Can't believe I hadn't been here before! Easily one of the most scenic trails in the area. No broad views reachable from the trail though, (other than the valley from melakwa lake). Great exploring options from the lake. I made it a good ways up a boulder field though. Granite Mt. and the cap of Rainier could be seen. Incredible waterfalls on Denny Cr., especially considering you walk right under I-90 not more than a mile and a half earlier! The trail is snowfree until 1/3 mile from the Denny Cr. pass, but the snow has been trampled on enough so the route is obvious. The trail is 95% snow free from the pass to the lake, and the lake basin area is about 50% snow covered. Plenty of ways to avoid the snow and excellent climbing opprotunities from the lakes though.

Great day for a hike (though a bit warm going up)! Snow is melting out fast so there was lots of water to cross and wade through. We almost reached the ridge, but lost the trail in the snow. One person who passed us and bushwacked to the top of the ridge said the trail down to the lake was completely snow covered, as was the lake--so he wasn't about to attempt it. Lots of beautiful flowers and hardly any bugs yet. Great, fun hike, especially when we stopped worrying about getting our feet wet.

The trail as far as Lower Tuscohatchie Lake is mostly snow free with snow patches east of Olallie Lake and below the avalanche chutes going to Pratt Lake. The trail is mostly snow covered above 4300 feet within the vicinity of Melakwa Lake and Hemlock Pass. There are a few windfalls on the trail towards Pratt Lake. There are many windfalls on the Melakwa Lake Trail, and a few windfalls on the upper reaches of the Denny Creek Trail. The nastiest windfall is a 40-inch one which blocks both the Kaleetan Lake and Melakwa Lake Trails at the trail junction. The Melakwa Lake Trail is incredibly brushy in spots. Talapus, Olallie, Pratt and Lower Tuscohatchie Lakes are all thawed. Melakwa Lake is 75% snow-covered. There is an average depth of less than one foot of snow in the Melakwa Lake basin.

Did this hike early on a Thursday morning. First mile or so was inhabited by friendly, hard working WTA members restoring the trail, and doing a great job I might add. The going is very easy until you reach the second, bridgeless crossing. Not too far of a jump, but I felt a little bit of slipping when my soles touched down. Smooth sailing again until Snowshoe falls; This is where the constant snow starts. I made my way through the valley and strapped on my snowshoes just before ascending up towards Hemlock Pass. Woah, fog is thick today. Made it to Melakwa lake in a little over 3 hours... I'd say it's still about 95% frozen over with about a 8"" ice/snow cap. It was a chilly 37 degrees. Ate my lunch, picked up some trash left by others, and headed out towards Lower Tuscohatchie lake. Didn't see any tracks anywhere, was I the first'' Route finding was a bit tricky being as foggy and snowy as is was, lots of nasty, deep soft snow pockets, but I made it never the less. Nice lake, no snow on the lake and just a little in the campsites. Returned to Melakwa Lake. Nice 3 hour sidetrip... An hour and 45 minutes from the lake back to the trailhead. On the way back I saw the results of the WTA's work... Very nice...

2nd bridge over Denny Creek is gone (if there ever was one' I don't know, first time there for me!), but a log/board is in place to provide for a reasonably safe crossing. Intermittent snow from aforementioned crossing to ~3500', constant thereafter. Staying on snow, we went to the pass just NE of Hemlock Pass and had fine views of the Melakwa Lakes, Chair Pk, and Kaleetan Pk. The lakes are still mostly frozen. Enjoy!