Part Five: The Excelsior Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Old Faithful

Is that an amazing blue or what? That's what I'm talking about. And I ask again, why does this blue touch the soul in such a way? Okay, maybe I sound nuts, but just go spend some time staring into Yellowstone's hot springs - here, at the Excelsior Geyser, the water temperature is 199 degrees Fahrenheit - too hot to support any lifeform - and you'll know what I mean. Or go to the other extreme, to the glacial alpine lakes of the High Sierra, devoid of life for the same reason, and see if the color touches your soul. There aren't enough ways to describe that blue. Well anyway, the Excelsior Geyser was once the largest geyser in the world but hasn't had a major eruption since the 1880's, when it erupted up to 300 feet. It did erupt from 20 to 80 feet for two days in 1985, and since then has been quiet. It is a thermal spring, the hot waters flowing into the Firehole River.

And now behold the following photos of the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in Yellowstone, and the third largest in the world. Unbelievably awesome to look upon. The steam from this spring actually rises up in that brilliant aqua color. And then with the juxtaposition of the ochre-red outer border, it's a jaw-dropping sight, unlike anything I've ever seen on this earth.




Hey, it's a hot waterfall! Yeah, that's where the hot spring and thermal waters flow into Firehole River. This was an amazing spot. I found a little trail at a nearby meadow and walked downstream a bit, then sat right by the river for as long as time would allow, listening to the distant waterfall and the river rolling by.



This shot was taken by one of my compadres earlier in the day, when we were way up river at the Firehole Falls.


And I've lost track of which geyser this is, but it's erupting in the background as the photo is taken of me with four of my favorite new Sierra Club Pals, from left to right: Carole (my bus and roommate), Sanford, Annie, moi, and Della.


This is a double show at the Grotto Geyser group, about a 1.5 mile walk from the Old Faithful Inn. It was really hot that day, so Carole and I sat in some nearby shade and before too long, the fountain in the background started to blow. A guy nearby then said it wouldn't be long before Grotto, which blows on average of every eight hours, would start to blow from its sinter cone. Nice timing!


And last but not least: Old Faithful, from the second story deck at the Old Faithful Inn.