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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Drove into park about 9 am under gray skies with
temperature at 32. At end of Fountain Flats meadow, on the rise up to the
Lower Geyser Basin, there were seven cars pulled over with people strolling
around Leather Pool and venturing on to the boardwalk beyond. I didn't
stop, but the parking lot was unplowed and blocked by a Bear Management
sign. After having driven across the fascinating plain with the hill
steaming ahead, but nowhere to stop, some had apparently turned around to see
what they could see of this fascinating phenomenon. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Staff at OFVC said I should speak with Kerry
Gunther, the Bear Management officer, about the closure of both Lower and Midway
Geyser Basin parking lots. I called and left message with not response so
far. I did call the Superintendent's office to report the situation at
Lower Basin this morning, and Chris Lehnartz told me that the Lower Basin
parking lot and bathroom facilities SHOULD BE open...though you can't go on the
boardwalk. I told her I wanted to see the 1983 EIS on which the basin
closures have been based this year, and she confirmed that Mr. Gunther was the
person to supply them to me. She suggested I also ask him for the 1994
Bear Management Plan which revised some of the EIS decisions. SO, I await
the return call before taking further action.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Much less snow on walks than last year. Sun
gradually broke through and temps reached 52...lovely. On
geysers:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Castle 0024 (overnight)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Plume 1048 1214 1326</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Daisy 1058 1318</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lion 1101 1229</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Aurum 1102 (a nice dual with Lion)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Grotto turned on around 1400; Dwarves were active
on and off</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I left at 1430. Beehive had splashed around
quite a bit, but as of 1700 the OFVC had no report of eruption. Polly,
George and MA the other gazers about today.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>