[Geysers] Weekend geyser report (9/30 - 10/1) Kitt Barger

[barger]

     After working very hard as a preschool teacher for this month, I rewarded myself with a trip to Yellowstone for the weekend.  I arrived Friday evening, checked the logbook at the Visitor Center, and then went to check Great Fountain.  I found Great Fountain to be post eruptive at 2130.  I stayed there a while to listen to the bull elk that were bugling throughout the area.  Wildlife was abundant, and elk ran across the road (in front of my vehicle) several times that evening.  I decided to call it a night, since I was planning on being out in the basin at first light.  
     Saturday morning arrived at a brisk 28 degrees.  I arrived at the Lower Ham's parking lot at 0658 and found Lion in eruption.  I watched it erupt for 6 minutes and after staring down basin at the fog, I decided to go back to Great Fountain hoping to catch it before it erupted.   At 0725, it was already in overflow.  I could just make out an eruption of White Dome at 0742 ie (in the dense fog the still surrounded the Lower Geyser Basin).  The fog had finally lifted by the time that Great Fountain erupted at 0824 (P=8).
     I decided to return to the Upper Geyser basin.  I enjoyed the 0917 Plume and the 0934 Old Faithful (long), as I got ready to head out into the basin.  It was warmer by now, although still a little brisk.  As I pedalled down the paved path, I noticed that Rift was in eruption at 0941.  (Ralph was down loading on Saturday, and I believe that he said Rift started at 0841.)  I met up with Ralph near Grotto (which was off) and found out that Beehive was back to erupting once a day, so I returned to Castle on my bike.  Castle had minored that morning (and was not predictable), so after updating the sign, I headed for Beehive with a side trip to update Grand's sign.  While I was updating that sign, I asked if anyone knew when Turban last erupted.  A father and son from Washington had been learning about geysers and the son told me that Turban erupted about 20 minutes ago, so we waited.  I told the visitors that were waiting that I might be changing the sign again real soon.  First the pool started to drop, but then it refilled and Grand erupted at 1024 with clear blue skies.  It was a T1C, but it was gorgeous.  As I updated the sign again, several visitors asked what else there was to see.  I told them that I was headed for Geyser Hill in hopes of catching an eruption of Beehive Geyser.  (The Logbook showed an 1133 eruption for 9/29.)  I pointed out that they might have several hours to wait, but that I felt it was well worth it.  When I gathered my pack, I noticed that almost everyone was gone.  (Most of them had headed to Geyser Hill with the father and son from Washington.)  Bill Warnock radioed Oblong's 1045 eruption and I radioed Aurum's eruption as I turned at Lion.  I noticed two steam clouds from Beehive's area, so I hurried over to find Beehive's Indicator erupting at 1047 i.e.  The group from Grand waved at me, as I hurried in their direction.  I gave them the little session on watching the steam and how the water was cold due to the height of Beehive's eruption.  Everyone took their position of choice.  I put my rain poncho on because the wind had shifted several times during our wait.  A large group led by an interpretive ranger made it down to Beehive's benches before the eruption started.  Boom!  Beehive at 1055.  Approximately a minute in I noticed a shift in the wind direction and announced, "Wind shift".  I said this 3 times and then the waters baptized a large number of visitors.  I made my way thru the water to the Plume side and enjoyed the double rainbow for the rest of the eruption.  Even wet, people had been awed by the show, and yelled their thanks as they continued their sight seeing.  Several asked for more suggestions on geysers to see.  I suggested Plume (which erupted at 1118) and then I retrieved my bike at Castle and headed for Daisy.  (I made it to the prediction sign as the eruption started.)  Daisy 1137!  After updating both the Daisy and Riverside signs, I went back to the Lower Geyser basin to check on Fountain.  Spasm, Fountain, and Morning were all empty and Jelly was very low with Fountain's run-off channels still damp, so I returned to Old Faithful.  Riverside was well attended and erupted at 1410 in an almost verticle position with a rainbow due to the breezy conditions.  I pedalled back to Daisy and enjoyed an almost verticle Daisy at 1501.  West Triplet was i.e. at 1510.  Repositioning my bike at Castle cost me an Oblong eruption.  I noticed the steam cloud growing as I admired Topsoil's bubbles (located at the north end of the Grand area).  I hurried to watch most of Oblong's 1544ns eruption from Chromatic.  It was a nice one.  I waited at Giant's platform for awhile, since Grand's window didn't start until 4:55 PM.  Mastiff and Giant were finally showing a little bit of water with an occasional spit from Catfish.  I returned to Grand in time for the 1720 Turban.  Castle finally had its major at 1736.  Grand erupted at 1740 (T1Q).  Yes, only a one burst, but very pretty.  West Triplet started at 1754.  As I updated Grand's sign, several people asked how Grand was predicted, information on monitors, and if we stayed out all night to watch geysers.  I had them help me figure up when the next eruption window would be for Grand, and told them I was going to sleep tonight, but that if any of them came out to wait for the midnight to 4 AM Grand they should be dressed appropriately, have a flashlight, and be aware that animals roam at night and are less visible.  (Oh, and could these please let us know what time it erupted tomorrow.)  They all smiled and said they were sleeping that night.  We said farewell as many of them headed in for dinner and I returned to Daisy and watched the 1820 eruption.  I returned to Giant hoping that I would get to see a recovery hot period, but instead another Oblong eruption snuck up on me.  What is all of that steam?  Oops!  Oblong 1918 ie!  (It ended at 1924.)  I finally gave up and headed in at 1945 with still no water at Grotto Fountain.  I made it in with just enough light to see the road.  I wasn't ready to call it a night though, so I headed for Great Fountain.  I arrived to find a group of people waiting for it in the dark.  It was in overflow, but was just starting to do the ring boils.  The night sky was clear and black with just a half moon for light.  A lone elk bugled in the distance.  Great Fountain 2045 (P=0)!  Just before the eruption started, another person turned their car's lights on and since the steam was blowing away from us we enjoyed a wonderful show.  The velvety black sky framed each burst.  We even had a "blue" bubble (or that is what it would have been if it was daytime) followed by a huge burst.  It wasn't a superburst, but it was very wide and washed a wave onto the burm, and the lighting was terrific.  After the second series I finally decided that I had better get to bed.  I needed some sleep before Sunday arrived.  The day had been a great one with moderate temperatures in the 60's.
     Sunday, October 1, arrived crisp, and breezy at 29 degrees.  I pedalled down to check on Daisy, Grotto, and Oblong at 7 AM.  Daisy had a small amount of water in its pool, Grotto was in eruption (and appeared to have been for several hours), and Oblong was refilling as I passed it at 0720.  I cautiously made my way up to Grand on the slick boardwalk.  West Triplet was erupting at 0720 and ended at 0805, but it restarted at 0808 and finally quit at 0814.  Old Faithful had a lovely eruption at 0744 that was a long.  Rift started at 0800 and Castle erupted at 0809.  I slowly made my way back to Grotto to relocate my bike at Castle.  While I was gone, Kelly (an interpretive ranger) down loaded Grand's logger and after checking her laptop at Grand, she radioed the overnight for Grand and the new prediction.  Yippee!  I was very impressed with this.  I was able to figure out that I was too early for Grand.  I visited until Grand's window opened, but since Rift had erupted like yesterday morning, I decided to gamble and headed for Beehive.  I was worried that Beehive might have erupted overnight, since I hadn't seen any splashes from Beehive that morning, but I also knew Beehive could pull a longer interval.  So I waited.  Plume at 0847.  Kelly radioed Daisy 0649 electronic (huh-oh, I guess she can check that logger also).  At 0934, Lion had a minor, followed by Kelly's 0935 radio call for Riverside.  Lion erupted again at 0936 (duration 2 minutes).  Plume 0947 and 1043.  By this time, Scott, Mike Lang, and I were all wondering if Beehive had erupted, so back to Grand the group went.  Rats!  Oblong at 1111 near start.  West Triplet at 1131 (duration of 37 minutes) and finally Grand at 1225.  It was a T2Q with a duration of ~12 minutes.  
     The Visitor Center is down to 3 people, so any gazer help is greatly appreciated.  I added any missed times to the log book and left for home at 1400.  I decided it could be a long while before Beehive erupted.  I had a wonderful weekend, and next weekend isn't sounding very good weather wise (but that can always change).  Go geysers!   
                                                                                                                            Kitt Barger           
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