Hard Hike - Melakwa Lake

Challenging Hike to Melakwa Lake (Weather Dependent) \\\I dont have a car so at least one attendee will have to have a car and drive the group. We will each pay you for gas. Join Bellevue Ladies for a challenging hike to beautiful Melakwa Lake near Snoqualmie Pass! This is a great opportunity to get a workout, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with other adventurous women. Once you RSVP, if you are not already a member of the Bellevue Ladies Whatsapp group, please message me (Amanda Mansfield, host) your phone number so I can send you a link to the group. In the Hard Hikes chat within the Whatsapp group is where we will discuss hiking details. Hike Details \\\Destination: \\Melakwa Lake, Snoqualmie Pass, WA \\ \Distance: \\Approximately 8.5 miles round trip \\\ Elevation gain: \\Approximately 2,700 feet \\ \Difficulty: Hard / strenuous \\\ Estimated hiking time: Approximately 5–7 hours, depending on group pace and trail conditions \\\ Meeting Location: South Bellevue Park and Ride (we will meet there and carpool) \\\ Driving time: Approximately 45 minutes from South Bellevue Park and Ride, depending on traffic ## Hiking Melakwa Lake The way to Melakwa Lake is like two different trails: first a wide gentle trail through old growth forest beneath an elevated and noisy Interstate freeway. And second, a rocky steep trail that follows a waterfall and a precipitous gorge upstream to get to a pair of clear alpine lakes flanked by rocky peaks. Is it about the journey or the destination? You decide. Start out from the Denny Creek trailhead on a wide trail that meanders through forest, with trees young and old. Due to its popularity, this part of the trail has been the focus of numerous trail maintenance outings, yet there are still rocks and roots to contend with; that’s just the nature of the terrain. At a half mile, freeway noise peaks as you pass under the elevated span of eastbound Interstate 90. Then at just over 1…