This great NW classic includes old growth forest, a beautiful waterfall, and a lovely alpine lake all less than an hour from Seattle. There were 25 cars at the trailhead when we arrived at 11:00 am. The trail is in pretty good shape but many of the water bars are clogged with silt and water is running on the trail in several places. I unclogged a few of them. The Vine Maples are in full fall color now. There was a dusting of snow on the ground starting about ¼ mi from Hemlock pass (~4200 ft). It was never deeper than 1 inch. Lower Melakwa lake is very nice, but I especially liked the starker and more photogenic upper lake.

Follow these seven steps for a very enjoyable Monday. Step 1: Stash a bike near the Denny Creek trailhead. Step 2: Drive to the Pratt Lake trailhead and start hiking. Step 3: Immerse yourself in Pratt Lake. Step 4: Immerse yourself in Lower Tuskahochee (sic') Lake. Step 5: Immerse tourself for a few seconds in the tarn above Melakwa Lake. Step 6: Hike down the Denny Creek trail avoiding the guy hiking up wearing only running shoes. Step 7: Hopp on your bike and glide downhill 3 miles back to your car.

After barely finding a parking spot at the Denny Creek Trailhead, we set off up to Melakwa Lake. The trail is really in great shape, with only a few muddy sections and a bit of overgrowth higher up past the falls. Several families were making the falls a feeding and turning point. My big four legged buddy was a big hit thru this section, with one mom asking if he would lick the oreos off her son's face! HA! The lake was peaceful on the north side with only a few skeeters to bug ya. The upper lake was totally void of humans, as I suppose most didn't know it was there' On the way down, I had to stop and watch some kids enjoying the rock water slide...what fun! The sun finally came out when we got back to the trailhead. Great family hike!

All the previously reported windfalls have been cleared, except the one at 0.2 miles before Hemlock Pass. There is a step that was cut into it last year, so it is easy to get across. The snow is all gone, but the bugs are out in force. Above Upper Melakwa, there are a few small snow patches and Chair Peak Lake is completely covered with snow.

The day began cloudy and drizzly and stayed that way, making for a quiet and intimate trip up to one of my favorite destinations. The trail from just above Denny Creek Campground passes under the I-90 bridge (an architectural wonder!') and crosses Denny Creek three times. The second crossing is bridge-less at the famous ""Water Slide"" area and is now just a big jump across. Normally crowded on sunny days, no cloud-bathers were present. On up across talus slopes and switchbacks, normally with great views to waterfalls, but today the upclose wildflowers were all the more glorious. A few snow patches near Hemlock Pass are melting quickly and the trail is rather muddy on the final descent to Melwakwa Lake. More snow patches linger around the lake and its campsites, but I managed to find a quiet and dry lunch spot under a tree. As I headed back down the trail, all the folks who slept in late were up and asking ""How far to the lake'""