The Other California: A Monday Mystery (and a gratuitous cute deer picture)

Today's entry into the Other California series lies in the Modoc Plateau/Cascade Provinces, and presents itself as a bit of a mystery...

How is it that this dry creekbed...

Becomes this river, less than 1/2 mile downstream?

There are no tributary streams. There aren't any storms in the area. The elevation is about 3,000 above sea level. An inadvertent clue of sorts is buried in an earlier post, found here.

This river is related to one of the prettiest sights in California that is not part of the National Park System, although a visiting president once called it one of the natural wonders of the world.

Oh, and here is your gratuitous furry creature picture for the day. I saw them along the upper dry creek while trying to avoid stepping into the prevalent poison oak.