Sunday (9/11) Ashlen and Eli headed north to Norris Geyser and Mammoth. We headed down to the West Thumb area which was the remaining geyser basin we hadn't seen......except for two small ones we missed on Friday. We stopped at those two on the way.
(By the way, the colors in all these pictures are natural. They haven't been computer-manipulated. I've had trouble getting the color of the sky to come out right for the whole trip but suddenly it's working with no help from me.)
The first was Biscuit Basin.....
Jewel Geyser erupting
Jewel Geyser post-performance
Wall Pool
Black Diamond Pool
Black Diamond Pool texture detail
Sapphire Pool
The second was Black Sand Basin....
Cliff Geyser close-up
Cliff Geyser
Emerald Pool
Mineral run-off from a geyser into Iron Spring Creek
Sunset Pool
After seeing Biscuit and Black Sand Basins we headed to West Thumb. This took us over the continental divide at nearly 8400' twice because it meanders around like an oxbow. West Thumb is an arm of Yellowstone Lake that looks a little like a thumb (very little) and it has a collection of geysers and geothermal features right on the lake's shore. The basin West Thumb occupies is itself a volcanic creation. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high altitude lake (over 8000') in North America....21 miles long.
West Thumb Geyser Basin with Yellowstone Lake in background and puffs of wildfire smoke on the horizon.
Mimulus Pools
Surging Spring
Bluebell Pool with Seismograph Pool in back
Lake with run-off from Lakeside Spring
The Fishing Cone. People used to fish from the cone and dunk the fish in the boiling water in the cone to cook the fish. It was quite the thing to have your picture taken fishing with an apron and chef's hat on. They also sometimes got scalded trying to straddle the cone.
Black Pool with run-off channels
Black Pool's run-off into the lake
Black Pool which is actually a crystal clear blue. It used to be nearly black from the dark green organisms growing in it. When the water temperature rose and got close to boiling it killed all the organisms which then turned the water clear.
Abyss Pool
Abyss Pool
Yellowstone Lake with smoke from the Berry fire many miles away in Grand Teton National Park.
On our way back to West Yellowstone we came upon a bison jam.....a herd of bison crossing the Yellowstone River and the road.
The last six bison trying to make up their minds to cross.
The stragglers bringing up the rear.
Everyone made it across safely. They swim surprisingly well for animals that don't have feet designed for paddling.
Many were very close to the road. We wondered how the cyclist waiting in the line of traffic was going to handle passing them. We hoped he would ride through with a car between him and the bison so they wouldn't see him.....if his legs weren't too wobbly to pedal. If he'd been going in our direction we would have offered to put his bike in the back of the truck and take him well past the herd.
If a bison wants to cross the road he just ignores all the vehicles.
Clouds and wildfire smoke all mixed up.
Lots more smoke.
There was so much smoke we were a bit concerned about getting back to the campground. We found out later the wind had been gusting at 40 mph for six hours and had whipped up all the fires which are burning in the park. If they'd closed the West Entrance Road we (and a lot of others) would have been in a mess. As it turned out the road was open although it did have the usual elk jams.
I'm going to put 9/12 and 9/13 together on the next post and then I'll be caught up.
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