Jim and I decided to try something different over Labor Day weekend. Drive to Snoqualmie Pass, hike in 5 miles, and go camping. We took a one day climb and made it into a 3 day camping trip.
We headed into Melakwa Lake early Friday morning to avoid the weekend crowds on the trail and secure a nice campsite. We arrived the lake around 1pm.
We were one of the first campers to arrive so we were able to score the best site on the lake.
Our site also had views of Kaleetan Peak.
It was only 2pm when we finished setting up camp so we went exploring. We hiked up towards Kaleetan Pass which took us up passed Upper Melakwa Lake.
We followed a spring through some trees in hope of finding a lingering snow field. There were a couple still hanging on. Yeah! Snow for our margaritas.
It was only 5:30 when we returned to camp. What do campers do? Luckily, we had downloaded a movie to our iPad. Yes, I brought an iPad and a camp chair. I was traveling in luxery.
The night was so calm. We got up in the middle of the night. There was absolutely no sounds. And the stars lite up the sky. Even the milkyway was on display.
We woke to a still lake which made for fabulous photos.
We setup on the lake shore and awaited Erika and Bryan’s arrival.
Erika and Bryan arrived before noon. We enjoyed lunch and then headed out for Kaleetan Peak.
The climb was not difficult but the ridge was very long. It took over an hour before we got another view of the summit.
Erika and Bryan were so good about waiting for me. For non-climbers, they are so fast on the boulder fields. Erika is so graceful on the loose terrain. Not sure how she does it.
When we reached the final class 3 scramble, we all put on helmets. We were surprised by the number of people climbing without helmets especially considering the rock fall that happened just as we were starting our scramble. After the first rock scare, we got close together and climbed very methodically to the summit.
We were in no hurry to get back to the lake so we sat around and enjoyed the view.
Jim took a cleaner, steeper route off the summit. At least no one was going to knock rocks on him.
After returning to the lake, the guys took a swim while Erika and I watched on. Well Bryan swam around. Jim jumped in and then quickly got out. The lake was not what I would call warm.
Erika and Bryan had brought their hammock with them. Jim and I decided to try it out.
Erika and Bryan take a lot of naps in their hammock. Not sure Jim and I ever got that comfortable. Frankly, we couldn’t stop laughing.
The lake had become overrun with the holiday weekend crowd. We were so glad we hiked in on Friday and grabbed the best group site. We even had a log between the tents which made for a nice dinning area.
In the morning, the kids decided to stay another night. They have been so busy this summer. If they stayed at the lake, they could escape life for a day and catchup on together time and naps.
Jim and I headed out just before noon. The sun on the lake was magical.
The water glissened.
As we headed down the trail, we were so happy to be leaving on Sunday and avoiding the weekend crowd. We must have seen a hundred people between Melakwa Lake and the Denny Creek Trailhead.