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Observations for 2021 August 02


Got out as far as an erupting Castle when Grand started. Decided to watch the One Burst Grand from there, although I did wander down the the bridge when Sawmill started toward the end of the Grand eruption. Was amusing to see that there was still some debris that could be pushed along at the head of the runoff. Also, Castle sent nicely into steam.

Despite the poor weather, decided to head on down to Artemisia. Sitting under the tree at the south, I had just seen an eruption of Atomizer. In the Artemisia fog, I could hear the bubbling in the vent before the water column was visible. So I was surprised that right after, off to the left/south, I could hear rumbling. The radio had announced that Beehive had just started, and I was hearing the eruption. When I mentioned it, a bit later Suzanne could hear it too. After a few minutes, it disappeared and i didn't hear it again.

Must be some unusual "whisper gallery" effect, where the sound is amplified at some locations by the reflections and echos. It was an overcast, damp day, so conditions might make a difference. Something to consider the next time someone gets a radio call of a Beehive eruption there.

Left before the eruption, because was starting to not like being so far from dry shelter. But decided a little side trip was in order, and needed to see what East Sentinel looked like.

East Sentinel Geyser, showing recent wash zone

At first, I thought it didn't look all that encouraging, although more active than last year when the pool was completely calm. Then I noticed all the dead vegetation. The large mound of grass just to the left of the formations was brown and all bent upstream. Farther beyond, in the alcove to the let, was more dead vegetation and what even appeared to be water flow marks. Some of the dead plants are about 10 meters from the vent. On the cone, a couple of catch basins had water in them.

About 36 hours ago, we did have strong rains, and the catch basins could be still holding that. But the dead plants seemed fresh. In any case, East Sentinel needs some observing this season.

Arrived at the early afternoon Grand just in time to see the boops of a delay Turban interval well over 35 minutes long. It took seven more Turban eruption intervals before we finally got the One Burst Grand eruption. During that time the crowd grew bored with the wait, which ended well outside the NPS window. It didn't help that the weather was much nicer than the forecast said. (We didn't get rained on.)

With the rain supposed to come in, and nothing much expected, we didn't go back out. Turns out the rains really didn't start until it was time for the next Grand eruption, after sunset.