Friday, June 22, 2007

Day 15: Yellowstone Day 4

The last day at Yellowstone dawned cold and cloudy, just as predicted. Today, we're going the see the most active area, Norris Basin, and probably the most unusual area, Mammoth Springs. As an aside, I've been told by K they I kinda overdid the text yesterday. This one will be a little shorter, if only that we didn't do as much.

On our way, however, we got caught in an unusual traffic jam. The cars were stopped in both directions ahead, and it quickly became obvious why. A herd of buffalo (bison, whatever) were relocating from Gibbon meadows to somewhere closer to the west entrance. We stayed really still and watched the fun.

The backup of cars in the other direction was already a mile long, and this particular section of road was following a river between sheer canyon walls with no alternate routes for several miles. The buffalo were not in a hurry. I felt really sorry for traffic in the other direction.

After the buffalo passed, I saw the lead vehicle headed in the other direction try to crowd the biggest one to try to get them to move faster. The result of which was that the bull turned and glared at them. They stopped. Good choice.

Along the way in Gibbon's Meadow we stopped and got pictures of the Coyote kits again. Too cute.

Norris Basin Area

Norris has some of the hottest pools, the some of the (potentially) highest geysers, and most acidic water (H2S04!). Even the ground is warmer here. Which is all well and good because it snowed on us. Ok, it sleeted on us, but it was almost snow :-)

We stayed just long enough to see the Steamboat and Echinus geyser, and the Green Dragon Pool. The last time the Steamboat geyser blew in May 2005, it made a plume 300' high, about 3 times the height of Old Faithful.

The Green Dragon had a lot of steam and a sulfur cave just under the walkway. We made Corey stand on the walkway above it so we could get a good perspective (*cough* *cough*) The amount of steam was impressive. I'm sure it helped that it was a cold day. Here on the right, the family is doing the 'Geyser Dance' for the Puff-n-Stuff Geyser. It didn't work :-)

Finally, we skedaddled because the weather turned sour on us. At that point, we were at the most distant point we could be from shelter. Luckily, it was hard pellets of sleet and not slushy or wet. It was chilly though. Here are a picture of the sleet on the ground under the trees. At the history center we met a family from Naperville, that lives near Jefferson and Ogden, just a few miles from our house.

Mammoth Springs

We traveled to Mammoth Springs next -- not a close spot. It was pretty traveling along the Yellowstone river. By now though, the weather and the traveling were getting to the kids. So, of course we captured it on 'film' for posterity :-). This was a travertine "cap" deposited on top of a spring, the "Liberty Cap" - it is 37 feet high, and about 2,500 years old.

Mammoth springs has a different geology. Here the underlying material is Limestone and the hot water dissolves it and redeposits it on the surface as travertine. Huge mounds of it are deposited, and the mounds are surrounded terraces form where the water has pooled. Each pool develops a rim.

The area that still has water flowing over it has bacterial mats that give it different colors; the dry areas are startlingly white. The material is brittle and quickly erodes from weather.

We ate lunch here and the clouds rolled in. During the single brief interlude between the rain clouds we took some pictures and then headed back. The children were much happier when we were headed in the 'right' direction.

But first, we had to stop and look at the Upper Mammoth Springs, something we could do from the car. Here, we found the Orange Mound Spring, way way up on the hillside. The mound is interesting not only for its color, but because the water rolls down from the top in sheets. It doesn't translate to still photography, unfortunately. It's not a particularly fast-running spring, but it's been here a long time, building up the mound.

On the way back, we saw some Elk and babies.

Tonight is the last night at the 'Brandin Iron Inn'. We ate at the 'Gusher' pizza and pub. Blech, again.

14 comments:

marsha said...

we have certainly enjoyed your stay at yellowstone. so much to see. corey looks a bit sad on the mammoth springs photo, but all-in-all you all look like you're having a great time..

Anonymous said...

My family stayed in that exact same inn when we went to yellowstone!!!! Hoep you're having a good time but come home soon!!!! We miss you back here!!!! ~Linichan

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