Melakwa - Pratt Lake Traverse — Saturday, Jul. 8, 2023

Quiet, beautiful, and plenty of work. Hiking to Melakwa via the Pratt Lake basin is a great way to go. Lakes along the way, shade, varied landscape.

Between Little Tuscohatchie and Melakwa there are many blow downs obscuring the trail. Just trust yourself and go where you think the trail goes and you’ll most likely be right. Still, i did have a few moments of worry…and laughter at the number of obstacles.

Flowers are blooming away but a great reason to hike this, aside from the solitude, is the opportunity to be among big old trees. Coming up to Little Tuscohatchie from below, like the approach to Mason Lake, is a lovely approach.

I hiked down to Denny Creek to make a loop. This is a terrible idea since the road is closed and there’s a hefty fine for walking on it, a homeowner told me just before i hit the bottom and the road back to the Pratt Lake/Granite Mountain parking lot. I’m embarrassed i didn’t know -wasn’t prepared- but i made it.