Mud Pots, Earthquakes & 160" of Snow
Mud Pot, Geysers and Hot Springs ~
John Colter stumbled upon Yellowstone, and everyone thought he was crazy when he tried to describe what he saw. The amazement he had is the same awe visitors exclaim today when they see a mud pot boil and spit up the earth’s inner substances. Colter found a legendary geothermal region that would eventually become the nation’s first national park and draw millions each year to stare in wide-eyed wonder. There are more geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone than in the rest of the world combined. In fact, more than 75% of all the earth’s thermal features are in this little corner of the planet. When water temperature, algae, minerals, reflections and light absorption combine, a hot spring becomes a bold color of blue, orange, yellow or black. Hot springs are a range of temperatures, breaking the earth’s exterior amid a lake, streambed or meadow. The largest hot spring in Yellowstone is Grand Prismatic Spring, which is 370 feet in diameter. Geysers are hot springs with such mounting pressure that periodically they must erupt to release their force. Old Faithful is the most famous geyser, erupting every 78 - 105 minutes. Often called "paint pots," mud pots make the most playful noise of the hot spring family. Clay and minerals combine to make a smelly, gurgling, soupy mixture that burps and spits its mud contents. A "fumarole," or vent in the earth’s surface, releases a rush of steam from an underground water system that is turned to steam and pushes upward with a distinctive hiss or roaring sound. A dramatic display at the Yellowstone IMAX Theatre explains the thermal phenomena.
Earthquakes ~
In 1959, two faults moved simultaneously to create the most powerful earthquake recorded in the U.S. since San Francisco in 1906. Three blocks of the earth’s crust gave way to a 100 mile-per-hour landslide. The 7.5 Richter Scale earthquake happened just west of West Yellowstone on the Madison River, causing a mountain to split and form what is now Earthquake Lake. The Madison River Canyon Earthquake Area is of great interest to scientists, particularly those studying the Yellowstone Hot Spot and geothermal activity. The surrounding landscape is ever-changing long after the earthquake’s violent interruption of the canyon’s solace. Today a visitor center helps everyone remember the earthquake and the 28 people who lost their lives there. The center provides interpretive talks from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Earthquakes continue to rock the area. In 1983, Mount Borah (the highest peak in Idaho) experienced a 7.3 Richter Scale earthquake that shook the West Yellowstone region. Additional fault scarps can be seen in the Grand Tetons and the Centennial Tectonic Belt. Snow, Snow & More Snow~
West Yellowstone is famous for its dry snow -- lots of dry snow. In
fact, it’s so dry that you can’t make a snowball. It’s a cross-country
skier’s dream and a six year old’s disappointment. It’s the deep powder
that draws a snowmobiler west and the early snowfalls with limitless
terrain that call the cross-country skier. The West Yellowstone area
receives an average annual snowfall of 160 inches -- almost 13-1/2 feet.
Cross-country skiers from around the world have been coming to West
Yellowstone since the 1970s to train for Nordic competitions. As the
world approached the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, West Yellowstone’s
Nordic trials were instrumental to competitors’ Olympic bids. This little
town of 1,020 people holds its own for snowmobiling, too. Snowmobile
enthusiasts refer to it as the "snow sports capital of the world." Riders
can walk right out of their motel room and "saddle up." Snowmobiles
are permitted on the streets of West Yellowstone for easy trail access.
More than 600 miles of groomed trails await snowmobilers, making this
a great family sport for those who want to enjoy nature and winter recreation
as a two-in-one package. In March, the World Snowmobile EXPO comes to
town; if you ever need to know something about snowmobiling, this is
the time to go. For the downhill ski lover, Big Sky Ski Resort is only
48 miles north of town. Big Sky, with the largest vertical drop (4,350
feet) of any ski area in the U.S., has consistently been voted in the
top 10 ski resorts by a variety of ski publications. Take a Lone Peak
Tram ride up to Big Sky’s summit on Lone Mountain and view the world
at 11,150 feet!
