We arrived just after the Geyser began erupting. Fortunately, Riverside Geyser erupts for a long time, allowing us to watch it for about 20 minutes.
People keep throwing coins and debris in the pool, which restricts the flow of water causing more yellow than blue colors.
We were only a few yards away, but we were very wary.
First up were the mud pots. The Fountain Paint Pots are named for the reds, yellows, and browns of the mud pots in this area. The differing colors are derived from oxidation states of the iron in the mud. As with hot springs, the heat in the caldera forces pressurized water up through the ground, causing the mud to boil.
It was named for a mythical water clock. In the early history of the park, it erupted with clock-like regularity. After the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake it went into a "wild phase" since then it has erupted almost constantly.
It is a fountain geyser that means it springs from a pool of water. Fountain Geyser would shoot up but in different directions. Very spectacular.
We had time to kill based on the Geyser Gazer's input watching and predicting the next eruption. There was a path into the hills nearby and the trail allowed you to get very close to some very hot pools.
Here is one of the several pools along the trail. The trial path is the gravel area right along the pool.
This is the standard kit - camera, extra lens, and tripod.
Great Fountain Geyser has cycles, it would shoot into the air for several minutes, then the pool would go quite, then erupt again. Each of these would draw the "oohs and aahs" from the collected spectators.
While waiting for this geyser, a tour group of 30 to 40 people drove up, ate lunch, discussed the geyser, and then had to leave before the eruption. They were in a hurry to see Old Faithful. So for a famous geyser which goes off every 90 minutes, they missed a spectacular geyser show which only goes off every 15 hours.
The picnic area was beautifully shaded and on the Nez Perce Creek, a wonderful place to escape the crowds.
This is a hot spring named Turquoise Pool, except there is no outflow so it is not very spring like. It is filled through seepage.
The 1878 Hayden Expedition named this pool for its milky, white bottom and gem-like, blue-colored water. Suspended mineral particles in the water also add an opalescent iridescence.
There is a boardwalk which travels along the northern shore (yes shore) of the spring. The view is clouded in steam, but the deep blue with yellows and browns surrounds the edge. It's a beautiful pool of water.
But it is hard to see the whole pool unless you are in the sky or on one of the surrounding hills.
In the center is Grand Prismatic Spring. The boardwalk is at the top of the spring - you can see little figures walking. At the top left is the Opal Pool and top right is Turquoise Pool.
The colors begin with a deep blue center followed by pale blue. Green algae forms beyond the shallow edge. Outside the scalloped rim a band of yellow fades into orange. Red then marks the outer border. Grand Prismatic discharges an estimated 560 gallons per minute.
This is Shell Geyser - just bubbling hot water. Fun to stand and watch spout.
Mystic Falls had a slight mist at the top of the falls then tumbles about 70 feet. The water is from the Little Firehole River. The steam is from geothermal features along the river.
Unfortunately Cal is standing in the shade.
After the geyser was finished John took us on a tour of the Crow's nest high up in the rafters of the Old Faithful Inn. In the early days of the Inn, a small ensemble would play music for the inn's guests.
