Paleface Pass take II

 It's been about 4 months since I last tried getting here...stopped by snow in April:

So late-August shouldn't provide anything in the way of obstacles, right? 
A late morning ride along Chilliwack Lake road, on a Monday (when all the tourists have left) is a wonderful thing...so many lovely mountain vistas.

Once I reach the lake...it's the usual pothole-infested 'road' along the Eastern shore. Soon after this view, I will encounter the road to the PFP 

The road up to the Paleface Pass has begun its slow process of deterioration. Now that the logging companies have done their work, the road is decommissioned and left to Mother Nature to reclaim. What was a "C" route a few years ago is now a C+...like most of the roads in this area.
This tree (that someone conveniently cut) is easily over 500 years old.

I gain almost 600 m of elevation before I finally reach the section of Trans Canada Trail that is the Paleface Pass. Following this trail, the user will gain another 200 m of elevation before exiting on the Skagit Valley side. Some guys ask if they could ride it...I wouldn't...but then again, I am a bit of a wuss.

A bit further along the road, I am stopped (briefly) by this creek bed of larger rocks...I decide NOT to cross (I am a wuss, remember?) but then I see the tracks of braver men, on the other side...so I decide to investigate further.

I scope a path through the menacing rocks and boulders...I walk alongside my bike, using throttle and clutch to help me through. Soon, I emerge on the other side and I feel a bit of my wussiness fade....

I follow the road uphill...gaining another 200 m in the process. Unfortunately, like every other logging road in this area, this one ends at a rubble-filled landing. Nevertheless, I catch some great views from this vantage point.

I backtrack slightly, to get a full view of the valley below me...the old road (on the other hillside) has me intrigued and I think I passed its turnoff on the way up. I will investigate on the way back.

I don't know what this structure is...

Stopped for a bite of lunch and a drink at this boulder...the only source of shade in the area!

Lunch over...I make my way back down the hill, stopping to look back at where I was, moments ago.

I find it easier to stop for photos on the way DOWN as opposed to going uphill. This is another dried creek bed that was surely flowing well back in April...

Eventually, I reach the turnoff to what I thought was the road across the valley. I followed it for a few hundred yards (through some cross-ditches as big as moats) until I reach this sketchy-looking bridge.
I am NOT driving across that.

I dismount and cross on two legs...sure enough, the road on the other side isn't any better..lots of blowdown and (according to Google Earth) a couple more bridges along its length.
Don't think I'll bother 'exploring' any further...

Beautiful little swimming/fishing hole alongside the bridge....

Back at water's edge along the lake now...looking back to whence I came. The pointy hill in the distance is Williams peak.

I decided to avoid town altogether for the trip home, so I took the bench road. Along the way, I took a detour up a new(er) logging road that was cut into the hillside. I followed it up and up until I got a really good view of the Canadian and American border peaks (right) and Mt Slesse (left).

All in all...not a bad day. 91 mile return-trip meant a real sore butt from that TW "seat".
I swear, I've got to get out of this area a bit more before the season ends. So much beautiful country, so little time...