<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Greetings!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> Happiness, health, and good
fortune to you in this New Year. I had the good fortune to visit
Yellowstone this winter during our school break. I headed to Old Faithful
from Mammoth on 12/28/07. I arrived to find Grotto happily chugging along
in a Marathon. I spent my first day absorbing all of the sights and sounds
of winter in the geyser basin. There was a good foot or more of snow on
the ground, but the bike path was cleared making for fairly easy walking.
My feet slowly became accustomed to the added weight of my new snow boots that
were encased in new, blue </FONT><FONT face=Arial>Christmas gators. The
boardwalks were completely buried in snow with a single path packed down by
visitors, except at intersections. If I erred in my judgment of how
far I could move over to let another person pass, I could end up with snow to my
knees or worse yet, topple ungracefully off the hidden edge. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> Giant quietly steamed as I passed
it. Each sign had a snow cap on it, hiding its identity. I headed
for Oblong hoping for an imminent eruption. It erupted at 1235 with most
of the water hidden by the steam, but its thumping heart beat
sounded like it belonged to a great giant. Ah, six minutes of pure
pleasure as I enjoyed the waters rushing to the river, the snow cloaked
trees, and the nip in the air.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> For those who have never been to
Yellowstone in the winter, you get a different mind set. First dressing
for the day requires many layers and about 20 minutes. I wear wool socks,
wool thermals, then fleece pants, followed by ski pants and finally heavy, water
proof snow boots and sturdy gators and that's just for the lower half. I
wear several wool shirts, a fleece jacket, a neck gator, wool hat, down
coat, and large, oversized water proof mittens. My pack that I use in the
winter is about a 1/3 of the size of the one I use in the summer. It
carries the essentials. A thermos of hot water, a pack of food including
nuts, jerky, granola bars, and chocolate, plus extra gloves, hats, a rain
poncho, sunlotion, traction slip ones for my boots, a neck scarf, large
garbage bag to sit on, and maybe a book. I bring a single ski pole to help
with stability. The last thing to do is use the restroom, since you have 3
choices while in the upper geyser basin. There is the pit toilet which is
generally the closest, the Visitor Center bathrooms, or the Snowlodge.
Staying warms means to keep moving (even if it is in the same place).
Sitting makes you cold and generally is uncomfortable because your feet are
only about 6 inches below the bench that you are sitting on. I did
find that the railing at Giant was a comfortable resting place, since there was
no snow or ice on it. My backpack stays on my back as an
added wind barrier. By the end of the day I yearned for a
comfortable place to sit or lay down on. Oh there is one
other thing that is very different in the winter and that is you may be the
only one using an FRS radio (with the exception of the Visitor
Center). This means you pick what you want to see and go there. It
also means that I try to report any geyser activity to help the
Visitor Center collect data, clue the visitors in on any new prediction
information that might make their trip more enjoyable, and generally be an extra
set of eyes in the basin. But enough about winter gear, back to the
geysers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> I filled my first day with
eruptions from Oblong (1235), Daisy (1236), and then off to the Hill hoping for
a Beehive. Plume (1357, 1446, 1536, & 1624) and Grand's steam
cloud at 1500 near start, but no Beehive. Brrr! I headed in
with a stop at the Visitor Center and dinner at the Geyser Grill. Those
Chili Cheese Fries definitely hit the spot and the large hot chocolate wasn't
bad either. I spent the dark hours reading, listening to music, and
sleeping. Tomorrow would come early.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> Saturday the 29th, I hurried to
eat my oatmeal and hot cider, donned my many layers, and headed for Giant using
my flashlight to find the packed section of snow on the boardwalk. Turban
and Vent were in eruption at 0725 (so I had missed Grand), and Grotto was
erupting with Variable Spring down about an inch. The Marathon which had
started yesterday morning had quit sometime during the night and this was a
new eruption of Grotto. I had missed a "hot period" because Giant's
platform was wet, half of India's was thawed, and Bijou & Catfish were very
energetic. It was cold today! I finally put my rain poncho on to
help protect me from the wind and snow. Oblong's steam cloud appeared in
the snow storm at 0818 ie and Daisy at 0820 ie. I tried huddling, and
walking to keep warm. I made my way over toward Variable Spring for a
break from the wind only to have a huge steam cloud drift over me from the
direction of Daisy. I tried to get to a better vantage, but the steam
cloud disappeared at 1105 (Daisy near end 1104). Riverside erupted at
1231 and I hurried back to Oblong for the 1237 eruption. Grotto was in
another Marathon, so after I had enjoyed Oblong's melody, I headed for
the Hill. West Triplet was in eruption at 1251. I arrived at Beehive
to find no bubblers going. Plume erupted at 1331 and I returned to find
Rift ie at 1350 (ending at 1418). Three Turbans later Grand
erupted (T2C). The snow had quit and there was a break in the wind as
I trudged slowly to the Geyser Grill. Plume erupted at 1614 and as I ate
my Chili Cheese Fries, I radioed to ask for verification of a steam cloud that
appeared over the trees. The Visitor Center said it was Lion in
eruption at 1653. Whew! For a moment I thought I had missed
Beehive. I finished eating as I contemplated tomorrow and what it might
bring. I was in bed by 8 PM, so that I would be rested for
tomorrow.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> Sunday the 30th found me hurrying
to get to Giant. What would I find? It was still dark and
overcast. The wind had howled during the night and drifts of snow made
even the bike path difficult to walk. I passed Castle at 0702 and decided
to stick to the bike path, since I wasn't sure I would be able to find the
boardwalk trail. By 0730, I could see Giant's platform. Yes!
It was covered in a layer of powdered sugar snow and Grotto was quiet. As
close as I could tell Variable Spring was full, Catfish was splashing, but only
steam came from Bijou. Water surged and sloshed
in Giant's cone. It felt warmer today and I had time on my
hands. I called Donnie in Virginia to give him a Giant update.
My hand stayed warm while I talked on the phone which was a good sign. The
last two days it had been cold enough that I could only keep my hand out of my
glove for a minute or two before it turned red. I finished my visit with
Donnie and Betty and then the snow started. I huddled trying to stay warm
as the wind started to blow and the temperature dropped. I wondered when
Grotto had quit. The storm stopped and the platform area was quiet.
I decided to walk over to Oblong to see how it was doing, to warm up, and
to eye Grand's area. I was almost to Oblong when I noticed that Turban and
Vent were in eruption at 0827. Grand had erupted during the snow
storm. I happened to glance back at Giant just in time to see Feather pop
up at 0832. Giant Hot Period! I hurried back to the cage as
Feather's Satellite appeared. Mastiff surged to 4 or 5 feet and then
dropped. The Visitor Center radioed to see if they had missed a
call. I told them that Giant was having a Recovery Hot Period and this
could be it. It was so cold. I alternated taking pictures, calling
on my radio, and trying to warm my hand. I was trying to figure out which
way to go to view the eruption as Mastiff started surging again. Mastiff
to two, four, eight, wider.... Mastiff was erupting! 0841 Oh my
gosh! The power! Mastiff boomed out a low drum beat as the hot
water met with the cold air. The Visitor Center radioed to see if the
steam cloud was Giant. I replied, "No, It's Mastiff!" I soaked up
the song of Mastiff as I tried to get more pictures. With no sun, total
cloud cover, and cold temperatures, I didn't have much luck with photos.
At 0843 Giant had 3 lazy splashes and then thrust itself into the air, adding
its own booming voice to the snow capped environment. The steam and
water were blowing to the south and east leaving the cage dry. Giant's
sign rolled under the right corner of the cage. The snow that had covered
the area between Giant and Turtle disappeared and the white platform was now a
wet, steamy brown rocky surface. Catfish pulsed toward the sky
and Mastiff quit at 0848 (per my frozen scribbles in my notebook). I took
pictures until in was painful to snap any more and then I hurriedly put my hand
inside my coat to warm it up. The steam hid the spikes of water that
shot upward from Giant, but I would guess that the eruption was approximately
180 to 190 feet. It wasn't so much the height as the sound that impressed
me. During the entire 98 minute eruption a total of 5 other people came
near Giant. Two skied up and took photos, two watched from the path
although I suspect they were actually watching a Bald Eagle that had
flown by and was sitting in the trees across the river behind Giant, and
one lucky snow blower driver who was clearing the bike path were the
only other people I saw. Daisy erupted at 0953 and later I would find out
that Beehive had erupted per web cam review at 0932 ie. I waited for
Oblong which erupted at 1145 and marveled at how the sound carried in the
winter. I headed for the Hill to find Little Squirt in eruption at
1228, Plume (1309), Beehive was dead with no bubblers, and Aurum erupted at
1329. Old Faithful was erupting at 1346 as I made my way to the
Visitor Center to down load my log information. Lion was ie at 1425
with its initial as I headed back to Grand. Castle erupted at 1432
and West Triplet was ie at 1506. Daisy was 1511 near start and after two
more Turbans, Grand erupted at 1559 (G2Q) duration ~11 minutes. I
enjoyed Old Faithful at 1646 ie as I made my way to a bowl of hot, chicken soup
and after talking briefly with my family, I went to sleep. (Two
days later I found out that we had an earthquake that evening. I don't
know if I was listening to music or asleep, but I didn't notice the
movement.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> Monday, New Year's Eve Day, I
tried to sleep in but the geyser basin called me. I had decided to snow
shoe for the day which meant an extra hour while I figured out how to use
my new gators with my snow shoes. I would quickly realize how much more
energy snow shoeing takes to get around, but I wanted to go to Artemisia and I
knew I would need them to get there. Old Faithful was near start at 0819,
Plume at 0845, Lion ie at 0907, and West Triplet was ie at 0907 (ending at
0918). Grand was empty. Rift started at 0916. I slowly worked
my way to Artemisia taking in the sights along the way. The trail was good
and relatively easy to climb. I enjoyed watching the sunlight dancing
thru the trees making sun beams. The observation area at Artemisia
was covered in a heavy mantel of snow with the right side void of all
snow. I had been snacking and enjoying the sunny, calm day when I
noticed the dusting of snow in the run off channels of Artemisia. It
had to have fallen there yesterday morning, so... Thirty-five minutes
after I had arrived, while standing 8 feet back from the edge where I would
usually be laying down, I felt/heard a muffled whump and commented out loud that
even my heartbeat was more noticeable in the winter. No, it couldn't
be. Could it? I moved to the dry area and sure enough the water was
started to push out into the run off channels. Artemisia at 1110!
No, I didn't lay down, but I heard and felt thumps for 9 minutes. I tried
to take photos, but winter photography is tricky. After the 29 minute
eruption I headed back to find Fan and Mortar in an event cycle. Bottom
Vent was ie at 1215 (and I noticed that Riverside Geyser was also in over
flow). 1219 White Stuff in Main. I watched the cycle with disbelief
and when the water levels in Fan ran out at the 15 minute mark, I headed toward
Oblong. Oblong 1319 ie. I found out Grand's electronic reading
was 0738. Daisy was ie at 1405. Riverside finally erupted at
1431 (more than 2 1/4 hours after I had seen it already in over flow). I
headed to Grand expecting a lengthy wait. Daisy erupted again at 1656 and
Grand erupted at 1657 with a G1C) and West Triplet started at 1658. (Brr
it was getting cold!) The sun had disappeared and dark was quickly
taking over the area. I noticed Plume's eruption at 1712 as I trudged back
still wearing my snow shoes. (Tomorrow I would not be back to just snow
boots. Yeah!) I called it an early night, so I didn't get the first
Old Faithful of the New Year. I was too tired.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> Happy New Year! Early
morning found me in a land that was very cold. A group of 5 coyotes led
the way to Castle. Plume erupted at 0800 and I went to check on
Grand. Old Faithful was 0839 near start and Oblong was ie at 0856.
Turban was weak and I figured that it would be closer to noon. But I had
time. Daisy 1031 ns, Riverside 1032 ns, Castle 1102 (a major), and I
finally decided to abandon Grand because I really wanted a Beehive if at all
possible. There was a lovely Old Faithful at 1142 as I passed Lion.
Grand erupted at 1156 ns as viewed from Plume with a beautiful 2nd burst.
Plume erupted at 1158 and Beehive's Indicator started at 1214. A couple
had asked me questions about Beehive and due to the cold they were heading in to
warm up when I called them back saying, "You might want to stick around since
there's water in the Indicator." We positioned ourselves near Plume,
hoping that we had made a good choice, since this wasn't the time to get soaking
wet. Beehive erupted at 1221 and I would like to thank Tricia for her web
cam shots of that eruption. This was to be the only Beehive that I would
see on my trip. I stopped in at the Visitor Center and then worked my way
back down basin. Artemisia's steam cloud billowed in the blue sky at 1522
as I waited for another Oblong. There was a Giant hot period at 1527
(duration 4 minutes), Daisy at 1545 ie, and Grotto Fountain was ie at 1633 so I
hurried that way passing another Giant hot period in progress at 1633. As
I waited for Grotto to start, I noticed that a herd of 7 bison were crossing the
boardwalk at Oblong where I had just been standing. (Thank you Grotto
Fountain!) Grotto started at 1647 and I returned in time for Oblong at
1655 (with the bison quietly grazing in the trees to the left of Oblong).
Boom, boom, boom! Oh what a heart beat. Darkness was sneaking up on
me fast as I approached Grand with West Triplet ie at 1709. It was the end
of another long, but successful day and my weary bones were ready for
bed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> January 2nd arrived with geyser
fog (the first of my trip). I stood in front of Old Faithful at 0832
listening to the preplay. Old Faithful rumbled forth at 0840, although it
was hidden in the fog. I slowly made my way down basin visiting with Kelly
(an Interpretive Ranger) and Jason (a park employee) as we waited for 2 bison to
move and watched a coyote standing near the warm spot in the Old Faithful Inn's
parking lot. We watched Kelly with the difficult task of getting the down
load from Castle and then went to Grand which was still refilling from the last
eruption. It would be later today. At Giant, Kelly moved the danger
sign to the spot where the Giant sign usually sits, so that at least something
would move if Giant erupted before they could get the Giant sign replaced.
That sign was still frozen in place under the cage. Kelly headed back in
as we noticed Daisy ie at 1015. Jason and I watched an event cycle at Fan
and Mortar that looked promising and then went to Riverside which erupted at
1203. As we headed back for lunch, we noticed Rift was ie at 1228.
One last meal and I heard the Visitor Center asking if that was Grand's steam
cloud at 1311, but I was unable to confirm. I was waiting for my ride back
to the real world. I saw Castle ie at 1439 as we headed north. We
saw several dead bison that the coyotes and other animals were devouring.
We saw many swans a swimming (I had only seen 7 on the way down). Dark
slowly descended upon us as I loaded my belongings into my trusty Suburban and
headed away from the wonderland. It was a great trip and I thank everyone
that helped it to be such a wonderful time. I'm sorry I took so long
writing this, but I detoured on the way home for a stop in Billings, Montana to
enjoy some shopping, a meal at Olive Garden, and a sit in a Jacuzzi at my
hotel. Go
Giant!!!
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
face=Arial>
Sincerely,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
face=Arial> Kitt
Barger</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
face=Arial>
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> </FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>