Monday, July 28

As we approached Fountain Paint Pot area, we didn’t know what we were in for.

The parking lot was full of cars and buses, and we almost decided to leave ~ but then we saw an open spot and decided to park and see what it was all about.

It turned out to be a favorite stop of the trip because this part of Lower Geyser Basin has all four hydrothermal features (mudpots, geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles) and you can see them all from a half-mile-long boardwalk loop.

This is from Yellowstone information: A geyser is formed when water collecting below the surface is heated by a magma source. When the water boils, it rises to the surface. If there is an unobstructed path for the water, it will pool on the surface in the form of a steaming hot springs. When the pressure becomes too great, the water converts into to steam. Steam takes up 1,500 times the volume of water, and at this point, the pressure becomes so intense that the steam and surrounding water droplets shoot out of the ground in geyser form, erupting until the pressure has abated and the process starts all over again. A fumarole is like a geyser without all the water. Gas and steam escape through vents in the surface and can sound like roaring bellows. Fumaroles are the driest hydrothermal feature. The second driest are the mudpots which have less water than hot springs, but more than fumaroles. At Yellowstone, hydrogen sulfide gas that is emitted from underground becomes sulfuric acid and breaks down the surrounding stone into grey clay. The muddy pools bulge and burst in an entertaining display as gas bubbles erupt on the surface. Mud can spit several feet into the air and even end up on the boardwalk.

This must be a fumarole because there was a loud bellow emitting from somewhere under ground.

You can tell that something happened, because trees once grew here.

Mudpots are fun to watch as gases gurgle into bubbles that break.

I was fascinated by my pictures that showed the gas bubbles breaking.

It was interesting to read about the 1959 earthquake that changed the landscape here.

I enjoyed this place with its variety – even erupting geysers.

Back at the entrance: I liked this area with all its colors and reflections – even though some people may consider it rather ugly.

Cerwin taking luggage to our cabin.

Following our visit to Fountain Paint Pot, we headed to South Entrance where we had a cabin reserved at Flagg Ranch (two miles outside the park) for the next two nights. After the man at the desk asked for our name, and looked over the reservations, he asked if we wanted a free upgrade to a luxury cabin. “Of course”, we said, “We like free upgrades.”

We think they had overbooked regular cabins and since we were early we were in line for the upgrade. Later when we went back to the lodge for supper there was a long line of people at the registration desk.

Our cabin.

I was anxious to see inside.

Luxury it was! We even had swan towels on our bed…

…and a towel monkey hanging on the shower curtain rod. 🙂

After unpacking some things, we went over to the lodge for supper. I loved this place!

Tomorrow I will tell you about our second day in the park.