Several WWCC members met one mile outside of Markleeville the evening of May 7th at a campground located along the Markleeville Creek. Jerry Schott and Kay Lyon were the trip leaders for the Class II overnight trip. Myself, Sarah, Amy Lyon, Steve & Joan Ellsworth, Brook Trout Lyon, and Steve Frie paddled with Kay and Jerry. Upon our arrival, the sound of the roaring Markleeville creek was most notable upon opening the car door and throughout the evening. Apparently snow melt rivers and creeks crest during the night, as the runoff takes many hours to reach the river. Jerry & Kay decided that we'd put in on the creek. A frosty early spring evening in the Sierra Nevada yielded a cloudless and warm morning. We all headed to the Cutthroat Saloon / Biker Bar / Sheriff's hangout for breakfast. The Cutthroat saloon gives out T-shirts for free if you are willing to make a "donation" .. After making arrangements for a shuttle, it was back to the campground. Sarah and I soon realized that even though a canoe can carry a lot, the less you carry the better. We put into the Markleeville creek and it was a few miles until we merged with Carson river. The water was cold and bigger than I 'd expected. Sarah and I hadn't paddled whitewater since June of last year, enhancing our jitters. The confluence of the Markleeville Creek and The Carson river presented a challenging paddle. The challenge was to ferry into the Carson river without being pushed into an undercut. After several attempts, several paddlers decided to ferry across the Markleeville creek and put in upstream on the Carson river. The Carson was running fast and we immediately started riding several large wave trains. The nice thing about the Carson is that there are not many obstacles. The challenges are tight turns. Jerry & Kay, Sarah & I, and the Ellsworths were paddling Mad River Explorers. The Explorers were taking on a lot of water and our projected two hour trip started to become delayed for frequent bailing stops (especially for the Explorers). The scenery was spectacular and helped ease the jitters a few paddlers were feeling. The framing of the snow frosted Sierra Nevada framed against the canyon walls stands out in my mind as classic Carson river scenery. We weren't on the Carson too long before one of the paddlers in our group became separated with her boat. Sarah and I quickly put the river rescue skills we learned last year into action. Sarah's first throw made it to Amy and her boat. Sarah and I quickly paddled to the river bank. The river was flowing fast, the waves were numerous. Amy was unable to keep hold of her boat. As we paddled Amy ashore, her boat became wedged into an undercut. Jerry quickly went to work to see what he could do to rescue the boat. Soon, several kayakers came upon the pinned b oat and were able to lend a hand. Jerry was perched just above the undercut on a brittle outcropping. He was able to attach a rope to the boat. We tried to pull the boat free from the opposite shore after a kayaker ferried the rope to us. Unfortunately this technique was unsuccessful. Jerry then tried to pull the boat up and out from the undercut. This technique freed the boat. Our paddling group then set out on the river again. The river did not let up and we were greeted with numerous wave trains, sharp turns, and continual bail out sessions. As the day moved on, the jitters subsided. Apparently, several hot springs exist along the Carson river. We soon came upon a large encampment of kayakers and rafts. Soon our group picked a site amongst the fragrant sagebrush. Everyone seemed to have kept their gear dry for the most part. We set camp, lit a fire, and made off for the hotsprings. When we arrived at the hot springs, the one pool was full and nudity mandatory. We started searching for a less populated pool, which we never found. We did follow the source of the hot spring to where the spring exited the mountainside. The sulfuric water supported a wide range of green, red, and yellow life forms. Our group decided that the hot springs might would be better in the morning, so we departed back to camp for dinner. Jerry brought his portable barbecue and the group set out their meal: chicken with BBQ sauce, filet mignon, baked potatoes. After dinner Steve Frie circulated a tasty single malt Irish whiskey. The whiskey was quite tasty and took the nip out of a brisk night. Everyone was in bed early. I slept like a rock. Apparently others slept on rocks. In the morning I was able to get the coals of the fire hot enough to get a fire going again. A few of the group took a morning bath at the local hot spring. We ate breakfast, packed our gear and were on the river again. At the top of the camp, the river split into three channels. We decided to take door number three, which was on the opposite shore. As we ferried across the Carson, skipping door number one - a fast, rocky, and wet channel, we soon realized that door number three entailed a wet portage due to lack of flow. This was okay, as calm was goodness at this point. As we exited channel number three, we came upon the hot spring as several people were getting ready to imbibe. I only saw the beginning; however, Steve Ellsworth caught the show - quite good from what I understand. The river's personality remained the same: fast, cold water. Tight turns. Wave trains which kept our Explorers wet. Quickly, the canyon became shallow, the water slowed, and large Volkswagen size rocks made their appearance. The big rocks were few and far between. The sun shined and we breathed in Sierra Nevada spring and sagebrush. We stopped for lunch along a rocky sand bar. After lunch the group took a nap. Some of the paddlers found a nice, soft, and warm sandy bank. Others turned gravel and pillow sized rocks into a bed. After lunch we continued our paddle with the Jerry's knowledge of a an old ranch house located on river left along the flood plain. Soon enough, Jerry spotted the stone foundation of an old one bedroom ranch. It was a beautiful location. We explored the area, seeing a well, old fencing, and other remains of the settlement. I soon started thinking of how to make this property livable again as a self sustaining home - in case I decided to quit my job and leave the Bay Area. Jerry was quick to point out that I should come up here in the winter before I make my decision. At the time I saw a few goats, field of vegetables, solar panels, water wheel, hot tub . Back on the river, we all relaxed into a lazy paddle to the take out. Wait ! Ahead, a sign stating that a dangerous water fall lay 300 yards ahead. All boaters must take out. Was this our take out or did we have a nasty portage ahead ? It was our take out. Thanks Jerry and Kay. We had a wonderful trip.