[Geysers] Fan & Mortar 8/17/10 Details

[postcard73 at gmail.com]

I have a few minutes, so I'll go ahead and post the details of the Fan and  
Mortar eruption last evening. I spent a tremendous amount of time in front  
of the pile of rocks the last few days, and I was pretty sleep deprived by  
the time the event cycle started. I wasn't even watching; I was sitting  
with my back to it trying to keep the sun off my face. Karen Low saw the  
first splash in Main Vent.

1920 River Vent off (pause #1)
1921 First splash in Main Vent
1940 River Vent back on after 20 minute pause
1952 River Vent off (pause #2)
2032 River Vent back on after 40 minute pause
2036 Gold Vent on
2048 Lock
2050 East Vent start

The splashing in Main Vent was frequent between the first splash at 1921  
and 2006. I was happy to see splashing in Main after River came back on at  
1940 because it was the first time this week I'd seen a cycle with enough  
water present to keep both River and Main Vents going at the same time  
(others may interpret that differently, but that is what I was thinking at  
the time). After 2006 the next splash in main was not seen until 2016, and  
the final Main Vent splash before the erution was at 2024. Gold looked good  
for the first five minutes but faded for a couple minutes around the six  
minute mark (2042). I did not write down Angle's start (sorry), but ten  
minutes into Gold water levels looked very good. I probably could have  
called the lock 45-60 seconds sooner but after waiting as long as I had I  
wanted to be sure. East Vent was solo and full blast for 20 seconds or so  
before Main Vent came on. The sun was setting with a half moon in the sky,  
creating very pretty conditions for the first half especially. Wind  
direction was perfect: the benches remained dry throughout the eruption.  
The last surge out of Fan was seen at 2120.

Want to say a quick thanks to Bob and Donna Raforth for keeping me company  
during the daylight hours (their patience was rewarded with their first Fan  
and Mortar), and Jake Young for entertaining me at night. Also thanks to  
Jim for watching it yesterday so I could take a shower and eat an actual  
meal. Finally, thanks to Karen Low for bringing me watermelon and hanging  
out Saturday night!

Scott Grisso
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