[Myrddin]

I was in the Yellowstone Park most of today (7/16). My wife and I entered from West Yellowstone and traveled to Norris Geyser basin. We walked the south trail past Steamboat Geyser, Puff n Stuff, Echinus and other geysers. On finishing the loop we were too tired to trek north into the Porcelain Geyser field. It's pretty, but the climb back up is pretty steep. Steamboat had no water flow at all, just a few wisps of steam. The hillside was dry.

We continued east to Canyon, then turned south along the Yellowstone River. Lots of bison out today. As we reached the Lake, we headed west, then north toward Old Faithful. We didn't stop since we visited just 2 weeks ago.

From an on the ground perspective, it was just drier than usual. Many springs that were wet and active in prior visits over the last 20 years were just dry and dead now. In past years, there were abundant herds of elk on the inbound road from West Yellowstone to Madison Junction. Today, a single bison along that road. Some Canadian geese on the river banks and sand berms. Zero elk.

We didn't stop in town upon reaching West Yellowstone. Too many people on the streets.

[palmer]

Please let us know if the lake drains out completely overnight, then drive to the nearest airport and hop on the first flight they have.

[crz]

The one I really want to visit before I croak is the Long Valley Caldera. 7 hours from here and i think the wife and I will take a trip up this fall.

I have a friend who is a retired Geologist professor and he and I used to talk about these all the time. Havent talked to him in a few years now.

We used to laugh like hell at all these panic punks on the internet.