[Geysers] Mystery

[Lee_Whittlesey at nps.gov]

Scott is right. Southeast is completely wrong for this to have been Old
Faithful. Coffee Pot Hot Springs and Joseph's Coat Springs are more likely
as candidates in my opinion.

Even if the observers were looking southwest, it is unlikely that they
could see Old Faithful beyond the Central Plateau. I have looked in all
directions from this viewpoint dozens of times over the years and have
never seen anything that gave me the slightest idea that Old Faithful or
any of the basins on the Firehole could be seen from here.

Lee Whittlesey
Park Historian




                                                                                                                                           
                      SCOTT BRYAN                                                                                                          
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                      <geysers-bounces at lists.wall        Subject:  Re: [Geysers] Mystery                                                   
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                      10/03/2008 07:49 AM MST                                                                                              
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Many things do not fit with this report. Looking southeast from Washburn
Hot Springs Overlook is most decidedly NOT looking toward Old Faithful,
which from there is many miles away over and beyond the Central Plateau.
Indeed, SE from that overlook would be looking across the canyon toward
such places as Josephs Coat, Coffee Pot, and etc. I find it extremely
difficult to believe that anything other than steam cloud(s) were seen --
steam clouds that can appear to come-and-go when there is even only a
slight breeze.

Without further explanation/description of the location -- are there
photos? -- I'd say steam east of the canyon is what was seen.

Scott Bryan
 ----- Original Message -----
 From: Beckykr at aol.com
 To: geysers at lists.wallawalla.edu
 Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 11:03 AM
 Subject: [Geysers] Mystery

 My husband and I were in the park September 13-19, and we saw something
 that you guys may be able to explain to me.  On September 17 and September
 18, we saw large geyser eruptions to the Southeast from Washburn Hot
 Springs Overlook.  On the 17th, it was between 10AM and 1PM, and there
 were two separate eruptions close together (in space, not time).  On the
 18th when we saw a single eruption, I actually noted the time.  It was
 about 12:45PM.

 I know that where we were was not that far from Old Faithful; is it
 possible that's what we saw?  The direction was certainly correct.  We saw
 them the first day when we had turned away from the overlook and were
 returning to the car. On the second day, we looked in that same direction,
 expecting to see nothing.  And we saw nothing when we first arrived;
 whatever it was erupted a few minutes later.

 I know these were eruptions and not steam clouds.  Does anyone know for
 certain what geyser eruptions can be seen from that overlook?
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