Melakwa Lake Hike

Took our cabin guests Juanita, Brendan, Iris and Hazel on our long trail. What started as a nice enough stroll in the woods turned into a wet, cold death march by the end. Super hiker kids made it all the way up to Melakwa Lake and back despite less than ideal weather conditions.
img_5666 Still dry and warm at the first obstacle - the Denny Creek waterslide. The water level was still high enough to make the crossing interesting without making it...
Still dry and warm at the first obstacle - the Denny Creek waterslide. The water level was still high enough to make the crossing interesting without making it…
img_5668 While the humans make their way across Zilly has his own plan.
While the humans make their way across Zilly has his own plan.
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img_5674 Keekwulee Falls, a couple miles in from the trailhead, would have been a wise stopping point since the rain started for real at this point.
Keekwulee Falls, a couple miles in from the trailhead, would have been a wise stopping point since the rain started for real at this point.
img_5675 Looking back down the Denny Creek valley.
Looking back down the Denny Creek valley.
img_5677 First signs of rain on the camera lens. Kathryn looking far too happy.
First signs of rain on the camera lens. Kathryn looking far too happy.
img_5679 Iris and Zoe, not so wisely wearing a cotton sweatshirt (who are her parents?!) climbing.
Iris and Zoe, not so wisely wearing a cotton sweatshirt (who are her parents?!) climbing.
img_5680 Gavin and super-hiker Hazel picking their way up the trail with Zilly going the wrong way.
Gavin and super-hiker Hazel picking their way up the trail with Zilly going the wrong way.
img_5681 Gavin atop a
Gavin atop a "fall and you die" spot above the gorge that Denny Creek has carved. Across the gorge is a large accumlation of last winter's snow that looks like…
img_5685 Next crossing of Denny Creek was a bit trickier, but still doable with good shoes or an assist.
Next crossing of Denny Creek was a bit trickier, but still doable with good shoes or an assist.
img_5690 At Melakwa Lake! It got so miserable we evidently take any pictures at the hike's high point at Hemlock Pass. Zoe was more miserable than she appears in this...
At Melakwa Lake! It got so miserable we evidently take any pictures at the hike's high point at Hemlock Pass. Zoe was more miserable than she appears in this…
img_5691 Kathryn preparing for her dip in a partially ice-covered Melakwa Lake. She used this as motivation to get Hazel all the way here. Our camera decided it's so wet...
Kathryn preparing for her dip in a partially ice-covered Melakwa Lake. She used this as motivation to get Hazel all the way here.
Our camera decided it's so…
img_5692 Juanita, Brendan, and a bunch of water droplets on the camera lens are all smiles.
Juanita, Brendan, and a bunch of water droplets on the camera lens are all smiles.
img_5695 The aftermath of Kathryn jumping into the lake (yes, that's ice floating in the background) which must have been really f'ing cold. Most of us were already...
The aftermath of Kathryn jumping into the lake (yes, that's ice floating in the background) which must have been really f'ing cold. Most of us were already…
img_5696 I'm not sure what word she's uttering as she's trying to get her clothes back on as quickly as possible, but I have a good guess.
I'm not sure what word she's uttering as she's trying to get her clothes back on as quickly as possible, but I have a good guess.
img_5697 Cold, cold, cold, cold!
Cold, cold, cold, cold!
img_5698 Would you jump into this knowing you'd be hiking in the rain for another couple hours?
Would you jump into this knowing you'd be hiking in the rain for another couple hours?
img_5699 On the descent the clouds moved in for real though the rain let up a bit.
On the descent the clouds moved in for real though the rain let up a bit.