I-90 hovering otherworldly above in the early miles. Kathryn wearing a doggie-carrying backpack, which Zilly never ended up using. The always dramatic Keekwulee Falls. Last fall a 17 year old boy somehow fell and died in this area. Starting the real hike up at the end of the valley approaching Hemlock Pass. The last few remnants of snow hiding in avalanche gullies. Lower Lake Melakwa! With the road and trail closed to everybody except cabin owners it was a great quiet hike. From our awesome lunch rock we could look over Upper Lake Melakwa towards Kaleetan Peak and Melakwa Pass. Don't venture too close to the edge lest you tumble in and have quite a challenge getting back out. Interesting iron cracks in the smooth rock at the Denny Creek slide. Middle Fork Hike