Old Growth Trees
Take I-90 east to Exit 47 (Denny Creek). Turn left and cross over the freeway. Then turn right at the T and shortly thereafter turn left onto Forest Service road 58. Take FS 58 about 3 miles to where it ends at the Denny Creek trailhead.
With a day off I decided to take a hike up by Snoqualmie Pass. Using the Washington Trails Association web site, I selected Melakwa Lake. Like all I-90 trailheads, this one requires a Northwest Forest Pass. Since my annual pass expired six days earlier, I swung by the Ranger Station in North Bend. I arrived at 7:38 AM Friday, but they don't open until 8:00 AM. Considering myself already behind schedule, I decided to renew my permit on the return trip. By the way, they aren't open at all on weekends, so pick up your pass ahead of time! See the Nature of the Northwest web site for other locations to pick up a permit.
The first mile of the trail is very straightforward and well maintained, including terraces and steps. While not an old-growth area, the following couple of trees have been around a long time.
Old Growth Trees
After one mile you reach a log bridge crossing Denny Creek. The rocks in the area have been worn smooth forming some natural water slides.
Log bridge at Denny Creek
Denny Creek, Downstream
Denny Creek, Upsteam
After the creek the trail gets steeper and heads up to Keekwulee Falls. Definitely worth the trip at any time, but I would highly recommend dropping by in late-spring/early-summer when there is a lot more water flowing.
Keekwulee Falls, higher vantage point
Keekwulee Falls, lower vantage point
After the falls, the path levels out for a while and then gets very steep and rocky as you head up towards Hemlock Pass, the highest elevation on the trail.
Some tall trees for the easterners in the audience
View looking back down valley
Valley wall, looking back
Looking up at Hemlock Pass
When you cross Hemlock Pass, it looks like you have to descend down a deep valley to get to the lake. But that Lake is Tuscohatchie and a long way off. Fortunately Melakwa Lake is just around the corner. In fact there are two lakes, an upper and lower.
Arrival at Lower Melakwa Lake
Lower Melakwa Lake
View from Upper down to Lower Melakwa Lake
Upper Melakwa Lake
According to my WTA directions, you could continue on to Melakwa Pass, seen off in the distance of my upper lake picture above. From there you could see Snow Lake, which I've hiked to from a different tailhead. The idea of panoramic view from a virtually treeless vantage point was appealing. The directions say to head around the west side of the lake. However the trail along the west side began to get worse and worse, and the hillside steeper. I placed my camera back in its Zip-Lock bag because the odds of falling in the lake were increasing dramatically. I found myself sliding through bushes, spread eagle on logs, and using free-climbing techniques. I finally gave up when I found myself faced with a sheer slab of rock at a 70 degree angle going from way above my head straight into the water. Later at the Ranger Station, I found out that while even their map books said to use the west side, you actually head around the east. I'll have to try that the next time I go up. (FYI, the women at the North Bend Ranger Station are very helpful and really HOT).
There are little 6" fish in the lake and you could see them jumping up to eat bugs. I tried in vain to get a picture of one in the water. However, to do that I think you want a film camera, paricularly an SLR camera, and no wind. I was 0 for 3, so I instead took a picture of myself.
Ken at Melakwa Lake
Whenever I go to the Washington Trails Association site or the Issaquah Alps site I think about volunteering for a trail crew. But on the way down my ankles were hurting with every step and I thought to myself, Ken, you need to be in better shape before you can do that kind of work. But near the end I ran into an actual trail crew. The three were tossing around rock to build a new set of terraces. They were all in their 60's. Who maintains our trails? Grandma and Grandpa! Added a sense of perspective on my own discomfort.
Upon arriving home, I did join the WTA, and at a level where I help fund a trail crew. As for being on one, well, I'll get back to you.