[Geysers] Geyser Report for 2/16 - 18/07 (Kitt Barger)

[barger]

Greetings everyone!
     Well let me start by saying any day in Yellowstone is a good day.  I headed for Mammoth and was amazed to find the roads dry once I left Worland, Wyoming.  I found Mammoth with less snow than back home, but a lot more wind.  Friday, 2/16 I stopped at the Visitor Center to see what my options were and then headed for Grand.  As I made my way towards Grand, I took in the patchiness of the snow.  Some of the path was snow packed, other areas were bare, and some areas like near Castle were icy.  I was glad to have my Trax on my boots to help me through the slippery areas.  Rift started at 1123 with a duration of 38 minutes much to my dismay.  At the same time, Daisy waved me a steamy hello.  I continued to hold my ground even as Oblong's eruption at 1231ie teased me.  Several people had joined me at Grand and with our extra time we had a mini class session on Grand and other geysers.  At times the wind pummelled us mercilessly.  One couple made multiple trips between Chromatic and Grand while waiting and trying to stay warm.  They wanted to see Grand, but they also wanted to see Riverside.  After another of their warm up walks, I told them how they could see Riverside (from afar) from the Beauty/Chromatic area.  Turban had another solo eruption and the couple headed for their Riverside vantage and arrived just in time for the 1336 eruption.  They enjoyed the eruption and timed their return for the next Turban eruption at 1342.  Grand's four hour window was to close at 2 PM.  The next Turban was at 1402.  By this time I had explained about how 10% of Grand's eruptions are outside of the four hour window.  Lucky us!  Most of the Turban intervals had been from 19 to 22 minutes apart.  We continued to visit as we were all determined to stay for the eruption.  At the 16 minute mark, my attention jumped to the pool which was refilling fast.  I made an exclaimation as I waddled carefully over the slippery, partially melted, but snow packed boardwalk to a good viewing spot for the eruption.  Grand was ready.  "Grand 1420", I happily radioed.  It was a T1C with a duration of ~9 minutes.  Our little group left the area feeling satisfied as we headed over to wait for a Castle eruption.  I waited for Castle near Crested Pool as I soaked in the scenery.  Plume erupted at 1449 as bison moved throughout the area looking for food.  Aurum erupted at 1509 and a second Daisy occurred at 1544.  Castle hinted that I should move up wind and erupted at 1545.  Both Plume and Old Faithful erupted at 1550.  I enjoyed Castle's eruption as I settled on a nice, bare bench.  (In the winter, things such as a dry bench are rare treats that one must enjoy.)  As dusk approached, I headed inside for some much needed rest.
     Saturday morning arrived early with the quiet beeping of my 5:30 AM alarm.  I glanced outside and started the lengthy task of packing for an entire day in the basin.  If an item is needed in the summer, then a return visit to my vehicle or a quick drive remedies the situation, but in the winter a forgotten or needed item requires a lengthy hike and wasted time as you trek through sometimes deep snow or over slick surfaces.  Once my small pack was put together, I needed to deal with the second challenge of the day.  What to wear?  After picking and choosing my many layers of clothing, assembling them in proper order, and putting them on, I was ready to go.  My senses were alive as I absorbed all of the sights, sounds, and smells that the area had to offer.  I enjoyed the 0746 Old Faithful which lasted for about 4 minutes.  My brain was slightly annoyed by the lack of ink being dispensed by my pen due the cold.  I had decided to head over toward Giant by way of Grand.  Aurum erupted in the distance at 0800 and I arrived at Grand to find both Rift and West Triplet in eruption at 0816.  Grand was empty and I wondered which steam cloud I had observed earlier might have been the eruption.  I thought I had seen Vent from afar, but couldn't confirm that fact.  Oblong was also empty, explaining another steam cloud.  As I cautiously made my way, I noticed Grotto Fountain was erupting at 0832.  Grotto started at 0844.  I positioned myself at Riverside so that I would see Daisy's steam cloud if it chose to erupt.  At 0910 Daisy's steam cloud appeared as I glanced at the still erupting Grotto.  Riverside gushed forth at 0924 and after several pictures I headed back past Grotto only to realize that it had quit sometime between 0915 and 0925.  This surprised me because I had heard that Grotto was having back to back marathons.  An approximate 7 minute Hot Period started at Giant at 1029 with Feather, Feather Satelite, South West Vents, and Rust  and left India 75% covered.  I went to Oblong and watched it cycle.  Artemisia's steam cloud appeared at 1143 and Daisy erupted at 1225.  Another Giant Hot Period occurred at 1319 with Feather, S.W.V., and Rust.  Steam on a chilly day tends to obliterate any chance of viewing Mastiff.  The duration was 2 minutes 42 seconds.  I returned to Oblong just in time to enjoy a nice although muted eruption that lasted for 6 minutes.  After a brief debate on whether to visit the outhouse or go to Grand (whose eruption might be hours away), I chose the outhouse and checked on Fan and Mortar (which are still dormant).  As I returned to Giant's area, Grand taunted me with a tall, steamy eruption already in progress at 1356.  It was a _1Q that ended at 1405.  I returned to sit at Giant for the next hot period.  Riverside erupted at 1508 and I went to check on Grotto Fountain since it had been 6 hours since Grotto had quit.  I was starting to get a dejavu feeling when I noticed a Giant Hot Period in progress at 1534.  It ended at 1537 after Feather and Feather Satelite played.  I was headed back toward Grotto and noticed Startling erupting at 1537 ie.  Ah ha!  Grotto Fountain erupted at 1540 and Grotto at 1545.  Daisy erupted at 1558 as I passed it on the paved path.  Oblong had a huge eruption at 1641 (in eruption) that went above the dead tree as I watched and waited for Castle near Crested Pool.  Aurum erupted at 1645 and Plume at 1722.  The bison herd moved around the boardwalk making several visitors uncomfortable by their lack of fear.  I finally left Castle after some visitors said they would let the Visitor Center know (the following day) what time Castle's eruption had occurred.  Castle was predicted for 5:45 PM, but I wanted to gaze at Geyser Hill.  I went to the Beehive overlook and stood since the benches and boardwalk were buried under a mass of snow.  I noticed Castle in eruption at 1751.  Old Faithful erupted at 1807 and after I took photos of the old Visitor Center, I realized that I hadn't told the Castle gazers about minors and majors.  I started back to listen for a steam phase when the gazers spotted me.  The said that Castle had started its eruption at 1749, but that after a while it had slowed down so they had left.  I explained about majors and minors and we decided that Castle had minored.  We said our farewells and I headed in for food, some good reading, and sleep.  Constantly standing was definitely starting to wear on me.  The options for sitting are few and far between and if you sit too long then you get cold from lack of movement.
     Sunday morning was another early morning as I prepared to depart from the Old Faithful area.  I packed, dressed, and finally headed out into the basin at 0730.  Old Faithful erupted at 0748 as I headed for Grand.  West Triplet was in eruption at 0749 and ended at 0839.  Rift started at 0813 and erupted for 64 minutes.  When I had arrived at Grand, my brain had been torturing itself about the distant steam cloud that was punctuating the Giant/Grotto area.  There was a well defined pillar, but Beauty Pool was making the area the pillar was coming from fuzzy.  I caught myself saying things like "Please don't let that be Giant while I'm standing up here"and "What could that steam be from?"  In between Turbans, I went over near Sawmill and saw Plume erupt at 0913.  Oblong erupted at 0918 ie.  I noted where the pillar of steam was compared to the location of the white puffs belonging to Oblong.  As the area cleared, I was able to see Giant's cone sitting there and no activity from Bijou.  I thought this confirmed a marathon and so I stayed at Grand which erupted at 0928.  It was a T2C all to myself.  Bits of blue sky had poked through the clouds making the eruption even lovelier.  I debated on what to do next before I would have to head back to the Snow Lodge for my departure.  I had spent the previous day in the lower half of the basin, so I headed to Geyser Hill.  Plume erupted at 1013, Old Faithful at 1019, and Aurum at 1040.  Lion sucked me in to wait for an initial eruption.  The wind had picked up as the morning disappeared and the clouds had returned with snow.  The weather seemed to be saying it was time to go home.  I went over to watch a Plume eruption up close at 1116.  I finally had enough of the weather and made my way off the Hill.  I was on the trail behind Old Faithful when I saw Lion in eruption at 1136.  Castle had another minor at 1144 and I watched the 1156 gray on gray Old Faithful eruption.  I down loaded my log book at the Visitor Center and after farewells,  I headed over to have some lunch at the Geyser Grill which was teaming with snow mobilers.  The room was packed so I ate my meal over in the Snow Lodge Lobby.  I was enjoying a much needed rest in a very comfortable chair, when Graham M. called me on the radio.  I told him about Saturday's Grotto/Giant Hot Period activity and that Grotto was in a Marathon from yesterday.  Later Graham called with the knews that Marathon Pool wasn't down very far and the Giant & Danger signs were moved.  Oops!  Could I really have been at Grand watching Giant instead of Grotto's steam cloud?  I found out that Giant's logger had just been down loaded before I came in.  Giant's last eruption was on Feb. 12th at 0510.  Now I must wait to find out when Giant erupted.  Was it 8 at night?  (I could see the area as late as 7 PM with no big steam cloud.) Or did it erupt earlier Sunday morning Or did I watch it from Grand?  Only time will tell.  I left the Old Faithful area with visibility down to 200 feet and huge flakes of snow falling from the overcast sky.  I arrived in Mammoth to a "heat wave" of about 40 degrees.  I travelled through rain, blinding snow, and dry roads with a detour to Billings to pick up some furniture before returning to Worland.  As for missing Giant, my attitude is that in the winter you see what you see and you enjoy even the little things like the diamond sparkles popping out of Sawmill as it erupts.  Thanks for the memories and go Giant.  
                                                                                                                     Kitt Barger
  
              
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