Geyser Watch

While each thermal feature may have tips for what to look for while observing that hot spring or geyser, there are some generalities to know about.

1. General Cycles

All hot springs have the potential of erupting. The overall cycle is simple:

1. The spring fills with water – you may not be able to see this filling with a geyser that has a cone
   
2. The water heats, creating bubbles – which may collapse below ground causing thumps you can hear and feel at Doublet Pool and Oblong and others
3. The bubbles push up the water as they rise – causing the water to gush out the vent

While this is a very simplistic explanation of what’s happening, be sure to stop by at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center and take a look around – the exhibits are wonderful and give much more detail as do the resources listed over on the right toward the bottom.

Basically, when eruptions occur, the water may cyclically rise and fall (see the difference between high and low water) at a fairly regular rate, When at ‘high water’ the temperature of the water is usually a bit higher as well, meaning there’s a better likelihood of an eruption at high water than low water. Though, geysers, being geysers, can always break the rules. A few of them do.

The temperature spikes while in eruption which allows researchers to use data loggers to measure the temperature somewhere in the overflow channel to record more accurate data. But data loggers fail from time to time, especially in winter, and not all geysers have them. A portion of the proceeds gained here at Geyser Watch will go to purchase more loggers as well as replace older ones.

2. The Difference between High Water and Low Water

• Sometimes it’s hard to tell what someone means when they say ‘the pool is full’ – and there’s good reason for this. The difference isn’t much. Here are two photos taken of the same spot watched at Grand Geyser using a telephoto lens:

Empty

Full

• This is where the gazers have received their name – staring intently at a spot to watch the water. You’ll also notice that in the ‘full’ photo there’s more steam. When a pool rises, that’s the hot water rising to the top, and bubbles deeper pushing it. Binoculars come in handy to help see these changes, and work especially well to keep children actively watching. Afterall, how cool is it as a kid to look through binoculars – great entertainment. Just make sure you aren’t walking as you look through them or a wide angle lens on a camera. You don’t want to stumble out on the boardwalks.

3. The Essentials to Bring

• A Watch with the time as accurate as possible
• A notebook or something to write in and something to write with
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Appropriate Clothing & Shoes
• Binoculars (see #2 above)
• Water and Snacks – not many trash cans, though, so plan to pack out all you pack in
• Books or journals (games for kids that can withstand the wind – ones without small pieces that easily disappear)

4. Be Mindful of Others Including the Wildlife

• Stay on the boardwalks, but don’t block them: Yes, mid summer it can get pretty crowded on the boardwalks. still, do try to keep a path open. And yes, stepping off can be hazardous to your health. The boardwalks are set where they can knowingly support people. Encourage others to stay on them as well.
• If a gazer seems occupied, give them their privacy: So many extremely knowledgeable people do get tired of being asked to repeat again what they know about the hot spring or geyser. Some are performing research and need to keep their focus. Most of the time, though, many are happy to share their knowledge.
• Pets aren’t allowed: The geyser basins aren’t pet friendly (and it’s illegal to take them on the boardwalks). They are allowed, however, along the wide boardwalk by Old Faithful – you often see them on the webcam. Why aren’t they allowed? Dogs that see a large pool of water may be tempted to jump in. They don’t survive – nobody survives that. That’s not a memory any of us want to have or give to other people. Unfortunately, dogs (and people jumping in after them) have died this gruesome death. Do what you need to do to make it work – my husband and I alternated our visits to locations on a few trips so one of us could stay in the car with the dogs to keep the windows down and them cool.
• Bison are dangerous: Though they look docile, they aren’t. Would you knowingly walk up close to a bull in a rancher’s field? Probably not. This is no different except they can (and do) burn themselves occasionally in the hot springs – then they’re unusually angry and ready to easily pick a fight. Do not throw things at them or harass them in any way. Stay 25 yards from them – before you go – measure out 75 feet and know what that is. Elk can also be aggressive – especially cows with calves in the spring and bulls in rut in the fall.
• Bears have been seen in the thermal areas (including Old Faithful):Especially the last few summers, bears have been seen. Be bear aware even in the well populated areas. Stand with other people and keep your distance. Bears tend to stay away from 3-4 people or more. To live in this area, bears must not have bad interactions with people. That’s your job, not theirs. Stay 100 yards away from them – that’s one football field.
  

  Bear Tracks - UGB

• Wolves have been seen in the thermal areas (including Old Faithful): As with the bears and other wildlife, they depend on your honorable behavior and respect. The one football field rule of distance applies for them as well.
• Other wildlife you might see: Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels and Chipmunks (chipmunks have the stripes on their heads); Osprey fishing the river; Tree Swallows; Elk; Yellow Bellied Marmots (aka Whistle Pigs and Rock Chucks); Mountain Bluebirds; Ravens; Bald Eagles; Coyotes
• YNP’s Wildlife Viewing Information Page (links to some great videos in there)

5. About Radios

You may hear and/or see FRS (Family Radio Service) radios/walkie talkies used by geyser gazers to communicate to each other what is happening in the basins. They use channel 4, subchannel 5 and greatly appreciate people using other channels for personal chit chat. This channel is also monitored by the Park Service. So, if you’re on this channel, we all hear your rendition of Home on the Range.