[Geysers] delayed geyser report for 10/15 - 17/04 by Kitt Barger

[Katherine Barger]

     Sorry about the delay in reporting but the preschoolers I work with decided to share their colds with me.  Thomas had a band activity, so Kevin and I arrived at the Park Oct. 14th (late in the evening).  We already knew that both Giantess and Giant had erupted earlier in the week, and everyone we saw told us we should stay home, since the weather was going to be horrible (but we took a gamble and it paid off).  We stopped at the Visitor Center to check the log book which had:
Oct. 13th - Beehive - 1219 and 2345 vr
                 Grand - 0023 E, 0850 ie, 1526 (T2C), 2204 E
                 Giantess  - 1234
                 Oblong - 1341 ie
                 Great Fountain - 1603

Oct. 14th - Beehive - 1334
                 Castle - 1133
                 Grand - 0537 E, 1204 ns
                 Oblong - 0823 ie
                 Great Fountain - 0340 E
     Kevin and I got settled in and crunched numbers to decide when we should hit the boardwalks in the morning.  Alarm set for 0620.  (As Kevin noted Friday morning, it is still dark.)
     The Park seemed void of other gazers (although we later learned that K. C. and several others were present) and Kevin and I were determined to see as many geysers as we could.  As we arrived in the Lower Store's parking lot we both noted, "Beehive's Indicator in eruption at 0730."  We hurried to the overlook and Beehive welcomed us at 0737.  Our brief time at the overlook had acclimatized us and we returned to the car to get our packs.  Kevin searched for more warm clothing and I removed the bulky coat and settled for layers of fleece and my rain coat for wind protection.  We headed for Grand and started noting anything that erupted, including the Old Faithful eruptions.  There were a surprising amount of visitors for the late season (although many of Wyoming's schools take that Friday off for "Fall Festival", otherwise known as the first day for hunting season).  Daisy erupted at 0840, Penta had a full eruption at 0840 (duration of 32 minutes), and Lion was seen in eruption at 0845.  We found out via radio that Castle had erupted 0009 E and Grand at 0216 E.  (The Visitor Center was basing their predictions on a 7 hour 25 minute interval.)  West Triplet erupted at 0954 and Grand wowed us with a (T2C) at 1004.  Rift was near start at 1039, and then I headed to Daisy which erupted at 1132.  Both Oblong at 1101 ie and Riverside at 1110 ie caught me off guard and Grotto quit its marathon sometime before 1100.  Castle erupted at 1309, a visitor reported Daisy at 1410, Oblong erupted again at 1438 (duration of 7 minutes), and I walked up in time to catch over half of Artemisia's eruption (which a knowledgeable visitor reported a start time of 1455 and a duration of 21 minutes).  I observed Giant's recovery Hot Period at 1559 that had a duration of 8 minutes 31 seconds.  Feather, Feather's Sat., S. W. V.s, and Rust were involved with most of India being covered and Mastiff's heights varied from 6" to a sustained 4'.  There was no restart.  K.C. returned with a Great Fountain start time of 1519 (pause of 8 min.).  I had decided to pedal up to catch the next Daisy, but was worried that I was pushing my limit and might miss Grand.  Turban 1649, Daisy at 1701, and I headed for Castle on my bike.  I arrived at Castle with about 3 minutes to spare before the next Turban, when I looked forward and realized (Uh Oh) ,"Beehive's Indicator in eruption at 1707" and as I debated, I looked over my shoulder and called,"Riverside 1709 ie" which apparently amazed the staff in the Visitor Center.  Many people headed for Beehive.  Kevin stayed at Grand and told me the pool was dropping (Turban 1710), and I was off to the overlook.  Kevin called West Triplet (1715), Lion started an initial at 1721, and Kevin (for the first time ever) radioed, "Grand Now!" (1727).  Beehive joined in at 1728.  (Grand was a G2Q.)  Kevin will never forget being able to radio Grand's eruption.  He said that several visitors started to leave when Grand quit and he said, "I told them to wait and we might get a second burst."  He said they stopped and were amazed when Grand headed skyward again.  I returned to Oblong hoping for another eruption, but soon decided that it was time to call it a day, so we headed out to West Yellowstone for the evening.  So much for the horrible weather that we had been expecting.  With the exception of a few sprinkles, and some cloudiness, the day was wonderful, although we did return in the rain.  
     Saturday, Oct. 16th was very windy.  (I had listened to several trees fall during the night.)  The sky was overcast, but improved as the morning progressed.  Gusts ranged anywhere from 10 to 45 mph with occasional patches of clouds rushing overhead only to give way to sunlight.  Kevin chose to sleep in this day, but the geysers called me and I was out to catch the 0736 Old Faithful (which was a long).  I headed for Grand.  I watched 4 Turbans before Grand erupted at 0847 (T1C).  The electronic overnight for Grand was 0028 and Castle was at 0204 E.  I noted that Grotto was off by 0900.  Daisy at 0959.  Giant had a 7 minute Hot Period at 1014.  Riverside at 1141, Daisy at 1254, Grotto Fountain at 1314, & Grotto at 1315.  While visiting with K.C. and several others at Grotto, I noticed Oblong's steam at 1343 (and made it there in time to watch it end at 1346).  Kevin had left me earlier to sit on the Lower Store's porch to watch for Beehive's Indicator, which he announced over the radio at 1410.  Beehive erupted at 1430.  I returned to Grotto still hoping for a Rocket Major (no luck).  Mary called Grand at 1454 catching everyone off guard.  Castle erupted at 1505 and Giant had a hot period 1518 ie (which ended at 1523).  India was only half covered with Mastiff showing no effort.  Lion initial at 1520 per radio, Daisy at 1545, Penta was in steam phase at 1554 ie, Rift at 1556 ie, West Triplet 1602 ie, and Uncertain 1612.  I decided to try my luck with Artemisia and arrived over the hill noting the wind was blowing a large steam cloud sideways.  Artemisia at 1630 ns (ending at 1650).  Due to blasting winds I didn't see much.  The entire body of water was covered in 4 feet of steam that swirled with water spikes poking up out of the mist.  Kevin radioed Lion at 1648 and I observed Oblong's steam cloud (at 1656 ie) as I returned to my bike from Artemisia.  Riverside erupted at 1739, another Giant Hot Period occurred at 1809 (duration of 5 min. 21 sec.) with nothing from Mastiff.  Kevin and I headed for West Yellowstone determined to get ice cream from Arrowleaf.  (It turned out to be their closing night, but we made it and they will reopen in December.)  When we came back I took a solo walk to check on Grand which had erupted before 2200, since all was quiet from Vent and Turban.  West Triplet was in eruption at 2212.  (I later found out that Grand erupted at 2151 electronic.)  The sky was littered with stars, but the many geyser sounds made the walk very earie.
     Sunday, Oct. 17th, the 0730 ie Vent cruelly told me that I had missed Grand.  Grotto was still in a marathon, so Kevin and I headed to the Lower Geyser Basin in time to see Fountain's huge steam cloud at 0850 ie.  Narcissus was also ie at 0855.  We returned in time to catch Castle which had minored before I came out that morning.  Kevin was excited to hang out with his buddy Kevin S.  The most exciting thing to occur that day was the bison at Riverside.  I pedaled down to hopefully catch a Riverside, only a visitor told me that Riverside wasn't even overflowing at 1015 (which meant the 1045 predicted time was going to be wrong).  A lone bison posed for pictures in front of Riverside in the water.  It then decided to mosey across the river, climbed the hill, and after much consideration it bedded down not 10 feet from the sign.  The tourists were pretty relaxed about the bison until I explained how fast it could get to full speed.  They decided to leave the front benches and opted for the back ones.  I left to check on Fan and Mortar which had erupted sometime between Oct. 13 and 14 (Wed. to Thurs.) only to return in time to see the bison having a serious rub on the sign that posts the next estimated eruption.  I radioed the visitor center when the sign started spinning around on a single bolt, but that didn't last long.  The bison took the sign out.  He slowly walked away with part of the sign stuck in his coat, pausing to debate taking out a video camera that had been left unattended.  After the bison left the area, we noted that the bison was within 3 feet of the video camera and that he had completely erased the prediction on the sign.  Riverside erupted at 1213.  Oblong was at 1300ns and Grand was at 1329 (G1C).  I stayed around until 1600 and then Kevin and I decided that Beehive would have to go without us.  We headed home by way of the South Entrance, still amazed at the wonderful weather we had.  
     We won't be in this weekend, since both boys are attending the Spook Splash Swim Meet in Lander, but hopefully we'll be in the next two weekends.
                                                            Katherine (Kitt) Barger     
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