The Blue Whale and Other Travel Tales: The Odds and Ends of Yellowstone

Photos by "Molly" except as noted

There is so much more to see at Yellowstone. I took about 3,000 pictures on the entire trip. At least half of them were at the Park. This summary is some of favorites.

The second buffalo herd.

We were heading toward the Yellowstone Grand Canyon when the traffic slowed in front of us. Actually, one can go several miles without seeing another car. And, then, poof, one is in heavy traffic. Often it is because of some sort of wildlife or the parking lot of yet another wonder. Well, this time it was a lone bull bison moseying (and I mean moseying s l o w l y down the road) coming against traffic. We had gone almost a whole day without seeing any wildlife except a chipmunk stealing potato chips at the Old Faithful Lodge porch.

Often an older bull bison will be kicked out of the herd when the younger ones start their rutting. We thought this might be the case. They wander around mostly by themselves, but occasionally two or three. The bulls can be very protective of their ladies.

Steve, quick roll down your window. Traffic had only slowed, but did not come to a complete stop as can be the case when one of these majestic creatures decides to stand or lay down in the road. It is, after all, their home. There is nothing moving them until they decide it is time to move on. Steve did roll down the window, and the camera was clicking away.

Another mile or so down the road, the same thing happened. Another bull bison following the footsteps of the first. Then another. Then around a small curve. And Voila! A lush grassy meadow near the Yellowstone River.. And a herd...lots of bulls, mamas and young calves. One, of course, was standing in the road. So, we stopped. My camera was really clicking at this point.

The big one finally moved out of the way. And we moved on.

Early in the twentieth century, the American buffalo (bison) population had gotten down to 20 due to hunting for the fun of it. Because, some people with foresight realized the contribution that the bison makes to the ecology system, a program was started to protect them. The bison population is approximately 4,500. I certainly am grateful to those Conservationists. I am not a tree hugger, by any means. But, I do feel that we should try to be good stewards of the gifts God has given to us.

Norris Geyser Basin Trail (Porcelain Basin Loop is in a separate posting)

The Norris Geyser Basin is on the western side of the Grand Loop. There are several boardwalk walking loops within two "sub" basins: Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Porcelain is on a mostly flat

terrain. The Back Basin is a bit more challenging, but well worth the walk. The booklet gives lots of geological information. This basin is the hottest and most dynamic within the Park. It is mostly acidic and part of an area with the world's most active volcanoes. New hot springs and geysers appear frequently. Changes can happen quickly or ever so slowly.

Colors are beautiful and often vivid. There is evidence of thermophiles (heat loving organisms and microorganisms) which possess an array of color. There is an abundant diversity of microscopic organisms including bacteria, archaea, eukarya. Viruses are not among the three domains, but, nonetheless thrive in hydrothermal features as the can survive extreme conditions. Colors can change with change of temperature or chemistry

Yellows (various shades) typically contain sulphur and can smell like rotten eggs.

White flower-like designs indicate silica.

Dark, brown, rust and red contain various amounts of iron, bacteria and archaea along with high levels of arsenic.

Emerald green--Algae and chlorophyll. Some bacteria and archaea may grow in the mats. The form at 155 degrees F

Dark Blackish-green mats are formed in cooler water from alga (Zygogonium).

Vivid Blue--salts containing sulfur, arsenic and boron.

Back Basin houses the news-worthy Steamboat Geyser and approximately a dozen other named Geysers, a half dozen or so named Springs, Black Hermit Caldron and a couple of named "vents" (Blue Mud Steam Vent). I love some of the names: Puff 'n Stuff Geyser, Green Dragon Spring, Black Pit Spring and so on.

Steamboat Geyser

With over 10,000 hydothermals, why would I pick out one for it's own heading. Well, because it has a certain notoriety. It made national news recently. It seems that after eight years with no eruptions, it blew its top on July 31, this year (2013). It is in the Norris Geyser Basin (Back Basin portion)

Its normal eruptions (when it does happen...usually more often than every eight years...but not regularly) it blows slightly over three hundred feet in the air, drenching spectators and the boardwalk. On July 31 this geyser produced water at a lever over four hundred. I don't know how this is measured, but, apparently, if can be done quite accurately. It is the tallest geyser in the world. This geyser is totally unpredictable both in when and how long it will erupt. Major eruptions last between three and forty minutes. For an undetermined timeframe after a major eruption steam spews and thunders forth (usually several hours). Although it can belch and burb water/steam ten to forty feet at irregular intervals (but somewhat common times), a major eruption comes rarely. It could be days, months, or as recent news indicated, years.

I was mildly frustrated that it could not wait for me to get there. I mean, really, couldn't have waited two more weeks! It blew around 7:30 in the evening. So, I probably would not have seen it even if I were in the Park. I made the statement about it waiting for me to see it to several of the Park staff. All to whom I talked had not seen it either, so I guess I really can't complain.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/norris-tour-steamboat-geyser.htm

Photo from above website--a winter eruption

The Cistern Spring and Steamboat Geyser are linked underground. This was confirmed in 1983 when Cistern began emptying after each major eruption. Usually, however, Cistern is blue or green with a constant overflow. The silica rich water kills trees and produces the famous white socks.

Dragon's Mouth, Mud Volcano and Vicinity

One of our favorite hydothermals was the Dragon's Mouth Spring located in the Mud Volcano area on the Eastern side of the Grand Loop. Very appropriately named. The vent for this geyser is at an angle. And, it rumbles and roars!

Dragon's mouth photo taken from a website...Sorry can't remember which one

The Dragon's Mouth

Leaving the parking lot from this basin, we saw a fawn on my passenger's side...no wait a second, there were two. I got the camera up, but I was too slow. And they were gone. Disappeared into the dense brush. But it was a good thing that we stopped as Momma mule deer ran in front of the car crossing from the driver's side to catch up with her babies.

Visitors have, over the years, tossed coins and other objects into various geysers. This has changed the geyser's plumbing to the degree that they no longer erupt. In effect, they have been "killed." Those hydrothermal features may never erupt or react again. DO NOT THROW ANYTHING IN OR AT A HYDROTHERMAL FEATURE. SAVE THEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Pics of This and That, Here and There