High water happening now

High water is happening now. You don't need to check the USGS gages (their spelling) on the East or West Fork for verification but you can if you want. Just look at the rivers. After several days of warmth the rivers and creeks approach full condition, well short of actual flood but conveying a good volume of water nonetheless.

Interestingly enough the Carson River watershed, up to May 1, has above average snowpack (125 percent) but runoff is still expected to be slightly below normal (94 percent) due to previous dry winters. But we're not done yet; as I write the forecast is calling for unsettled weather through the next week.

No place is better to witness the rumble and flow of moving water than the falls on Hot Springs Creek a mile and a half above the parking area at Grover Hot Springs State Park. Winds pick up the spray and waft it over the surrounding banks, conversation gets lost in the roar and one can only marvel at the processes that make this happen.

Move back from the bank. There are rivulets and feeder streams in every declivity. Listen to the river; the higher notes disappear and only the thudding bass notes reverberate here. Conversation is again possible.

Now is the time. In a month flow levels will drop, feeders streams dry and summer, along with the water that came before it, will produce the bounty of plant growth and animal life necessary for species survival during the next cold season.

Occasionally a summer thunderstorm will cause a significant rise in creek levels but rarely produce enough to duplicate present flow levels.

In Markleeville turn right on Montgomery Street, bear right up Hot Springs Road, and continue past the Charity Valley East trailhead. Turn right into the park entrance, pay the $8 parking fee and continue to the gated end of the road.

Pick up the trail at the north end of the parking area; turn left (west) toward the falls, now 1.5 miles ahead. This is mostly an easy stroll but near the falls there are granitic outcroppings to climb up and over and at the falls there is opportunity for granite scrambling depending on what angle you want to view the falls from.

Until then it's a walk in a park. Note the meadow on your left with filtered views of the buildings at the actual hot springs. Water comes out of the ground at 148 degrees F but is cooled to 101 to 103 degrees F at the pool. Admire the glaciated valley, granitic rock laid bare by ice, glacial erratics and outcroppings slowly being covered by soil.

Past the spur trail to the hot springs the forest changes from Jeffrey pine monoculture to a mix by adding cedar and white fir. Note the black fungus on some cedar trees. In the riparian zone cottonwoods continue, willows disappear with the meadow to be replaced by alders that grow well under the canopy.

At about 1 mile bear left on the signed falls trail. The right fork will take you up to Charity Valley and Blue Lakes Road about 2,000 vertical feet and five miles away.

Climb over the aforementioned granitic outcropping, stepping carefully and shortly approach the falls. Good views can be had from the bottom but take time to scramble and switchback up the granite for varied views and sounds. Use caution - some spots are slick with loose DG, pine needles or moisture. Step only on clean dry rock to avoid mishaps.

Photo opportunities abound at the falls. Continue past the falls for excellent rapids and smaller falls. The sound of rushing water is everywhere. Be still for a while, listen and watch; you may see a western tanager in breeding plumage. Go now while the water is high. It only happens once a year. Retrace your steps to the car and stop at the hot springs for a soak on the way out. Bring water, a snack and the other essentials necessary for a short hike.