Month: September 2022

The repetitions have gotten tiresome. A long interval overnight put the One Burst Grand eruption at dawn again. I had to stop for a bison, in front of the store, again, made me stop for it to cross the biketrail. Fan & Mortar are back to dormant. The One Burst Grand delayed for six Turban eruptions, and Beehive's Indicator started as we got our bikes untied at Castle.

2022-Sep-04:13:36:41 T1C

2022-Sep-04 13:36:30	Vent Ovfl	-0m11s
2022-Sep-04 13:36:40	Turban		-0m01s
2022-Sep-04 13:36:41	Grand B1	---	d=9m37s
2022-Sep-04 13:39:27	Vent		2m46s
2022-Sep-04 13:46:18	P1		9m37s
Vent & Turban continue

				     	ΣD=9m37s
(Turban 17m25s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-04 11:42:52			d=4m58s 	
2022-Sep-04 12:01:28	Int: 18m36s	d=4m37s 	
2022-Sep-04 12:21:26	Int: 19m58s	d=3m36s 	
2022-Sep-04 12:41:08	Int: 19m42s	d=3m37s 	
2022-Sep-04 13:00:34	Int: 19m26s	d=4m09s 	
2022-Sep-04 13:19:15	Int: 18m41s	d=3m41s 	

At sunset we got to wait at Grand two hours for no good reason. At least, once again, everyone out there let the moon illuminate the One Burst Eruption.

2022-Sep-04:22:07:44 V6/T1Q

2022-Sep-04 22:07:42	Turban		-0m02s
2022-Sep-04 22:07:44	Grand B1	---	d=10m46s
2022-Sep-04 22:18:30	P1		10m46s
2022-Sep-04 22:19:16	V&T Quit	11m32s

				     	ΣD=10m46s
(Turban 17m13s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-04 19:21:59			d=5m32s 	
2022-Sep-04 19:40:36	Int: 18m37s	d=4m25s 	
2022-Sep-04 20:00:31	Int: 19m55s	d=4m28s 	
2022-Sep-04 20:19:29	Int: 18m58s	d=3m57s  V0 Vent ovfl: 20:19:23	
2022-Sep-04 20:37:52	Int: 18m23s	d=3m58s  V1	
2022-Sep-04 20:56:18	Int: 18m26s	d=3m59s  V2	
2022-Sep-04 21:14:49	Int: 18m31s	d=3m52s  V3	
2022-Sep-04 21:33:14	Int: 18m25s	d=3m37s  V4	
2022-Sep-04 21:50:29	Int: 17m15s	d=4m05s  V5	

But did stop in to see Daisy up close, and after the final Grand, Oblong erupted by moonlight.

Today was pretty much a duplicate of yesterday, down to the bison hanging around the bike trail at dawn in front of the store. Grand erupted during the night at around the same time as yesterday. Went down to Fan & Mortar at dawn and found that it looked the same too. Watched for a few hours with nothing different.

Went out to Grand around 10:00 with the hope of a short interval and a sunset window. Instead, like yesterday, it took close to nine hours on a hot day to erupt. No Turban Delay intervals, just a series of Turban eruptions where Grand made no attempt at erupting. The sky was clear, so at least the One Burst Grand wasn't in shadow.

2022-Sep-03:13:54:21 G1Q

2022-Sep-03 13:54:15	Boop		-0m06s
2022-Sep-03 13:54:21	Grand B1	---	d=11m22s
2022-Sep-03 13:54:49	Vent Ovfl	0m28s
2022-Sep-03 13:55:06	Turban		0m45s
2022-Sep-03 13:57:24	Vent		3m03s
2022-Sep-03 14:05:43	P1		11m22s
2022-Sep-03 14:06:37	V&T Quit	12m16s

				     	ΣD=11m22s
(Turban 18m09s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-03 10:49:41			d=4m42s 	
2022-Sep-03 11:09:24	Int: 19m43s	d=4m33s 	
2022-Sep-03 11:27:56	Int: 18m32s	d=4m09s 	
2022-Sep-03 11:47:03	Int: 19m07s	d=3m55s 	
2022-Sep-03 12:06:19	Int: 19m16s	d=4m07s 	
2022-Sep-03 12:25:02	Int: 18m43s	d=3m52s 	
2022-Sep-03 12:43:06	Int: 18m04s	d=3m51s 	
2022-Sep-03 13:00:54	Int: 17m48s	d=3m58s 	
2022-Sep-03 13:18:57	Int: 18m03s	d=3m26s 	
2022-Sep-03 13:36:12	Int: 17m15s	d=3m38s 	

The evening was also almost the same as yesterday. The only difference is that this time it took five Turban eruption intervals after the Turban Delay for us to get the One Burst Grand eruption. Also like yesterday, no one illuminated the eruption, so we got to see it by a bright quarter moon. Every so often during the eruption a moonbow would appear, especially at the start and later in the eruption as Vent was putting out a fine spray.

2022-Sep-03:21:23:49 T1C

2022-Sep-03 21:22:52	Turban		-0m57s
2022-Sep-03 21:23:49	Grand B1	---	d=9m59s
2022-Sep-03 21:33:48	P1		9m59s
Vent & Turban continue

				     	ΣD=9m59s
(Turban 17m27s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-03 19:49:41			d=5m50s 	
2022-Sep-03 20:08:35	Int: 18m54s	d=4m33s 	
2022-Sep-03 20:28:37	Int: 20m02s	d=4m23s 	
2022-Sep-03 20:46:15	Int: 17m38s	d=4m06s 	
2022-Sep-03 21:05:25	Int: 19m10s	d=4m03s 	

Once again, when out at dawn to see if anything had changed at Fan & Mortar, and nothing had. Didn't need to go to Grand, as Vent & Turban were in eruption when I checked. So hung around Fan & Mortar for an hour or so to do a more detailed observation, and that proved nothing really had changed.

Went out to Grand with the expectation of an eruption before noon and the possibility of a sunset eruption. Instead got over 3-1/2 hours of Turban eruptions and Sput D operating on a 24 minute interval. When we finally got the One Burst Grand, it didn't even last ten minutes, and was just late enough that the next eruption will be in the dark.

2022-Sep-02:14:33:58 G1C

2022-Sep-02 14:33:51	Boop		-0m07s
2022-Sep-02 14:33:58	Grand B1	---	d=9m46s
2022-Sep-02 14:34:33	Vent Ovfl	0m35s
2022-Sep-02 14:34:49	Turban		0m51s
2022-Sep-02 14:37:03	Vent		3m05s
2022-Sep-02 14:43:44	P1		9m46s
Vent & Turban continue

				     	ΣD=9m46s
(Turban 17m05s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-02 10:28:08			
2022-Sep-02 10:47:32	Int: 19m24s	d=4m58s 	
2022-Sep-02 11:07:58	Int: 20m26s	d=4m49s 	
2022-Sep-02 11:27:52	Int: 19m54s	d=4m20s 	
2022-Sep-02 11:48:33	Int: 20m41s	d=4m34s  Boop: 11:34:42	
2022-Sep-02 12:07:51	Int: 19m18s	d=4m29s 	
2022-Sep-02 12:27:17	Int: 19m26s	d=4m15s 	
2022-Sep-02 12:46:55	Int: 19m38s	d=4m06s 	
2022-Sep-02 13:05:54	Int: 18m59s	d=4m06s 	
2022-Sep-02 13:23:49	Int: 17m55s	d=3m55s 	
2022-Sep-02 13:41:20	Int: 17m31s	d=3m47s 	
2022-Sep-02 13:59:27	Int: 18m07s	d=3m43s 	
2022-Sep-02 14:16:53	Int: 17m26s	d=3m47s 	

Beehive delayed long enough so I was able to get over there for the eruption from the cabin area. Were quite a few people settled in camp chairs who learned to check the wind direction once the Indicator starts.

Arrived after sunset at Grand for what appears to have been a Turban Delay Interval. The Turban eruption duration was 5-1/2 minutes, and the following Turban eruption had no Grand overflow. The delay wasn't all bad, as four Turban eruption intervals was enough for the sky to get dark and for the One Burst Eruption to be nicely illuminated by the quarter moon.

2022-Sep-02:21:33:26 T1Q

2022-Sep-02 21:33:12	Turban		-0m14s
2022-Sep-02 21:33:26	Grand B1	---	d=11m11s
2022-Sep-02 21:44:37	P1		11m11s
2022-Sep-02 21:45:37	V&T Quit	12m11s

				     	ΣD=11m11s
(Turban 20m46s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-02 20:12:41			d=5m30s 	
2022-Sep-02 20:31:16	Int: 18m35s	d=4m38s 	
2022-Sep-02 20:50:49	Int: 19m33s	d=4m38s 	
2022-Sep-02 21:12:26	Int: 21m37s	d=4m42s 	

Once again a dawn check of Fan & Mortar showed no eruption overnight and Angle active. With no reports on Grand overnight, was prepared to wait a while. Grand's pool was full and overflowing, so I knew that it had been at least 4-1/2 hours since an eruption.

Spent the next 2-1/2 hours watching a series of nondescript Turban eruption intervals. At the two hour mark, West Triplet had a weak, eight minute long eruption.

The Grand eruption was nicely backlit, with all the initial activity easily visible. It was a surprise when the first burst lasted over 9-1/2 minutes. But the sunlight was glinting off of the water sloshing in the pool for nearly a minute before we got a strong, high second burst.

2022-Sep-01:08:31:46 G2Q

2022-Sep-01 08:31:46	Grand B1	---	d=9m40s
2022-Sep-01 08:31:49	Vent Ovfl	0m03s
2022-Sep-01 08:32:29	Turban		0m43s
2022-Sep-01 08:34:21	Vent		2m35s
2022-Sep-01 08:41:26	P1		9m40s	d=0m59s
2022-Sep-01 08:42:25	B2		10m39s	d=0m38s
2022-Sep-01 08:43:03	P2		11m17s
2022-Sep-01 08:43:40	V&T Quit	11m54s

				     ΣB=10m18s	ΣD=11m17s
(Turban 16m16s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-01 06:30:33			d=3m09s 	
2022-Sep-01 06:48:13	Int: 17m40s	d=3m57s 	
2022-Sep-01 07:06:02	Int: 17m49s	d=3m26s 	
2022-Sep-01 07:23:17	Int: 17m15s	d=3m48s 	
2022-Sep-01 07:41:08	Int: 17m51s	d=3m26s 	
2022-Sep-01 07:58:22	Int: 17m14s	d=3m32s 	
2022-Sep-01 08:15:30	Int: 17m08s	d=3m28s 	

The last few days several people have reported what they thought was unusual activity-- stronger boiling or more numerous boiling points in Excelsior. I have dismissed these as wishful thinking from people who aren't familiar with the area. With the parking situation there, who is, anymore?

I listen in on the NPS radio chatter because it is informative, entertaining, and sometimes even has useful information. Coming back from Grand, I heard a Naturalist report that something unusual had happened at Excelsior. At first I dismissed it as another example of people goading each other into seeing things that aren't really there. But because I thought it was early enough (09:00), I could go out there and check it out myself. Also, if it had erupted, I wanted to see the area, and when it does erupt, I expect the NPS to close the area to everyone, even if the activity is not as much as the 1985 activity.

Turns out that 09:00 is too late, the parking lot was full. Worse, there were enough people waiting that I couldn't just leave, but had to wait for the way to clear. I was finally able to bail out and parked up along the road by the junction.

It was obvious by the time I got to the bridge across the river that nothing had happened. There was no evidence of any new runoff, or debris in the river, or dead plant-life (we were down-wind, too). Up at the top, there was no disruption of the shoreline of Excelsior, no wash zone above the rim. A total disappointment, but fortunately, only took an hour to drive out there and back, and didn't miss Fan & Mortar activity.

Had breakfast and got back out to Fan & Mortar around 11:00. For the next two hours, there was nothing more than the usual continuous Angle splashing and the quick cycling of the rest of Fan's vents. As I was getting ready to leave, that's when High and Gold Vents started looking really good. After ten minutes, they hadn't decreased in activity, so a radio call was made. That was all it really took to get them to suddenly die down. Which was timely, as that was when the call for the start of Beehive's Indicator came in on the radio.

Went out for the sunset Castle eruption, but it didn't cooperate. Left after rainbows were no longer possible. Turns out it was a minor eruption, again.

Got back out to Grand for the afternoon, and again had a series of Turban eruption intervals that didn't vary much. This time the One Burst Grand eruption started with Turban active for half a minute. It was followed by strong overflow from West Triplet that didn't have any splashes.

2022-Sep-01:15:41:46 T1C

2022-Sep-01 15:41:19	Turban		-0m27s
2022-Sep-01 15:41:23	Vent Ovfl	-0m23s
2022-Sep-01 15:41:46	Grand B1	---	d=10m23s
2022-Sep-01 15:44:21	Vent		2m35s
2022-Sep-01 15:52:09	P1		10m23s
Vent & Turban continue

				     	ΣD=10m23s
(Turban 17m56s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-01 14:28:22			d=5m39s 	
2022-Sep-01 14:46:36	Int: 18m14s	d=4m35s 	
2022-Sep-01 15:05:31	Int: 18m55s	d=3m54s 	
2022-Sep-01 15:23:23	Int: 17m52s	d=3m45s 	

2022-Sep-01:22:15:14 D0/1C

2022-Sep-01 22:15:14	Grand B1	---	d=9m50s
2022-Sep-01 22:17:13	Vent		1m59s
2022-Sep-01 22:25:04	P1		9m50s
Vent & Turban continue

				     	ΣD=9m50s
(Turban 32m16s)
* * * * *
2022-Sep-01 21:42:58			d=4m40s 	

Once again, went out at dawn to check on Fan & Mortar. Once again, it was in Angle mode. Which is was in for the rest of the day. Went on over to Grand, where after two Turban eruption intervals, saw a One Burst Grand under nice, backlit conditions. West Triplet started late in the eruption, and lasted over eight minutes. A bit surprising, since earlier this year West Triplet would be quiet so soon after a Rift eruption.

2022-Aug-31:07:39:04 G1Q

2022-Aug-31 07:39:04	Grand B1	---	d=10m56s
2022-Aug-31 07:39:24	Vent Ovfl	0m20s
2022-Aug-31 07:39:27	Turban		0m23s
2022-Aug-31 07:42:14	Vent		3m10s
2022-Aug-31 07:50:00	P1		10m56s
2022-Aug-31 07:50:47	V&T Quit	11m43s

				     	ΣD=10m56s
(Turban 21m35s)
* * * * *
2022-Aug-31 06:56:44			d=4m25s 	
2022-Aug-31 07:17:29	Int: 20m45s	d=4m25s 	

Then spent almost three hours confirming that Fan & Mortar was not going to show signs of eruption any time soon. Instead, Angle was on continuously, while the rest of the Fan vents were cycling every 20 to 25 minutes. Occasionally they'd look good, especially when starting up (an "Artemisia Lock", named in honor of all those times someone passing by, usually headed to Artemisia, would call on the radio that Fan looked really good, almost in a lock, only to have it do nothing.)

In the early afternoon, Crystal and Belgian were high, with Slurp being flooded. Then it was time to wait for 3-1/2 hours of Turban eruption intervals. After 2-1/2, West Triplet erupted for about 25 minutes. Grand waited three more Turban eruption intervals after the West Triplet end before finally erupting. This turned out to be a two burst eruption, where it took Grand 45 seconds from the Turban start to get going.

2022-Aug-31:16:35:40 T2Q

2022-Aug-31 16:35:00	Vent Ovfl	-0m40s
2022-Aug-31 16:35:04	Turban		-0m36s
2022-Aug-31 16:35:30	Boop		-0m10s
2022-Aug-31 16:35:40	Grand B1	---	d=9m35s
2022-Aug-31 16:37:54	Vent		2m14s
2022-Aug-31 16:45:14	FP		9m34s
2022-Aug-31 16:45:15	P1		9m35s	d=0m38s
2022-Aug-31 16:45:53	B2		10m13s	d=0m45s
2022-Aug-31 16:46:38	P2		10m58s
2022-Aug-31 16:47:23	V&T Quit	11m43s

				     ΣB=10m20s	ΣD=10m58s
(Turban 17m20s)
* * * * *
2022-Aug-31 13:09:32			d=4m32s 	
2022-Aug-31 13:27:17	Int: 17m45s	d=4m20s 	
2022-Aug-31 13:47:14	Int: 19m57s	d=4m37s 	
2022-Aug-31 14:07:40	Int: 20m26s	d=4m34s 	
2022-Aug-31 14:26:07	Int: 18m27s	d=3m58s 	
2022-Aug-31 14:45:15	Int: 19m08s	d=3m45s 	
2022-Aug-31 15:02:58	Int: 17m43s	d=4m03s 	
2022-Aug-31 15:27:05	Int: 24m07s	d=4m52s 	
2022-Aug-31 15:45:16	Int: 18m11s	d=3m18s 	
2022-Aug-31 16:01:16	Int: 16m00s	d=3m51s 	
2022-Aug-31 16:17:44	Int: 16m28s	d=3m51s