Scrambling Kaleetan Peak - White Ledges Route

Trip to Kaleetan Peak, White Ledges Route, from Denny Creek trailhead on July 8th, 2012.  The trailhead is the Denny Creek trailhead at 2,280 feet and the Kaleetan summit is 6,259 feet.  With some elevation lost in a few places, the vertical gain is around 4,200 feet. The roundtrip time was around 10 and a half hours.  The route followed Denny Creek trail up to Hemlock Pass and then Melakwa Lake and Upper Melakwa Lake.  From there the route heads up towards Melakwa Pass and the White Ledges Route.

Denny Creek Slippery Slabs:

Denny Creek stream crossing over logjam, with water much higher by end of the day due to snowmelt:

Denny creek:

The trail above the creek crossing:

 Talus along the trail:

Keekwulee Falls:

 Snowbridge on the trail, melted out by the return in the afternoon:

 Looking up at Hemlock Pass:

 The trail disappeared in the patchy snow:

 Just below Hemlock Pass:

Melakwa Lake

 Chair Peak:

 Melakwa Lake partially melted:

 Bryant Peak:

 Upper Melakwa Lake:

 Heading up the valley towards Melakwa Pass:

 Rockfall evidence:

 Below Melakwa Pass:

 Looking up at Kaleetan Peak:

 Just below Melakwa Pass:

 A steep snow traverse:

 The eastern flank of Kaleetan:

The loose blocky rock of Kaleetan:

 Looking up the white ledges route, partially covered by snow:

 A closer look:

 Scrambling loose rock:

 A nice break spot:

 Rock traverse:

 Loose slabs:

 Interesting rock:

 More steep snow:

 Kaleetan eye candy:

 Beautiful sub-alpine scenery:

 Tree debris from avalanches earlier in the season:

 Between Melakwa Lake and Upper Melakwa Lake:

 Denny Creek upper crossing on log bridge:

Round trip, car to car, 10 and a half hours.