I took this photo with my family at Castle Lake about 2 hours before the eclipse started at 5:16Pm yesterday. We decided to hike up there and were surprised that because of the very warm weather how much of the snow had melted. Even though it was difficult to get through pools of partially melted snow and a few snowbanks. We were able to sort of negotiate the Western trail around the lake to get this photo yesterday afternoon just before the eclipse started near the Oregon Border here in California.
Later in the summer in July and August people who are brave enough dive off the rock crevice that starts at the lower right of the falls and goes up to the upper left of the waterfalls into the alpine lake fed completely by snowmelt. But by then the snow melt doesn't form itself into this waterfall and comes down out of water springs at various places around the lake. But, for now, here in May it is a spectacular waterfall that Kayakers love because the water is too cold for most people without a wet suit to swim this time of year because this lake is at 6000 feet in elevation.
I have often in years passed cross country skied across the lake in January or February and then this waterfall is solid ice and the lake ice is usually 2 to 5 feet thick during that time of the year weather and temperature permitting. Often near the parking lot snow is 12 to 15 feet deep during those times of the year as you head out onto the lake ice and snow with your skis. (of course the road either has to be plowed or passable during those times or this wouldn't be possible for most people.)
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