Torrent
Traverse Creek Falls near Placerville has four different stages of flow: (1) dry, (2) single, (3) double, and (4) torrent. Today the waterfall was in full torrent mode.
Since I had Monday off work today for the holiday, I was kinda wanting to get out and do some waterfallin. But I was also kinda wanting to sleep in as well. I got up early and looked outside. It was windy but not raining. We are in the middle of a huge winter storm here in northern California. It was scheduled to rain and rain hard all day long. There was a lull in the storm, though, when I got up early and I could have gone out. But I just didn’t feel like going out. And I knew the rain would be coming soon. So I went back to bed instead. When I woke up later, the rain had started. We stayed home all day, a lazy day. But in the afternoon, it seemed to be letting up a bit. Possibly breaking a bit early perhaps. Or not. But I got some energy in me and decided to head up the hill to Traverse Creek Falls, rain or not.
When I arrived at the trailhead, I noticed two things: first, it was pouring down rain very hard. Second, there was another car there. Who else would be out in this rain??? I decided to walk on down to the waterfall in hopes that the rain would let up by the time I got down there. I could tell that the waterfall would be in torrent mode. When the small feeder streams that you have to cross on the way are full, then that means it is torrent for sure. Along the way, I passed the couple from the other car. They were not photographers, just a couple that enjoys rain and raging waterfalls, I guess. I said to them that I sure didn’t expect to see anyone else out here in this rain today. They laughed and said it was quite wet down there at the falls. No doubt. After that, it started hailing. That was interesting. I arrived at the top of the waterfall. It is a very steep descent down to the bottom, and no doubt slippery because of the wetness. Fortunately though, there is a rope that makes it fairly easy to descend.
Once I got to the bottom, the rain stopped! Indeed, it stopped just long enough for me to take two photos! Then it started up raining again. Well, that was perfect timing. But God is perfect, isn’t He. Thank you! If it didn’t start raining again, I might have considered crossing the stream to get a photo from the other side of the creek, but the creek was flowing pretty swiftly. There are only 3 steps to cross the creek, but they would be tough ones. I did bring my water shoes, but I didn’t feel like doing it in the rain. Too much effort.
I also noticed that someone had left a small stuffed cat down there. It was just sitting there on the rock, watching the waterfall. I stood there in the rain for awhile beside it, watching the waterfall as well. Then I let him be, and made the climb back up the wet path back to my car.
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