The last time I visited the Upper Amnicon Falls in January, it was an ice coated column with the water running behind the ice formation, but today the ice is gone. The flow level is low for springtime, but this year there wasn’t much snow pack to melt this season.
Thawed Out Falls
The ice is slowly breaking up as the warm winter temperatures continue most days. This side branch of the Amnicon River feeds the Snake Pit Falls farther downstream.
Frozen Amnicon
The fast flowing water and warm temperatures have melted the ice on the river, although my pond still remains frozen.
Ice Melted
Water is a magnetic to kids, like this group crossing the Amnicon River during very dry conditions and the cool water they were playing in would feel good on this hot Saturday of the holiday weekend.
Kids Crossing River
The summer dry conditions have reduced the water flow of the Amnicon River and visitors to the park can cross the river without the need of the bridge. Rains this week, and especially today, have filled my pond causing it to overflow and instead of people playing in the flowing water, a doe with her fawns were splashing around in my overflow running water.
Low Amnicon River
There may have been some outdoor activities with families today to celebrate Father’s Day and enjoying splashing in the water on a hot Sunday afternoon sounds like a fun day.
Wading in the River
It is amazing when 20 degrees feels warm, but considering that 20 above zero is 40 degrees warmer than the minus 20 yesterday morning, it is a bit of a heat wave. But still not above freezing to melt any snow so the scene at the Amnicon Lower Falls would have white from snow on the rocks instead of just the white from the water foam.
White Water Foam
The sun might have been shining today although it was only slightly above freezing for a Sunday stroll outside, but at least this river was flowing and not coated in ice like my pond.
Chilly Sunday River
With the start of the holiday weekend and being a hot summer day, water was drawing in people in for different activities. The mist from the waterfall would feel good (but does get the camera lens wet).
A Day By the Falls
With flooded streets and washed out bridges from the nine inches of rain that started falling Sunday evening, it is sometimes hard to remember that a short distance away could still be dry. This waterfall, 125 miles to the north of me, could have used some of the water that fell here. I have seen this falls twice before, even once in the autumn, and the water covered most of the face of the rock past where the two little streams are falling. The name of “Now and Then Falls” is fitting as it only flows abundantly when the river level is high and feeds the small branch of the Amnicon River. And this year, the area as been dry so it is barely flowing and one of my relatives called it “Once in a While”.
Almost Dry Waterfall
