Upper Geyser Basin

Lorraine and I took a trip to Old Faithful and toured the Upper Geyser Basin for the first time. Our timing was perfect because we saw 4 geyser eruptions that occur no more than a few times a day as well as several beautiful hot springs. Unlike the hot springs at Mammoth, those in the geyser basin are (apparently bottomless) pools that vary in color depending on the temperature of the water in them. They are usually ringed by orange which is the color of the bacteria (thermopiles) that live in the cooling - but still very hot - water. I’ll show you the pictures of several of them. The only one whose name I know is Morning Glory Pool, which used to be one of the most beautiful. Over the years the water in Morning Glory has cooled because of all of the trash that tourists have thrown into its throat. This has made the water at the center turn from a beautiful turquoise to the much greener color that you see now. It is still beautiful.

As we started to walk the trail toward Morning Glory Pool, we saw that Castle Geyser was beginning its 20-minute eruption. It comes from a built-up mound, which probably accounts for its name. Its long eruption is followed by many more minutes of pressurized steam, which makes for a most impressive display.

As we left Castle Geyser, we saw Giant Geyser beginning its eruption in the distance. The first picture is framed by some of the pure white dead trees that had the misfortune to grow in the middle of a geyser basin. As we approached Giant, we saw another small geyser erupting from a hot spring. Giant seems to come from several different sources and go in several different directions, rather than straight up, like Castle and Old Faithful. The last of the pictures is of the trees behind Grand which get sprayed by the hot, mineral-rich water when the wind blows in that direction.

On our way back from Morning Glory Pool, we saw an eruption of Grotto Geyser which was quiet when we passed it the first time. It gets its name from what are apparently old tree trunks that were growing where it formed. The last geyser picture shows another view of Grotto, still erupting, with Riverside Geyser in the background. Riverside spews hot water and steam into the Firehole River.

Indicative of the diversity of sights here is the field of flowers blooming in the middle of an otherwise barren geyser basin.

I’ll close with the obligatory close-up of an impressive bull bison and a picture of the intent players at our first Bingo night in our dorm. It was a huge success, since I won one of the games!