<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:10pt;"><div>On this neat date (11/1/11) I got to see my first Black Diamond eruption at 1459. When I arrived at 1150, there was overflow from Wall/Black Diamond/Black Opal Pool..it is all one level now with no barriers between the pools preventing flow of water and no barriers visible because of the muddy gray waters. There were rocks on the boardwalk and some black sand on the bench with fresh snow covering much of the boardwalk. Later, as snow melted, it was apparent there had been a lot of black sand and geyserite rocks ejected sometime between when I left yesterday at 1545 and this morning. There was no visible boiling in the Black Diamond area. I was in the parking lot talking on the radio with Steve Eide, who was at F&M, and Donna and Ralph Friz, who were watching Geyser Hill, when suddenly at 1459 came a loud noise and a powerful surge of black water and steam from Black Diamond. I estimate it reached at least 40-50 feet high and 30 feet wide. I managed to get one picture while it was on the way up..it reached higher than in my picture. But it lasted only seconds, and there was no afterburst. There was tremendous runoff, including through Salt and Pepper, which afterwards erupted black water. I went up to the pool, and it had dropped several inches. Overflow ceased, and had not recommenced as of 1625. Black Opal showed a lot of debris in its pool. I can't return tomorrow but hope to on Thursday. Steve and Ralph will be around. What an experience! Go Black Diamond! I will forward my photo to Dave and Tara for processing and distribution. </div></span></body></html>