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<DIV>The steam cloud was from Grand Prismatic/ Excelsior. It is common to
be seen from the UGB on the strong inversion days.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Here are some geyser times from my trips the past 3 days.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>12/25/09 10:20 Till ie--- and
some great bursts out of Giantess! It is believed by the VC that Giantess
began on 12/24 at about 16:00 (the web cam may have a better start time).</DIV>
<DIV>12/26/09 14:36 Fountain
Start</DIV>
<DIV>12/27/09 14:02 Fountain
Start</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I ran into Bill Warnock in the geyser grill the other day, it's always good
to see a gazer in the wintertime. The snow pack is dismal so far this year,
keeping most of the wildlife in the upper elevations. This has been the
slowest start for wildlife that we have had in the Northern Range in the 19
years I have been guiding. There is only about 200 to 300 bison in the Firehole
Valley, and none on the West Entrance so far. The Bobcat has been seen on the
West Entrance Road lately. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The skiing at Big Sky has been great, thanks to a couple of storms that
past just north of the park. talking to the folks at the Snowlodge and at
Big Sky Resort, it looks like January could be one of the slowest in 30 years in
the park. If any of you are thinking about a winter trip, this may be a
great year to get the park to yourself. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jim Holstein</DIV>
<DIV>Yellowstone Tour Guides</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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