[Geysers] Shoshone 17 July

[Jeffrey Cross]

On 17 July 2005 Shoshone Geyser Basin was visited.  The bugs were even
worse than at Heart Lake, the only relief coming during the day in the
open parts of the basin.

Steve Robinson noted the general activity earlier in the season.  Notable
additional observations from this trip are as follows:

Little Giant is apparently not having minors.  The formation is dry and
the pool is placid, even during eruptions of Double Geyser.  There are
hissing steam vents on the south side of the pool.  A small vent to the
west has begun overflowing more heavily.

Meander Geyser may be dormant.  It failed to wash markers on this trip and
was not seen at all by me (or anyone else?) last summer.  Care must be
taken, however, since Meander can look dormant when it is merely in
between eruptions.

Soap Kettle is active, but anemic.

Minute Man's pool was seen toward the end of what was probably a 5-hour
eruption cycle by Minute Man.

Union's water level is the lowest I have ever seen.  In the main cone, the
water is well down into the narrow vent at the bottom of the cavity inside
the cone (probably 6-8 feet below the top of the cone).  Extremely low
water was also noted in White Hot Spring, Sea Green Pool, and the UNNG
trumpet-shaped vent nearby, which has turned into a fumarole.  Springs on
the west side of the trail, however, were overflowing as usual.  There was
no sign of activity from Taurus Spring.  (Maybe the earthquake will change
this?)

In the North Group, nice eruptions of Bead, Knobby, Hydra, and Mangled
Crater were all seen.  Terracette is also active, and is draining 4-6 feet
following Bead.  It should be noted that the 4-6 inch figure given in our
Transactions article is in error, 4-6 feet was meant.  Frill Spring is
certainly active.  It was overflowing heavily and frequently, and there is
fresh wash about the crater.  Lion Geyser is dormant and flooded.  Slosh
Geyser is probably dormant (lack of recent wash) though minors were seen a
few weeks earlier by Steve (pers. commun.), and the crater is still hot.

Outbreak Geyser in the South Group is flooded, and will probably get
sintered over soon.  The geyser downslope of it is active.

In the Western Group, Not Pectin Geyser is active.  The odd green-tea
colored pool in the woods behind Boiling Cauldron was active and periodic,
erupting to 1-2 feet.

Jeff Cross
jacross at lamar.colostate.edu