Geyser Watch

Trip Report Part One: Sylvan Pass

Making my way along the shore of Yellowstone Lake, I came around the corner at Mary Bay to find it locked in by ice, but along the edge it had melted. With zero wind, you could see bubbling from the thermal features that sit below the water. I had my eye on one I’ve noticed for a couple of years now that does a good job of bubbling no matter what the water level of the lake.

Then I noticed a ball of long lenses all pointed out toward the ice. Following them, I found the subject of the photographers – an otter walking along the edge of the ice – limping. Hurt and alone are not good signs for an otter. I snapped a few shots for the blog and scrapbook, but no chance at anything good enough for stock. One photographer let me look through his viewfinder and it confirmed that I have got to get a good long lens at some point.

A bald eagle flew in to the delight of the long lenses, posed for a few shots at the top of a pine tree, then flew off again. I went back to watch the boiling under water. You could see a slight bit of cyclic increase in boiling. Just amazing stuff. It felt good to be back in the Park again.

Wanting to keep moving to my main destination, it was back in the truck and time to get to the next stop: Fishing Bridge. I wanted to get a few photos of the building collapse that happened earlier due to the weight of the snow.

Sadly, one victim of the collapse had been pulled from the wreckage.

Next up: Trip Report from West Thumb.