9-9-18 the wicked Norris Geyser Basin:

My morning baby buddy time! 

She's really getting around now.

After a couple hours of me acting like a Grandma jungle gym for Layla, Mom and dad got up and put Layla down for a nap.  So it was time for me to hit the pool and Jacuzzi.
One of 2 Jacuzzis in the huge pool building.

The huge pool.  It was nicely heated and often I had it to myself.  1 time a couple older ladies (about my age) were there and we had a nice visit.  Another time a couple of Grandparents brought a boy there and told him to swim across the pool --- even though they could clearly see I was using a small lane in the far side of the pool and trying to swim a few laps (more idiots!).  Another time there was a family of screaming kids, but they left after about 30 minutes.  Usually I could wait out the commotion in one of the 2 jacuzzis.

Soon it was time to head back to the room and get ready to hit the road again.

There is still a lot of evidence of the great fire of 1988.

Being Sunday, we expected the park to be busy, so we headed North again, planned on just going to the nearest large visitor area---Norris Geyser Basin.  I don't remember going here the last time I was in Yellowstone (and don't really remember anything about the 1st time I was in Yellowstone as a young child).  I was amazed, again, at the uniqueness of this area, too.   Mysteriously, features throughout the Norris area undergo dramatic changes, sometimes overnight--- clear pools become muddy and boil violently, and some temporarily become geysers; as well as colors in the water change depending on the water temperature changes.  It's such a fascinating area.

 Loved the view of the Porcelain Basin from the overlook by the parking lot.

But before going into the Porcelain Basin, we walked the trail through the Back Basin which is mostly a bunch of springs and geysers. 

27' deep Emerald spring gets its name from the emerald green color of the water created by sunlight filtering through the water, giving the light a blue color, and reflecting off the yellow sulphur creating the green hue (didn't really look emerald in color to me!).

At about 182 degrees F., it's a bit warm.  In fact, Norris Basin is the hottest and most changeable thermal area in Yellowstone.

Layla enjoying a shaded view of the geysers.

Josh got a work out throughout the week. The paths and hills weren't always easy.

Loved the colors here

Norris was probably the area where we saw the most active geysers, too.

getting ready to spout

This was a really cute geyser---Vixen geyser.  It spurted in tall narrow eruptions.

an interesting riverbed.

another geyser hole waiting to blow

Heading back up towards the parking lot

a dry geyser overflow bed below Steamboat Geyser.

Steamboat Geyser is the world's tallest currently-active geyser. During major eruptions, water may be thrown more than 300 feet into the air. We waited around a while, but didn't even see a minor eruption.  It's eruptions are very erratic. Not sure we'd want to be there for a 300' eruption anyway.  As close as this view point is, I'm sure we'd get drenched.

another view of Steamboat as we continued around to the Porcelain Basin overlook again.

Back up to the parking lot area and by the Porcelain Basin overlook was the Norris Museum---a 1930 National historic Landmark building.  Loved the old door on the side.  It's also where a Ranger was answering questions---and waiting to run after idiots who fall into the Geothermal basin!

Porcelain Basin reminded me of China painting!  So iridescent and colorful.  This was taken right before some idiot fell down a step and ended up in the geothermal basin.  This time the idiot was me.  I was helping Angie get the stroller down 5 or 6 steps (Josh was indisposed at the moment).  In my case, there were 5 steps where there were suppose to be 6!  The last one was missing the far right side of the step---right where I happened to be going down sideways to support the front of the stroller.  Fortunately I let go of the stroller and mother and baby are fine.  I, on the other hand, landed on my hand, arm, then shoulder in the geothermal basin next to the walkway.   Several people did come over and offer to help me up, but I decided that was a good place to stay sitting for awhile.  Eventually I decided I was going to survive and, most importantly, could still take pictures, so we continued on our way.  We were starting down the trail when I saw a Ranger hustling down towards us.  I figured she had heard about my stunt, so I told her I was ok and assured her I'd stay on the marked trails from now on.  She cleaned my arm and hand and put bandaids on them.  I wondered why there were so many Medic buildings throughout the park, now I know why!

Back to the trail---these milky white blue pools are saturated with silica, a primary component of glass. Norris's thermal waters contain the highest concentration of  silica in Yellowstone.

The rainbow colors of the mineral deposited here inspired the naming Porcelain Basin. The mineral, siliceous sinter, is brought to the surface by hot water and forms a "sheet" over this flat area as the water flows across the ground and the mineral settles out.

living organisms thrive in the extreme environments of these acidic hot springs. 

The overflow channels of geysers and hot springs are often brightly colored with minerals and microscopic life forms.

Hardy, microscopic, lime-green Cyanidium algae thrive in these warm acid waters. Orange cyanobacteria may be found in the runoff streams in Porcelain Basin. From a distance, these bacteria look like rusty, iron-rich mineral deposits.

What can I say!?

We found another route out of the basin that didn't involve any steps! 

And it was much more scenic, and not as painful.

Love how the trees here change colors just like the land.

an overview of Porcelain Springs--an area full of water from new springs or geysers to the North end of Porcelain Basin.

and another view

and... .

the dark brown, rust and red colors in Norris contain varying amounts of iron.  They may also contain bacteria and archaea that help  build the mats by metabolizing and depositing iron.

So many different colors.

Near the end of the trail out of Porcelain Basin is Congress Pool.  This hot spring was named in 1891 when scientists from around the world came to Yellowstone for the Fifth International Geological Congress.  It was one of the first pools discovered to contain Sulfolobus, a thermophile that uses sulfur for energy and turns hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid in hot acidic water.  Newly discovered viruses have been found using Sulfolobus as their host.  Good thing I didn't fall into this geothermal area!

Back on the road!

Another idiot!  Who jumps out of their car in traffic to take a selfie with a buffalo??!

Even the buffalo was shaking his head.

Since the roads were the lightest we've seen so far, we headed back up towards Mammoth to where we had seen all the big white rocks.  We were on a mission to find some mountain goats.   We had read this was a good place to see mountain goats.

Didn't see any mountain goats, but the white rocks were pretty interesting.  Another unique area of the park.

By now we had been in the park for 4 or 5 hours, so we decided to start our trek back.

Saw some people looking at something, so we pulled over to check it out.  Thought it was a coyote, but the guy in the car next to us said it was a young wolf.  Whatever it is, he was cute.

Just a lake on the North side.

and, ho-hum, another buffalo.

A raven, I presume?  They sure are big birds!

Again, loved the views from the road.

Of course, when got within 5 miles of the West Entrance (exit), we came across the daily traffic stoppage.  The elk were out and more idiots had to stop in the middle of the road and stop traffic!  We, at least pulled over into a parking lot, and walked to a better vantage point---until the Rangers showed up and sent everyone on their way.

That looks like a healthy elk.

We did go out to dinner tonight---to a noisy bar.  At least they had an outside area and the weather was great.  So we sat out there and enjoyed dinner and a beer---and the quiet.  Also celebrated Grandparents' Day!---My first!

Josh celebrated with nachos

Angie with a salad.

I had steak chunks over rice and covered with a mango chunks.  It was quite tasty.  And I had enough left overs for another dinner later in the week.

And here Layla is cheering for Grandma.

Got back to the condo in time to catch another beautiful sunset. 

I never get tired of watching sunsets!

or photographing them

Neither do the kids.

The night was a little rough.  For some reason, I got the chills and couldn't stop shivering for over an hour after I went to bed.  It wasn't cold, so I figure it must have had something to do with my shoulder---or maybe I found a new virus in the geothermal area I fell into!?  I knew I'd wake up in the middle of the night burning up, and I did---but at least it was easier to cool off then it was to get warm.
 The day didn't go quite as expected, but I still consider it a great day.