Melba Lake lies on the forested southeast flanks of Chuwhels Mountain.    In winter we can snowshoe to the lake from Lodgepole Lake or from the Logan Lake Road.   On a sunny winter day I parked just off the main road and followed snowed-in backroads to the southwest side of the lake.   In previous years I had followed the branch roads to the northwest corner, then descended through a plantation to the lake.   This time I tried to go directly through the Melba Creek drainage to the lake, but it was choked with windfall and the snow was deep and untracked so this route is not recommended.  

Even on the branch roads I was breaking trail, tiring work for any distance.     

Melba FSR

Once I was on the lake, the going was easy, but I was breaking trail on the south half of the lake.

On the north end of the lake I picked up a snowshoe track across the lake and up to a branch road and known routes back to the start.  

on Melba Lake

I usually don’t go into Melba Lake until February when some of the snow has consolidated and later in the season when there is a possibility of snowmobile or snowshoe tracks to reduce trail-breaking.   I also try to alternate routes each year.  Next year will be a loop route from Lodgepole Lake, probably in February.