Posted on

Observations for 2023 August 03


Once again got out to Grand while the showers started. By the time I had the rain gear all put on and in place, I needed it all.

Other than the report of empty crater around 06:00, had nothing much to go on. NPS had posted a prediction for which I was almost an hour early. Fortunately, only a short wait of two Turban eruption intervals. Grand, Turban and Vent overflowing all happened quickly, so I could see what was going on before the steam obscured everything. The burst lasting 8-3/4 minutes was right in the inderterminent range for a second burst, but it did happen. And the steam had cleared enough to see the jetting from the second burst.

Stuck around for the Vent and Turban restart, but mostly to wait for the rain to subside. By the time I got back to the cabin, it was mostly over.

2023-Aug-03:10:48:58 G2Q

10:48:58	Grand B1	---	d=8m44s
10:48:59	Turban		0m01s
10:49:02	Vent Ovfl	0m04s
10:51:56	Vent		2m58s7
10:57:42	P1		8m44s	d=0m28s
10:58:10	B2		9m12s	d=1m02s
10:59:12	P2		10m14s
11:00:01	V&T Quit	11m03s
11:18:13	V&T Restart	29m15s

				     ΣB=9m46s	ΣD=10m14s
	* * * * *
10:09:33			d=4m05s 	
10:28:31	Int: 18m58s	d=4m13s 	
		      Grand: 20m27s

Thought the rain was stopping, so went out to Geyser Hill. I was over by Sponge when North Goggle had a minor eruption. But by then the rains had restarted, so headed back in.

There was a pause in the rain so I headed out to Grand a little early. The pause ended as I arrived, along with an eruption of Turban. I spent the Turban interval getting ready for the rain. I was still playing with some camera settings when I noticed that Grand's pool looked full. Almost immediately there was a boil and the eruption started. The first burst lasted over nine minutes, which is previous years would make a second burst unlikely. But not quite a minute later jets appeared through the fog.

2023-Aug-03:16:51:02 G2Q

16:50:52	Grand B1	---	d=9m11s
16:51:54	Turban		0m02s
16:53:45	Vent		2m53s
17:00:03	P1		9m11s	d=1m26s
17:00:50	B2		19:57s	d=0m54s
17:01:43	P2		10m51s
17:02:28	V&T Quit	11m36s

				     ΣB=9m15s	ΣD=10m41s
	* * * * *
16:31:17			d=4m13s 	
		      Grand: 19m45s

The rains did not let up, so ended up trudging back getting soaked. I didn't expect June weather in August.

The rain did let up eventually, about an hour before sunset. Went out to Geyser Hill on the off chance that Beehive might erupt, but it was far too quiet. Left when it got dark. Did get to see a bull elk come off of the Hill, cross the river and head off toward Castle.