[Geysers] Spring Creek picnics

[Lynn Stephens]

In a brief post, I indicated there were at least two Spring Creek picnics involving various gazers.  I should have been more specific in my original post and provided more details to help distinguish between the various picnics.
 
The one I originally referenced occurred in the late summer, with, as I remember, only six gazers in attendance.  While a couple of us cooked dinner, Sam spent much of the time working on one of his water flow meters.  At that time Rick Hutchinson did not have much equipment available to monitor geysers.  (The infrared on Old Faithful and the large seismograph type unit were the only two that I remember, although he must have had more because neither of those would have worked to gather the Plume data that I remember seeing posted in logbooks in the early 1990s.)  Sam had been a Volunteer since the early 1970's and, with Rick's approval, used water flow meters to monitor geysers such as Great Fountain and Grand on a routine basis, and a few others on a periodic basis.
 
There was another gazer picnic at Spring Creek picnic area for the 4th of July 1990 gazer get-together.  
 
I remember bringing my stove and cooking spaghetti at that picnic.  I know it was the wone in 1990 because Erin was driving at that time and she did not have her driver's licence in 1989.  Jan's post prompted me to go to the 1990 issues of The Sput to see what information, if any, was available about that picnic.  Scott printed an item:
 
"The 4th of July Get-together, coordinated with our thanks by Lynn Stephens, was actually held on the 3rd in order to accomodate some folks who had to leave the next day.  At least 42 Friends of the Geysers gathered at the Spring creek picnic area for an evening potluck.  It was by all accounts a rousing success.  As special events, Sue Wall prepared a birthday cake for Karl Hoppe, complete with a decoration showing Beehive; and Ham's store employee Ted Olkoski read some of his geyser poetry."
 
I don't specifically remember whether Sam was in attendance.  Perhaps some of you remember?
 
For those of you who don't remember Ted Olkoski, he worked at the Lower Hamilton's store.  Scott published one of Ted's poems in 1989.  I located another of his poems in one of Rick's annual reports.  I have already sent Tom and Genean a "Little Bit" column, probably for the August Sput, containing some Yellowstone poetry written by gazers and Ted.  Does anyone else out there have any of Ted's poetry?  Does anyone have any information about how to contact Ted or his family?  Also, does anyone remember other details about the July 3, 1990 get together?
 
Finally, does anyone else remember any other gazer get togethers at Spring Creek picnic area?  
 
Thanks, and again, my apologies to Jan for not being more specific in my original post.  
 
Lynn


From: pinkconemtgo at gmail.com
To: geysers at lists.wallawalla.edu
Subject: Re: [Geysers] Brief Memorial for Sam -- sometime weekend of July 4
Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 06:26:04 -0400





Hmm..I know we made spaghetti and Tom and Genean made garlic rolls. Who else  cooked spaghett?  At least two of us did that. 
 
Jan
  		 	   		  
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