We took off around 8am and drove south from Bridge Bay to the West Thumb area of the park. We passed large areas from recent fires.
It is amazing to see acres and acres of forest which have been destroyed, but also the new growth which springs up. Phil is a retired forester and he told us that the trees grow between 8 – 10 inches per year, so this area was between 8 to 12 years old.
The West Thumb area is a caldera within a larger caldera and was formed approximately 174,000 years ago! We followed the trail around the Central Basin.
The pool above was named Black Pool, because at one time it really was black! In the summer of 1991, the water temperature rose killing the organisms in the pool. Black Pool also erupted that summer and winter, but it is now quiet and beautiful. The blue water indicates that the temperature is at least 165 degrees!After West Thumb we headed toward Old Faithful with a stop at Kepler Falls.
We continued on to Old Faithful and arrived about 20 minutes before its “scheduled” eruption time. There is a new visitor’s center at Old Faithful since the last time we were here. It is really well done with a great interactive museum with displays explaining the formation of the area.
We had a quick lunch after watching Old Faithful then walked the geyser loop to Morning Glory Pool. We had a nice look back at the Old Faithful Inn. The majority of the world’s active geysers are located in the Upper Geyser Basin here in Yellowstone!
Tobey checked with the ranger station for estimated geyser eruption times before we started off. We were lucky enough to see Castle Geyser erupt because it only erupts about every 14 hours.
Castle Geyser’s water eruption often reaches 75 feet and lasts about 20 minutes, followed by a noisy steam phase for 30 to 40 minutes. We got to see both!
Near Grand Geyser we saw the trees which have been bleached white.
We made it to Morning Glory Pool which got its name in the 1880s for its remarkable likeness to its namesake flower.
Unfortunately, the pool became victim to vandalism because over the years people have thrown coins and trash into the pool. Much of the debris became embedded in the sides and vent of the spring which reduced water circulation and thus the water temperature decreased. Cooler water temperatures have allowed the growth of orange and yellow colored bacteria. When we get home I plan to pull out old pictures to compare the colors.
We managed to see this area without getting wet even though rain threatened most of the way. At Old Faithful Inn we stopped for an ice cream before heading off to the Midway Geyser Basin and the Grand Prismatic Pool. Near here is where some guy went off the boardwalks for almost 300 yards and died about a week ago. The water is very acidic and the didn’t find any of his remains.
We continued on the Southern Loop and a stop at Gibbon Falls. Interesting signage explained how the road was built with 110 men and 8 horse teams back in the early 1900s. There were about 700 cars going on the gravel road through the park on any given day then – now there are close to 7000.
Continuing on the geyser trail, we stopped at the Artists’ Paint Pots. It was really cloudy and threatening rain, so I waited at the RV while Tobey and Bob walked down to see them.
At the Norris turnoff, we hit road construction and we had to wait to get into the parking lot. We took the short, Back Basin Trail which took us by Steamboat Geyser and Cistern Spring. Steamboat Geyser last erupted in 2014, but when it erupts it throws waster more than 300 feet, making it the world’s tallest geyser. Cistern Spring, pictured below, is linked underground to Steamboat Geyser. It was confirmed in 1983 when Cistern began emptying after each major eruption of Steamboat.
Getting out of the parking lot took more than 20 minutes because of the road construction! Finally, back on the road we headed back to our campsite. Along the Hayden Valley there were several slow downs for bison viewing. We noticed that some people don’t pay any attention to the warnings of staying at least 25 yards away from the animal. There were at least 100 bison in this herd and they were roaming in the meadow and crossing the road.
It was after 7 by the time we got back to camp and dinner was close to 8 pm. We have had to Colorado in the morning. We are hoping for internet service by the time we hit Jackson, Wyoming. More later!!
We continued on to Old Faithful and arrived about 20 minutes before its “scheduled” eruption time. There is a new visitor’s center at Old Faithful since the last time we were here. It is really well done with a great interactive museum with displays explaining the formation of the area.
We had a quick lunch after watching Old Faithful then walked the geyser loop to Morning Glory Pool. We had a nice look back at the Old Faithful Inn. The majority of the world’s active geysers are located in the Upper Geyser Basin here in Yellowstone!
Tobey checked with the ranger station for estimated geyser eruption times before we started off. We were lucky enough to see Castle Geyser erupt because it only erupts about every 14 hours.
Castle Geyser’s water eruption often reaches 75 feet and lasts about 20 minutes, followed by a noisy steam phase for 30 to 40 minutes. We got to see both!
Near Grand Geyser we saw the trees which have been bleached white.
We made it to Morning Glory Pool which got its name in the 1880s for its remarkable likeness to its namesake flower.
Unfortunately, the pool became victim to vandalism because over the years people have thrown coins and trash into the pool. Much of the debris became embedded in the sides and vent of the spring which reduced water circulation and thus the water temperature decreased. Cooler water temperatures have allowed the growth of orange and yellow colored bacteria. When we get home I plan to pull out old pictures to compare the colors.
We managed to see this area without getting wet even though rain threatened most of the way. At Old Faithful Inn we stopped for an ice cream before heading off to the Midway Geyser Basin and the Grand Prismatic Pool. Near here is where some guy went off the boardwalks for almost 300 yards and died about a week ago. The water is very acidic and the didn’t find any of his remains.
We continued on the Southern Loop and a stop at Gibbon Falls. Interesting signage explained how the road was built with 110 men and 8 horse teams back in the early 1900s. There were about 700 cars going on the gravel road through the park on any given day then – now there are close to 7000.
Continuing on the geyser trail, we stopped at the Artists’ Paint Pots. It was really cloudy and threatening rain, so I waited at the RV while Tobey and Bob walked down to see them.
At the Norris turnoff, we hit road construction and we had to wait to get into the parking lot. We took the short, Back Basin Trail which took us by Steamboat Geyser and Cistern Spring. Steamboat Geyser last erupted in 2014, but when it erupts it throws waster more than 300 feet, making it the world’s tallest geyser. Cistern Spring, pictured below, is linked underground to Steamboat Geyser. It was confirmed in 1983 when Cistern began emptying after each major eruption of Steamboat.
Getting out of the parking lot took more than 20 minutes because of the road construction! Finally, back on the road we headed back to our campsite. Along the Hayden Valley there were several slow downs for bison viewing. We noticed that some people don’t pay any attention to the warnings of staying at least 25 yards away from the animal. There were at least 100 bison in this herd and they were roaming in the meadow and crossing the road.
It was after 7 by the time we got back to camp and dinner was close to 8 pm. We have had to Colorado in the morning. We are hoping for internet service by the time we hit Jackson, Wyoming. More later!!
2 comments:
It looks even prettier than I remember. I've enjoyed reading your blog!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks! I took the waterfall pictures for you! :)
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