A packed weekender! Middle Fork Snoqualmie to Melakwa via Snow Lake. Off-trail travel took a bit longer and resulted in an earlier bailout.
- Middle Fork Snoqualmie / Tin Joe Cup Falls
I started at the Middle Fork TH, where folks were setup for a trail run -- one I meant to register many months ago, but evidently failed to do. Folks were running distances from 10km to 50km, the latter I did with this group at Cougar Mountain, and a distance I have yet to attempt since :)
Since the timer showed an hour since racetime start, the trail was largely empty, until just before the Dingford bridge, where the first group of speedy runners were making their first return back. I later passed a trio of event staff collecting the many ribbons dotting the race route.
The Middle Fork slide has been routed around far enough I couldn't make out the initial washout, and the trail is in great condition. There are some signed camps along the river, just west of the Dingford bridge. If you're starting from here, the Dingford road tends to be pretty rocky, and difficult for low clearance vehicles.
I took a detour up to Tin Joe Cup Falls, following a bootpath pummeled by treefalls and easily lost. After being showered in pine needles, I made it to the first falls, and climbing to the right of it on the sliding gravel, arrived at the second, larger falls. Supposedly you can go higher, but the steep slope and spiky currant bushes weren't inviting. Not exactly the family friendly walk of Otter Creek Falls.
- Rock Creek / Snow Lake
Rock Creek (duplicated on WTA as Rock Creek Falls?) was in good condition, and the steeeep tiring climb I remember, especially in the midday sun. No bootpath to the falls exist that I know of. Three groups of dayhikers came down from Snow Lake, sporting those trail runner dual-water bottle vests. There is a camp at the base of the trail if you'd rather leave the climb for the morning cool air.
Cresting over the top, the berries are plump and enormous, untouched by the normally packed crowds of Snow Lake. I turned left, the entire lake to myself, finding a campsite on a ledge towards the eastern end. The normally trickling creeks were drawn low into stagnant, murky puddles. With the smoky, overcast skies, a typically brilliant sunset was instead absorbed by the gloomy dark waters of the lake.
A rustling sound came from the shrubs across the meadow from my tent, where a bright golden-cinnamon bear perked up, both of us equally surprised by the visitor. It quickly scampered off, as I enjoyed the buffet of berries it abandoned. Although much closer to hues of brown or yellow, it had the unmistakable shyness of a black bear (and also no hump!).
The trail is still closed south of the lake, with crews still finishing repairs. Be prepared to make the trek back out using alternative paths.
- Chair Peak Lake / Melakwa Lake
The next morning, I started northbound to Gem Lake, and heard music at a camp on the northern end. So much for thinking I had Snow Lake all to myself for a Saturday in summer! I opted to round Gem Lake counterclockwise, inclining up the slope and leaving the established trail.
The traverse to Melakwa is not a trail (or appears on any official maps), so folks unaccustomed to wayfinding along ridges shouldn't attempt this route.
I followed the path up towards Mt Roosevelt, riding the ridge where I suddenly got cell service at the top. I somehow overshot the bootpath, and stayed in the rockfield where I traversed along the 5000ft line, occasionally making out the crushed vegetation of other wayward hikers. In some areas, piles of duff and needles made for slippery steps, while rocks echoed as they tumbled down the slope below.
Gem to Chair Peak took me a surprisingly slow pace, moving just 0.75mi in two hours (while I blasted 13 miles in five hours the day prior)! Carrying a full overnight pack made navigating up the ridge and over the rockfields particularly slow. With Chair Peak Lake below, I made my way down and gratefully filtered icy water to refill my pack.
From Chair Peak Lake, follow the western slope close to the shore, with the steep ascent to Melakwa Pass next. Though short, at times I crawled with both my hands so my pack weight wouldn't pull me off the slope face. The other side drops down into a rocky valley, where the trail becomes a choose-your-adventure of potentially badly timed steps. There was a path on the right in the brush at the beginning, but after getting thwacked (and pushed onto my butt in the rocks) I opted for rockhopping. Most people seem to opt for the eastern side, to avoid the forested creekbed.
- Return to TH
Melakwa Lake was quiet, with toilet paper discarded under shrubs and the return of tents dotting the shore. Trout were casually mingling at the surface, nibbling on floating bugs and detritus. Running behind schedule, I sent a text message noting my new endpoint at Melakwa TH instead of my original plan, Granite Mtn TH (which would add just 4-5 miles, via Lower Tuscohatchie and Pratt Lakes, but in my opinion, softer trail tread).
The Melakwa trail was rocky as I remember, and made for a slower descent. WTA has been putting many hours into this trail, smoothing out sections, particularly on the exposed scree slopes. I met a few folks a mile under Melakwa, looking for Keekwulee Falls, which they passed nearly three miles prior. It is visible from the trail (especially coming up), which I remember to turn around for on my way down.
Between the slide falls over Denny Creek and the I-90 overpass, I got stung by a wasp on my ankle. Peeling back my sock, I saw three seeping dots of blood, its third attempt the dot where the venom finally inflicted its sharp sting. I walked with a slight gait for a few minutes, and so close to the road too!
At the trailhead, I had some time to burn, and headed up the quiet Wagon Road Trail that cuts through the Melakwa parking lot, instead of the main Franklin Falls trail. It is in impressively good shape, with lumber and fresh gravel on the side of the trail as final repairs are underway. At one mile, this quiet forest path makes a great loop to Franklin Falls if you need a cooldown from Melakwa. And for the ambitious, this trail covers 1/3 of the distance on NF-58 to Snoqualmie Pass, food, and other trailheads in the area if you want to connect onwards unconventionally.
With the sun coming down, I took a seat in front of Franklin Falls waiting for my ride to arrive, a few visitors questioning why I needed a giant pack for a hike only a few steps from the road.
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