[Geysers] Geyser Report 7/22

[Ben Hoppe]

All times, unless otherwise noted, are from Wednesday, July 22.

Today was a gorgeous day outside, even if some believed it to be a
little warm. If you were in the shade, it was great, and there was a
breeze at times.

The biggest news of the day was Fan and Mortar at 1705 out of a lock.
This was my first start of the season, and it only took me two months
to get it out of the way. With a month left in the park, that gives me
time to see a couple more perhaps. Nonetheless, I am perfectly happy
with just this one eruption. I am quite pleased to say that the
prediction I posted yesterday was off by 2 hours. Here are the events
as I have them written in my book:
1600 River on
1605 Main Vent splashes
1606 River Vent off - River Vent Pause with continued splashing in Main Vent
1608 River coughed on and off for a little, but it was still off
1619-1631 Bottom Vent eruption #1
1637-1651 Bottom Vent was erupting on and off for minutes at a time
The note here in my book says "Bottom Vent doesn't ever stop"
1650 River on, River pause was 44m
1653 Gold on
1657 Angle on, excellent water levels the entire time
1703 High Vent goes into Lock with Gold following
1705 East Vent start with Main following

There was no doubt that Fan and Mortar was simply just ready to erupt.
Despite the fact that Bottom came on and discharged so much water,
when Gold came on, it and High were constant, and when Angle came on,
there was very little change. I looked to Donnie Grisso at 1657 and
told him I gave it an 85% chance of erupting. The wind was blowing
very slightly towards the bridge from Mortar, so viewing conditions
were best from just past Spiteful towards Morning Glory. I did not see
it, but several observers saw a baseball sized rock through out of
East Vent. This was only the second geyser I have allowed to drench me
this year. The first was Penta when I saw it start for the first time.

On to other times:
Beehive erupted at 0542 (0527 Indicator), and 1707 (Rich Glasser
called Indicator 1651ie).
Artemesia erupted probably eruption sometime between 0300-0600 and
then it was 1642ie
Aurum 1515
Castle 0524 and 1858 major
Depression 1204ie
Fountain 0848 (d=30m) and 1441 (d=31m)
Great Fountain 0913
Grotto 0924 (Grotto Fountain 0915), there was a Rocket, but I did not
have a time
Lion 0836, 1439, 1557
Oblong 0554ie, 1207, 1612ie
Plate 1526ie, 1853
Riverside 0444, 1041, 1639
Grand 0717, 1418
Atomizer 1333 major
Daisy 0913, 1117ie, 1316, 1520
Plume 0624, 0928, 1121, 1514, 1613, 1910

Today at around 1530, both parking lots (behind the Lodge and behind
the Inn) were completely full. It was a very very busy day in the
store. It was impossible to differentiate between Old Faithful rushes
in the store because it was so busy; the lines just never seemed to
die down.

There was a large group of people at Fan and Mortar. Over 20 gazers
were there for the eruption, and I have no clue how many visitors.

Hopefully I can do some hikes in the next couple days.

-Ben Hoppe

-- 
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ
lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20