like a dream hike. up.gif up.gif

Opinions expressed here are my own.
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Tazz
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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Tazz
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PostWed Sep 02, 2009 6:56 am 
sweet! Have been looking forward to these!! awesome stuff lady!

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plain old dan
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Joined: 24 Aug 2005
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plain old dan
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PostWed Sep 02, 2009 7:34 am 
Beautiful Karen! Thanks for sharing with us slices of Canadian heaven!!

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Scrooge
Famous Grouse



Joined: 16 Dec 2001
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Location: wishful thinking
Scrooge
Famous Grouse
PostWed Sep 02, 2009 8:13 am 
You earned the magic, Lady.
Thank you.

Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
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jeremybe
Ol' One-shirt



Joined: 17 Jul 2008
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Location: Seattle
jeremybe
Ol' One-shirt
PostWed Sep 02, 2009 8:20 am 
Very nice. What a special place. up.gif up.gif

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GeoTom
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Joined: 19 May 2005
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GeoTom
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PostWed Sep 02, 2009 8:33 am 
cool.gif Very nice Karen.

Knows literally nothing
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bonobo
Owl Juggler for rent



Joined: 23 Jun 2004
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bonobo
Owl Juggler for rent
PostWed Sep 02, 2009 8:48 am 
Wow, just amazing. What a beautiful area. Thanks so much for sharing the experience!

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Jason Hummel
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Joined: 31 Aug 2006
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Jason Hummel
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PostWed Sep 02, 2009 9:56 am 
OMG, there's so much to do in canada. Now I want to do more hockeygrin.gif Thanks for the pics and words. Looks like a great place.

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Larry
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Joined: 22 Feb 2003
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Location: Kitsap
Larry
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PostWed Sep 02, 2009 10:09 am 
This is mind-bending Karen! You are to be commended for your wonderful altruistic story lines - you could write a book. The images? Awesome.

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Karen²
A Real Canadian Girl



Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 1367 | TRs | Pics
Location: Behind the Lens
Karen²
A Real Canadian Girl
PostWed Sep 02, 2009 12:15 pm 
Thanks everyone, I really wish my photos could have done the place justice, maybe next time! lol.gif
Ingunn wrote:
I hope you took that baby marmot with you to give to me so I can raise him as my own! wub.gif
I could have, this marmot had no fear of humans whatsoever!
Jason Hummel wrote:
OMG, there's so much to do in canada. Now I want to do more
Didn't you already conquer 1/2 of Canada on your last couple trips? I seem to recall you didn't just do the Neve Traverse which is a big expedition for the average person, but you stopped and bagged 100 different summits along the way! lol.gif Jason this is just a hop skip and a jump from the Pemberton Icecap, no doubt you've heard of that. winksmile.gif

I leave only footprints...and lens caps. http://weekendswithmarmots.zenfolio.com
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