[Geysers] FAN & MORTAR 11 July 2007 at 1054!!! (Schwarz)

[MaryBeth Schwarz]

     A beautiful clear cool morning with Grand at 0222(T1C) I=10m2s (thanks 
to Karl Hoppe!) and 0901 (T1Q) got even better.

     A group of gazers saw Artemisia at 1002 (d>29m Kitt Barger).  On the 
way back from Artemisia Dean noticed high water levels at Fan & Mortar and 
called on the radio that the water levels looked good.  Then as Dean said 
that water in Gold was dropping, Kitt said that there had been good water 
levels for 12 minutes.  Lynn noticed that Bottom Vent's channel was damp 
about halfway to the river but there was no standing water.  Suddenly Kitt 
said that in the "Old Days" we would have called this a "LOCK"  with High 
going very high.  Other gazers were roaring down toward F&M as fast as 
possible.  At 1054 and 23 seconds East Vent started.    About 20s later Main 
vent started and the rest of Fan and then Lower Mortar about 15s later and 
Upper Mortar followed.  There were lots of rocks from Main and East Vent and 
many rainbows were seen.  The water reached way beyond the ditch past Norris 
Pool.  The first burst was about 17 minutes (Lynn correct me if I am off) 
and total duration 30 minutes 25 seconds (Lynn Stephens).  Thanks to Lynn 
and Kitt and Dean!  All of us were so excited to see our old friends F&M 
erupt again!  The previous eruption was 5 June 2007 at 0640ns for an 
interval of about 36d 4h 15m.

     Things progressed so quickly that folks were unsure whether Spiteful 
was murky before the eruption of F&M or if Fan's eruption caused it to 
become murky.   There is still orange bacteria from Spiteful to the river.

     To continue the wonderful day, Beehive's Indicator was 1203ie, and 
Beehive erupted at 1215.

     What will happen next in Wonderland?

     Mary Beth Schwarz