[Geysers] Trip Report

[sgryc at comcast.net]

Dear Friends, 



I was in Yellowstone from June 14 to June 21. I've posted two dozen of my favorite photos from that trip on my Facebook page. Use this link to take a look: 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2081937686914.2113379.1199236105 


I checked up on Ragged and Jagged Geysers at Black Sand. It seems that Jagged's best days have past for a while. Three years ago it coordinated with Ragged to give discrete periodic eruptions, some of them as high as 25 feet. Now Ragged erupts continuously (though its eruption waxes and wanes), but Jagged just grumbles and sloshes around continuously with few discrete eruptions. Only once did I see any water clear the rim of Jagged's crater, and only occasionally did I see Jagged's pool drop after something that could be called an eruption. Ragged flares up to a degree that you wouldn't think possible for so small a hole. 


I did a twelve-hour observation of White Dome and found that it has normal intervals of about 30 minutes, short intervals of 18-23 minutes, and long intervals of about 80 minutes. The short intervals usually result in weaker eruptions, though the long intervals look pretty much like the normal intervals. I recorded no intervals in the 40, 50, 60 or 70 minute range. You usually don't have to wait long for a White Dome eruption, but you can get caught in a long interval and sit for over an hour without seeing anything. A lot of cars stop at White Dome and are rewarded with an eruption (brief as it is). Gemini was overflowing with some splashing the whole time but never erupted. I did catch one Great Fountain eruption which lived up to its nickname of "Flounder." Also along Firehole Lake drive, Dragonfly Geyser seems to be its usual self with frequent small eruptions every few minutes. 


Wildlife notes: Bison back-ups were frequent along the Madison River route from West Yellowstone. I also saw one young grizzly loping his way west along the same road on June 20. He wasn't paying any attention to the tourists who were parked on the side of the road to take his picture. There were very few elk to be seen, just four does who were grazing a few miles east of the west entrance. My favorite, at least dangerous, wildlife encounter was with a brilliantly colored western tanager who was hopping along the banks of the Firehole River near Ojo Caliente and probing for something to eat. The tanager has a bright yellow body, black wings (with some yellow markings), and a bright red hood. This spectacular bird let me get close enough for some decent photos. 


Gastronomic notes: The Old Faithful Inn always disappoints, and I think the Lake Dining Room continues to have the best food. I stopped in at Woodside Bakery in West Yellowstone every morning to pick up half a deli sandwich to take into the park for lunch. They also have yummy pastries including killer cinnamon buns. The real find of the season was Las Palmitas, a Mexican restaurant on Canyon Street in West Yellowstone that is housed in a renovated school bus. The kitchen takes up half of the bus with benches and a narrow counter on either side of the front of the bus. The kitchen is manned by two young Mexican men who serve up real authentic Mexican food. Most customers (locals as far as I could tell) pick up tacos to take out, but it was a kick to eat on the bus, and there are plenty of delicious choices in addition to tacos. Paper plates and plastic utensils are the order of the day, but the great food belies the modesty of the place. Please patronize this funky fantastic food fav so that it will still there when I return. 


Great gazing to all, 
Steve G. 

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