A Cool Hike at Hot Creek

 

 

Date: April 9, 2021

Place: Hot Creek Geological Site, Mammoth Lakes, California

Coordinates: 37.660598,-118.827749

Length: 1 mile

Level: easy

 

 Our last spring break, which happened on the second week of April, we took a trip to the two most famous canyon parks in Utah: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. We did it as a road trip, which meant a whole lotta driving. On our way back to California we took a slightly longer route, going through the Eastern Sierra region, along state road 395. I was the main promoter of this route because I love it a lot and I wanted to check out some places that I've heard about but didn't have the chance to see them before. One of these places was Hot Creek Geological Site, east of Mammoth Lakes. 

The best pictures I've seen of that place were taken in the dead of winter, when the steam rising from hot spring water contrasts with the snow on the ground. There wasn't any snow when we were there but I still wanted very much to see this place and I convinced my family that it was worth the detour.

We begun our day in the area by attempting to reach the columns of Lake Crowley. After failing to get there (the dirt road was in such a miserable condition that we had to turn around), we passed a nice hour birding by the north shore of the lake, in view of Mammoth Mountain. By the time we were done, the chikas were hungry and demanded lunch. 

North of Lake Crowley, view of Mammoth Mountain

 We drove to the little parking area of Hot Creek Geological site where we found a picnic area and made lunch. I couldn't wait and headed right to the view point to look at the creek below. The first thing that caught my eyes were the thermal pools, filled with steaming, brilliant turquoise water (header photo). 

After lunch all of us went to that view point and I took the time to look at the larger scenery surrounding those beautiful  thermal pools. 

Hot Creek, view east

Pappa Quail and the elder chika trained their cameras on a wide area of the creek east of the thermal pools where they had noticed some ducks in the water. 

The ducks were swimming downstream of the the hot water so I guess they enjoyed the extra heat. 

Cinnamon Teal

Looking again at the thermal pools I saw that all three pools were now turquoise, (before lunch only two of them had that color), and that all three were now steaming (in the earlier picture, the one I used for the header, they don't). I was fascinated by what appeared to be an increase of the water temperature in a fairly short time. Information sign by the view point warned people from dipping in the pools, stating that the water temperature has been increasing steadily in recent years, rendering a soak dangerous. That I guess, implies increase in volcanic activity below the surface. 

When I planned to check out Hot Creek I didn't know if we'll do a hike there too, but there was a trail leading down from the picnic area to the creek and we had the time on our hands so down we went.

Our hike as captured by my GPS

I stopped at a pretty rock with colorful twisted layers of sediments. Knowing the area to be volcanic in nature, I guessed that it might be sedimented volcanic ash, but I'm not sure of that. 

Down by the creek the trail continued in only one direction - westward. Looking west I saw Mammoth Mountain peeking (or peaking, both fit here ... ) above the creek's opening. 

Hot Creek, View west

The thermal pools of the hot springs were not as visible from the creek level. The steam however, revealed their location. The day was fairly cool and I thought of how nice it would have been to sit in hot springs pools. These hot springs were dangerously hot though, and not suitable for dipping. 

Hot Springs of Hot Creek

The trail led us all the way down t the creek side. There were no ducks, or any other bird there. Nor did we see any other wildlife. There were a few other people near the creek, but it wasn't difficult to get human-free photos. 

There was much vegetation growing inside the creek itself. Submerged or floating, they streaked wuth the current, painting the creek with ribbons of greens. 

Hot Creek closeup

Although last winter had very little precipitation, it was very cold for an extended season. Early April was apparently too early for spring. The extended cold and the lack of precipitation meant there was very little bloom to see anywhere in the area. I was therefore, very pleased to see milkvetch blooming along the trail in various spots. 

Pursh's Milkvertch, Astragalus purshii 

The creek curved just right for Mammoth Mountain to be visible over the creek. I thought of the spring break of 2018, the same time of year, when me and the chikas were skiing that whole week on that mountain. There was so much snow that year that the resort was open for skiing past the 4th of July. Now the mountain was scantly clad. 

Mammoth Mountain

A large cloud floated overhead, darkening the scenery. It was a light cloud, by no means a rain loaded one, but the air got suddenly colder, and the colors more bland. One notable exception were the bright-colored lichen on the creekside rocks. 

Lichen

We came upon a mass of rocks that blocked the trail and had to climb our way around it. The trail didn't continue much further past those rocks. It was time to either turn around or otherwise find a way up the hill to the access dirt road.  

Hot Creek

There was a pullout parking area right above us and a number of unofficial foot paths leading to and fro it. We chose the one that seemed the easiest and begun ascending it. A raven that sat perched on a nearby rock eyed us carefully as we made our way past it. 

Raven

When we arrived at the pullout area I volunteered to go fetch the car. I snapped a quick goodbye shot of Hot Creek and headed up the dirt road to the view area where we had parked. 

Hot Creek, view west

While I was away the birders in my family kept themselves busy photographing swallows. I got to see their photos only when preparing to write this post, though. 

Tree Swallow

They didn't see anything spectacular so they didn't bother to show me their photos. When I checked them on my own however, I did find some nice ones. The photo here was obviously not a good one in a birder's point of view, but I like the composition of the rock and the juniper. The tiny bird standing alone on the rock helps express the aloneness of this remote place. 

I got the car, picked up Pappa Quail and the chikas, and off we went, back to Route 395 and north towards Mono Lake. Every time we go past Lee Vining we drop by to visit Mono Lake. This time however, we would not be going to the South Tufa area, the site we usually visit. This time we were headed to Black Point at the north shore of Mono Lake. There I was hoping to see the volcanic fissures that a friend of mine told me about and it was nagging at the back of my mind ever since.