Norris Geyser Basin

Hi Blog.  As you know, these are the voyages of Dave-n-Kathy.  Our five year mission is to seek out new life and new civilizations.  To boldly go where millions of tourists have gone before.

Captains Log, Stardate 2013.7.2.  We've been in the Yellowstone System for three weeks now exploring the geological features located therein.  Today, the Away Team visited the Norris Geyser Basin.  Here is Dave examining the expansive volcanic area.

The most unique feature of this area is the Pinwheel Geyer.  The runoff channel provides one of the clearest thermal and chemical gradients in the Norris Basin.  The brilliant green belongs to acid-tolerant thermophiles.  The red mats are colored by iron oxide.

Looking back up at the Visitor Center, you can see the Black Growler Steam Vent.  This strong vent of steam has been in different locations on this hill for many years.  No one knows why it disappears and reappears, but Black Growler always roars back.  Further scientific study of this phenomenon is in order.

The thermal waters in this area contain high concentrations of silica giving the water a milky blue color.

There are miles of boardwalks which allow observations of the various features both in the Porcelain Basin and Back Basin.

Norris Geyser Basin is one of the hottest and most dynamic of Yellowstone's hydrothermal areas.  Many hot springs and fumaroles have temperatures above the boiling point. In 2003, one section of the boardwalk had to be relocated because the area became superheated - enough to begin toasting the boardwalks and overheating visitor's feet.  A new feature began throwing scalding, acidic mud on the trail.  Never a dull moment in the Norris Geyser Basin.

Our mission also took us to the Artists Paint Pots.  While not as hot as Norris, this area is full of colorful  features.  The boardwalk takes you up the side of a small hill offering a view down to the thermal features below.

Here is a video link to one of the more active features in the Artist Paint Pots.

Our final stop before beaming back was Gibbon Falls.

Having collected numerous photos and scientific details, the crew is going to take some time off from their scientific study and try their hand at fly fishing the confluence of the Gibbon, Fire Hold and Madison Rivers.

Captain Out.