<html> <head> <style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } </style> </head> <body class='hmmessage'> Fan and Mortar erupted on July 26 at 2054 for an interval of 3d21h09m.  In 14 hours of continuous observation starting at 0530, the only activity worth noting at Fan and Mortar was two isolated Main Vent splashes around 0720.  After that, absolutely nothing happened for 12 hours.  As seen during previous intervals, activity alternated between garbage and longer cycles that often lasted 50-60 minutes and included activity by Frying Pan.  Regardless of what was happening, Main Vent showed no interest in doing anything. <o:p> </o:p> Finally, after about an hour of continuous activity from Angle, River was on for 26 minutes along with Gold and Angle, and then it shut off at 1911.  At first there were still lingering splashes from Angle, but at about 1920, they stopped and Main Vent began to huff.  With great encouragement from the gazers present, Main Vent began to splash at 1929.  Events transpired as follows: <o:p> </o:p> 1929 Main Vent splash 1942 River Vent on, Main Vent seemed to be giving up 1944 Gold on, water levels were up and down until suddenly it bottomed out and Main Vent started to roar and splash again 1952 River and Gold off, Gold pause 2006 River Vent on, Bottom Vent splashing 2008 Bottom Vent full eruption, d~4m 2013 River Vent off, River pause 2016 Bottom Vent full eruption, d~22m, Main Vent continued to splash vigorously ~2025 Main Vent had its last splash but continued to roar until 2037 River Vent on 2039 Gold Vent on 2041 Angle Vent on, water levels were just “ok” until suddenly 2049 High Vent in lock, followed quickly by Gold 2054 Upper Mortar had a voluminous surge to about 5 feet above the cone 2054 FAN AND MORTAR, East Vent start <o:p> </o:p> The eruption started after the sun had gone down, but the conditions were still quite good, with the wind blowing away from the trail for most of the eruption.  There was a fine crowd on hand, but only a few chose to get doused by Main Vent.  It was one of the tallest eruptions of Fan that I have ever seen; water reached to Backwater Spring with no help from the wind.  About 10 minutes into the eruption, I noticed that the water level in Norris Pool had risen significantly, reminiscent of its 2001 reactions to Fan and Mortar eruptions.  I cannot remember the last time I saw Norris Pool rise in such a fashion, but it certainly has not done so at any eruption I have seen for at least 4-5 years.  Don’t know if that means anything or not.  Per Kitt, the duration was 32 minutes. <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> In other news, Grand had a 4-burst eruption at 1402 on July 27.  I didn’t get the exact times from Mary Beth, but the first burst was just barely over 7 minutes and the water came up almost instantly after it stopped for a second burst that was over 75 seconds long.  If I remember correctly, the third and fourth bursts were both under a minute.  The crowd was delighted and several gazers saw their first ever 4-burst eruption. <o:p> </o:p> Also, Beehive surprised everyone by erupting at 1627wc on July 27.  No one had seen or heard the overnight eruption, but Beehive was not seen having any splashing prior to about 1530, so it was surmised that the earliest chance would be evening.  There was an Indicator of unknown length, but all gazers were at either Oblong or Great Fountain, so it was not reported on the radio and the time had to be determined from the webcam. --Tara Cross fanandmortar@hotmail.com <hr />With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. <a href='http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_mobile_072008' target='_new'>Connect on the go.</a></body> </html>