After a short break for a snack and some water we are back on the boardwalk exploring the Back Basin area of the Norris Geyser Basin.
The Emerald Spring is my favorite in this area. The clear blue water combined with the yellow sulfur-coated walls the water appeared to be a beautiful clear green color.
Steamboat wasn’t erupting when we were there but the noise from the steam venting was very loud, like a steam engine.
Cistern Spring and Steamboat Geyser are linked underground. When Steamboat is erupting, Cistern empties. Since Steamboat had erupted recently, there wasn’t a lot of water in the pool but you can see where the water constantly overflows when full.
The trees around the Cistern were killed by the silica-rich water flowing from the spring. Locals call them “sock trees”. Nature is cool.
Talk about cool, the Echinus Geyser was gorgeous. Blues, reds, greens and yellows all together. It is the largest acidic geyser known; its waters are pH 3-4, acidic as vinegar.
On the other side of the boardwalk was another little Echinus like puddle that was bubbling away. It sounded like a quarter inch of water boiling in a pot.
As we made our way out of the geyser basin we came to two features that contrasted the Echinus Geyser’s bright oranges, the Blue Mud Steam Vent and Mystic Spring.
I think my lips are as blue as that pool. Man is it getting cold!! Time to head for the Jeep.
