It starts as a whisper.  Sometimes in January, sometimes not until May.  But always, every year, someone is the first to mention it.  We watch as the water levels climb slowly, then climb quickly, then start to dwindle.  Then, the Clear Creek Intermediate stretch stops running, and we know it's close.  And then, we watch the river gauge through July, knowing that it's coming.   Finally, around the third week in July, it finally arrives.  The Colorado River Gauge at Gore canyon drops below 1300 CFS, and it's official.  Gore season has started!