[Geysers] 25 August 2010 (Schwarz)

[Mary Beth Schwarz]

     Since Fan and Mortar erupted yesterday (24 August) evening, our morning
was free for Grand and the Opening of the OFVEC today, 25 August.

Beehive's Indicator  1208

Beehive  ~0016 webcam,  1228

Castle  0956 major

Daisy  0646,  0915

Depression  0837ie

Fountain  0925,  1406ns

Great Fountain  0320  (0325Elec),  1341 (P=0)

Grand 0830(T1C)

Grotto 1005

Little Cub  1259ie

Oblong 0731ie,  1224

Plume  0642,  0800,  0920,  1033,  1129,  1235

Rift  1018ie

Rocket  1232

Sawmill  0730,  1216ie

West Triplet  0604 (end by 0639),  0840

White Dome  1331ie,  1352,  1419,  1444ie


     The 67th Army Band of the Wyoming National Guard began playing before
the 1100 opening ceremony at 1045.  As America the Beautiful was played the
mounted unit from YNP brought in the flags.  YNP Supt Suzanne Lewis
introduced several speakers including Asst. Secretary of the Interior Tom
Strickland, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, Yellowstone Park
Foundation Board Chairman Bannus Hudson, who spoke briefly.

     Keynote Speaker Paul Schullery, who was park historian and author of
many books (including my favorite, Mountain Time), talked about the park
service, visitor education and the 4 old museums at OF, Norris, Madison, and
Fishing Bridge.  His favorite question from visitors when he was a
Naturalist was "What time of day is best to see the Gibbons at Gibbon
Meadow?"  Perhaps his speech is available on the Internet.  As if on cue,
suddenly Old Faithful (prediction 1147) erupted and the crowd turned to
watch and applaud it as Mr. Schullery had the grace and brilliance to turn
it over to the big geyser and let it end his eloquent speech.  It was one of
those magic moments.

     After the OF eruption, Supt. Lewis announced that the new OFVEC was
officially open and a young  boy was the first visitor to enter.


     As we left the OFVC area, Beehive's Indicator was called at 1208
(Beehive 1228), so gazers proceeded to the Hill or overlook.  The weather
was warm and it was a perfect day to watch geysers after a freezing morning
with frosty boardwalks.  One gazer waiting for the 0830 Grand had scraped up
a heap of frost and molded it into a geyser (Castle).

     On the way home Great Fountain was well into overflow, so several
gazers stopped to watch  a very fine eruption with many nice bursts and even
a blue bubble in the 5th.

     It was an excellent day in the park!

     Mary Beth Schwarz
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