Posts Tagged ‘The Stone’

Porcelain Basin

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is a large geothermal area that lies near the conjunction of park roads that head south to Madison, east to Canyon village, and north to Mammoth Hot Springs.  Norris, as park denizens refer to it, is divided into three major areas by a trail system that depends largely on boardwalks: Porcelain Basin, Back Basin, and Back-of-the-Back Basin.  Back Basin and Back-of-the Back Basin are collectively labelled just Back Basin on Park maps, but visitors are likely to appreciate that these two areas are quite easily distinguished by the distinct levels of effort required to explore them.

Norris Geyser Basin

The most accessible, and in my view, the most rewarding area in Norris is Porcelain Basin.  I will post an entry on Back Basin in the future, but this entry will focus exclusively on the quite easily manageable circumnavigation of Porcelain Basin.  The area is located just north of the Norris Geyser Basin Museum, which itself is about 300 meters west of the parking area along a paved pathway.

Yellowstone National Park, Fall 2013

 Click on pano thumbnail above to view larger image

Yellowstone National Park, Fall 2013

 Click on pano thumbnail above to view larger image

n

Norris Geyser Basin

The two images above were recorded looking west from the paved trail that descends from the museum.

Norris Geyser BasinA warning to photogs along the descending pathways…  Prodigious quantities of steam are continuously produced by the Ledge Geyser.  The winds within the basin are characteristically changeable, and one can find themselves enveloped within a steam cloud instantly, virtually any time morning or afternoon.

Norris Geyser Basin

The route leads north down from the museum along a paved path that provides an excellent overview of Porcelain Basin.  After descending perhaps 50 meters, hikers encounter a fork in the path.  I suggest traveling along the east (right) leg, which places one on an anti-clockwise orientation around the basin.  Much of the route around the basin consists of a boardwalk in very good condition.  Guardrails provide an extra element of safety if you are totting children, but are also useful for leaning against while studying the terrain.

Norris Geyser Basin

A bit of backtracking is required if you wish to visit all of the major geothermal features in the basin.  I would highly recommend taking the extra time to visit Colloidal Pool, Hurricane Vent, and Porcelain Springs, all of which lie on an eastern spur of the main route.

Norris Geyser Basin

Yellowstone National Park, Fall 2013

 Click on pano thumbnail above to view larger image

Yellowstone National Park, Fall 2013

 Click on pano thumbnail above to view larger image

Yellowstone National Park, Fall 2013

 Click on pano thumbnail above to view larger image

The name Porcelain Basin derives from the delicate white color of the mineral deposits in the area.  The light color of the surface contrasts with the stronger colors produced by the other mineral deposits, and from the colorful algae and bacteria that exist in the relatively hostile conditions found here.

Norris Geyser Basin

The main route leads north, bold and straight across Porcelain Basin.  The obvious, low-impact, route would have followed the high ground (east) around the circumference of the basin.  I can only guess that the current route was forged in early times, as environmental impact would appear to be maximized with the existing situation.  I have no idea how the boardwalk maintenance can be executed…  Regardless, the boardwalk is wide and stable.

Norris Geyser Basin

But in some parts of the basin the stream bed is green!  Really green…  This unlikely hue is due to the presence of Cyandium caldarium, an algae that exists only in environments with a pH between 0.5 and 5.0, and water temperatures between 35C and 55C.  Yeah, think hot acid solution.

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser BasinNorris Geyser Basin

You are unprepared for the intensity of the color and contrast.  We have scoured the earth for kooky natural phenomenon.  This is as good as it gets, just stunningly beautiful.

Yellowstone National Park, Fall 2013

 Click on pano thumbnail above to view larger image

The return side of the route provides a compelling view of the descent into the basin and the crossing.  Pick a time in the afternoon to walk the route and you will be rewarded with favorable light along the entire route.

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin

Images in this entry were recorded on the afternoons of the September 21, 2012, and September 29, 2013, using the Nikon D800 and D800E at f-stop at f/11 or f/16.  Panoramic images were recorded using the Apple iP5 and the Autostitch acquisition application.

Copyright 2014 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

I’m Not A Shaving Brush!

Badger Excavating Near Specimen Ridge

Technology is a very weird thing.  Some of it represents the highest expression of human ingenuity:  writing, telephony, computers…these sorts of areas.  Not all of it is quite so charming however – and specifically now, let’s talk about the shaving brush.  Simple enough device, delivers soap to a man’s face to lubricate skin in anticipation of contact with the straight razor

Badger Excavating Near Specimen Ridge

So, what do you give the man who has everything?  Right, got it, an ivory-handled shaving brush with bristles made from finest BADGER fur.

Badger Excavating Near Specimen Ridge

While you recover from the ‘ick factor’ associated with the suggestion above, let me fill in a couple of details.  First, blame it on the French, obviously…  Know what the French phrase for ‘shave brush’ is?  Yep, blaireau, French for badger, as in ‘Bonjour, mon ami, avez-vous vu un blaireau ici? J’ai besoin d’un rasage.’*

Badger Excavating Near Specimen Ridge

Of course the French are not alone in their disregard of badger rights – in 2012 after many years of badger-positive activity, a major Badger-cull was conducted in the UK, with another scheduled for this year.  Ever heard of a Dachshund?  Dachs-hund…  German for badger-hound.  Of course now almost all commercially-produced badger pelts come from China…

Badger Excavating Near Specimen RidgeWe found this American Badger, Taxidea taxus, just north of the NE Entrance Road, at the base of Specimen Ridge, about 300 meters west of the Lamar River Bridge.  Images were record at 13:30 MDT on May 14, 2013, using the Nikon D7100 and the AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR.  Exposures were f/5.6 and 1/1250s, ISO 400.

 Badger Excavating Near Specimen Ridge

Copyright 2013 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

* Hello my friend, have you seen any badgers around here? I need a shave.

Encounter at 2K8 (Hellroaring Trailhead)

PFF_D7100_20130515_0540_v2_Framed

I’m not much for novelty photography.  Let’s say that there is a bear dancing the ‘Macarena’ in the middle of the Yellowstone picnic area – I’d wait for the bear to stop dancing before beginning to shoot – okay, perhaps that’s a bit of an exag, but I’d run shots only if the bear was dancing real good…

The story behind the image above begins, as so many of the posts on this site does, with the HP.  The HP has two major roles – she is 1st and foremost, the transporter-extraordinare, getting us into position for the shoot – her less-well-known but equally important role is as chief intelligence officer.  Yeah, without intelligence you will be lost in the vastness of The Stone.  Right, I did mention Hellroaring…that’s in The Stone (as in Yellow-Stone, git with it people!).  Anyway, winning is about knowing where you need to go, and getting there before the plebes arrive, invariably screwing things up so that the NPS has to close the show down.

It’s around noon on May 15, 2013, and we are near the outlet of the Blacktail Plateau Drive, at the end of a bear-viewing event.  I see the HP hanging with Mr. Ranger-Sir and some folks with things to share.  The HP is in intelligence-gathering mode – looks kinda like a cat stalking prey…  She gets a tidbit, turns, and heads for the truck – time to go boys!  Nearly leaves one of us in the dust, damn this must be good.  Hellroaring, black bear, cub.  Dood, we’ve visited Hellroaring dozens of times and not seen a damned thing…  No point in arguing, the HP is set on course, we are off for Hellroaring.

PFF_D7100_20130515_0534_v2_Framed

Arriving at the 2K8 parking lot, we scramble gear together and head down the path.  Wait, okay, back up…some (most) of you have no idea what I’m talking about.  First, let me clarify that every trail in The Stone has an official designation – trailheads are distinct from paths.  The designator 2K8 is specific for the trailhead for a number of trails leading into the Yellowstone River and Hellroaring Creek basin.  These paths include, 2H1, 2H2, 2H3, 2H4, 2H5, 2H6, 2H7, 2H8, 2H9, 2C1, 2C2, 2C4, 2R1, 2R2.  The 2K8 also provides access to the backcountry trailheads 2N1 amd 2N5, which are located north along the Gallatin NF/Stone boundary.  The key point is that 2K8 is directly in the middle of the action.

PFF_D7100_201305415_0537_Framed

We march out along the trail headed east and pretty-much run squaw into a black bear sow with a yearling cub.  The cub is instantly up a tree and momma bear is keenly intent on keeping us at a distance.  In standard black bear behavior, this sow wanders slowly up the trail, backing everyone up into the parking lot.  Once in the parking area, the sow decides that a vehicle inspection is the order of the day.

PFF_D7100_20130515_0539_Framed

In the end I think it’s bugs.  Dead bugs.  On the license plate.  Illinois plate, plenty of bugs.  I guess the idea is that given plenty of dead bugs on the plates, there must be more on the hood.  In the end, the sow fended off the infidel-humans.  The humans got their photo-op.  Rangers and plebes alike had no idea about what happened here – kinda like Vegas actually, what happened here, stayed here…

Some of you may be wondering what the Macarena is…  Substitute Charleston, Bossa Nova, Mashed Potato, Tejas 2-Step, Worm, Cha Cha Slide, Crank That Soulja Boy, Single Ladies, Dougie, etc., depending on your age.

All images in this entry were recorded on May 15, 2013, at around 12:00, using the Nikon D7100 and the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II.  Exposure was f/8.0 and 1/640s, ISO 2000.

Copyright 2013 Peter F. Flynn.  No usage permitted without prior written consent. All rights reserved.