You'll find Grotto Geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. Grotto Geyser is actually part of a group of geysers that include Grotto Fountain Geyser, South Grotto Fountain Geyser, Indicator Spring, Spa Geyser, and Rocket Geyser. It's a fountain-type geyser and can really put on a show, especially in winter when it spews huge amounts of steam into the cold air. Grotto Geyser's cone is nearly 8 feet high. The odd shape comes from sinter accumulating over dead tree stumps as the geyser erupted.

Grotto Geyser erupts about every eight hours or so. If the last eruption was a longer one, the time to the next eruption will be longer too. During an eruption, the steam and water shoot up about 10 feet high and can last anywhere from 1 hour to more than 10 hours long, although there have been eruptions that lasted more than 26 hours. Whew!

Here's a little history:

On September 18, 1870 members of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition entered the Upper Geyser Basin where in a day and a half of exploration, they named seven geysers of which Grotto was one. Nathaniel P. Langford described the Grotto in his 1871 Scribner's account:

"The Grotto" was so named from its singular crater of vitrified sinter, full of large, sinuous apertures. Through one of these, on our first visit, one of our company crawled to the discharging orifice; and when, a few hours afterwards, he saw a volume of boiling water, four feet in diameter, shooting through, it to the height of sixty feet, and a scalding stream of two hundred inches flowing from the aperture he had entered a short time before, he concluded he had narrowly escaped being summarily cooked. The discharge of this geyser continued for nearly half an hour.

Grotto Geyser is interesting for more than just its own eruptions, which are spectacular in their own right. It has a connection and interaction between its eruptions and those of Giant Geyser, one of the world's most powerful geysers. Giant Geyser erupts only during times known as "hot periods", which are times of intensified activity among the smaller geysers that populate the surrounding area around Giant, meaning the Grotto geysers. You might call it, a geyser party. So, if you witness a marathon Grotto eruption, keep your eye on Giant Geyser. It may be joining the party. =]:)

I took this photo last Fall, and it took me back to childhood and the adventures that seem kind of silly and naïve now.

We looked into the distance and saw the sun streaking through the clouds. The dust devils danced in front of the mountains. Our minds were filled with faraway kingdoms, dragons, and pirate adventures.

"Pete! Do you see that?" Billy would say. "It's a dragon guarding the treasure!"

"No!" Jim would answer, "It's a bunch of pirates burying treasure! We could sneak over there and see where they dig and get the gold for us."

"And how would pirates get here? There is no ocean." I was always the skeptical joy kill.

As the sound of them arguing became a dull roar in my ears, I'd look at the swirling dust, and my heart would pound. I'd wonder if any of that was true. I guess I knew it wasn't, but it sure would be fun to check it out just the same. The first hurdle, getting us and our stuff over or under the fence, and then it would be a breeze.

We bolt into the house to gather supplies for our trip. We grabbed sandwiches, soda, granola, and our backpacks. No adventurer worth his salt would leave without supplies for the dangerous quest.

"Hurry!" Billy said. "Before your Grandmother sees us. She'll never let us go, and she'll tell my mom."

"Then why aren't you whispering?" Jim asked.

I noticed Jim wasn't whispering either. There... Everything packed into the backpacks, and out the door, we flew. The screen door slammed behind us, and I got dirty looks, eye rolls, and sighs. Oh well, we made it outside undetected.

I tossed my backpack through the fence, and then I pulled myself between the posts. Jim, the show-off, jumped over the fence, backpack and all. I don't think he thought that one over long enough because he landed on his backpack. He looked like a turtle spinning around, trying to right itself. I pushed him over. "Thanks," he said.

Billy's turn. He was a little accident-prone, or maybe just careless. He tried pushing the backpack through the fence, but it was too puffy. "What did you put in there?" I asked.

"I put two of your blankets in it in case it gets cold out there."

"Cold? It's 80 degrees." I must have had a WTF look on my face because he turned red.

Just then, his backpack knocked one log loose, and the left end hit the ground with a thud.

"Now what? I won't be able to get it through the posts." Billy had that quitting before we get started look again, and it made me angry.

"Throw it over the fence, you dumb ass!" I shouted.

"Peter! What did you say?" My Grandmother's voice came from the house.

"Oh, Um... Nothing. We are just goofing around."

"Well, don't say that again, and don't leave the yard."

Sigh. "Okay, Grandma."

Billy threw the backpack over, and we left the yard.

"Let's run," Jim said. So we galloped in the direction we saw the dust devil earlier. That would be our target. The backpacks were feeling a little heavy, though.

"Let's walk," suggested Billy, but it wasn't much of a suggestion. He was already walking. The sun was high, and it was getting hotter. Billy put on his sunglasses, and Jim did the same.

"Darn it! I forgot my hat." My beat-up old cowboy hat went everywhere with me. Wearing sunglasses changed the colors of the landscape, and the hat shaded my eyes just fine.

Billy stopped, removed his backpack, and undid the buckle. He opened it and pulled out my hat. I stared at him. "What didn't you bring?" I was grateful, though, put my hat on, and thanked him.

We had been walking about 2 miles or so, but it seemed like forever. A funny thing about mountains, you can walk and walk, and the darned things never seem to get any closer. We sat down on tree stumps to eat our sandwiches. Going on a long journey takes a lot out of a fellow. Off in the distance, we saw a pickup coming our way. It wasn't on any road, there weren't any there, but it was on a path.

"Crap. Is that Lee's Dad?" I asked. "He'll tell on us for sure."

Jim looked at it for a moment. "Yeah, it's him. What should we say?"

"I don't know." The pickup pulled alongside us, and Lee was in the passenger seat.

"Hey guys," he said. "What are ya doing?"

"Just hiking," I said.

Lee's Dad looked at us and grinned. "Oh, then you don't want to come with us?"

"Where you going?"

Lee shouted, "swimming!"

Jim, Billy, and I looked at one another. Jim whispered, "We can always go looking for pirates tomorrow."

I agreed. We never ever made it to where we were going anyway.

"Hop in the back, guys. I'll run you home first so you can grab your swimming stuff."

We got into the back of the pickup, and I leaned over to the driver's side window, "Just a minute, Mr. Roberts. We might already have our swim stuff." I turned and looked at Billy and his backpack. He wasn't opening it, but his face got red again. =]:)

© 2016 Peter Noah Thomas ~ All Rights Reserved

The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity. - Douglas Horton

As the movie of your life unfolds, you are the "main character." All the people around you are "extras" in your play, coming and going, just acquaintances, adding to your complex story. But each one of those "extras" is the main character in their own movie, and you realize that you too, are an "extra", appearing briefly on their stage, providing the backdrop for the scenes that play out and flicker on the screens of our imaginings. Let's make a movie together!

Have a great Wednesday and rest of the week. =]:)

I love hiking. I do it whenever I can. There is nothing better than being out in nature, breathing fresh air and getting sunshine. If you hike in Yellowstone, you need to be bear aware. Bear attacks are rare and I'm not trying to scare anyone, I just want you to have fun and stay safe!

So what if you come across a grizzly bear? What should you do? First of all, read the information you'll get from the ranger station upon entering the park. Now, if you will be doing some hiking in the back-country, it's best to do it in a group of 3 or 4 or more other folks. Bring bear spray. Talk and make noise, wear bear bells, clap your hands every so often. In most cases, bears will high tail it in the opposite direction if they hear you coming.

If you surprise one though, it may attack you. So if you turn a corner and there is a bear, first of all DON'T RUN. If you run it will chase you. Instead, avert your eyes and back away slowly. Talk in a low, non-threatening tone of voice (yes, talk to the bear in a soft voice so it will know you are human and not a prey animal) and leave the area.

If you have small children with you, pick them up immediately.

The bear may stand on it's hind legs to get a better look at you and to smell the air. When a bear stands, it's usually not threatening but just curious. It will probably scare the hell out of you though but don't scream.

This will be difficult I know, but try to remain calm. Most bears do NOT want to attack you and usually just want to be left alone. Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, yawning, salivating, growling, snapping their jaws, and laying their ears back. Continue to talk to the bear in low tones; this will help you stay calmer, and it won't be threatening to the bear. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.

Make yourself look larger by moving to higher ground if you can.

Never ever allow the bear to have any of your food. Keep it tightly concealed so the bear can't smell it. Never drop your pack. It can be good protection.

If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping. Moving sideways is also non-threatening to bears. Do NOT run, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground. Bears can run as fast as a racehorse both uphill and down. You can't outrun them. Like dogs or cats, they will chase fleeing animals. Do NOT climb a tree. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees much faster than you.

If you see a mama and her cubs, be particularly cautious. She will protect those cubs at all costs. Never approach them and don't ever put yourself between the mother and the cubs. She will attack you.

This is from the NPS site: Bear attacks are rare; most bears are only interested in protecting food, cubs, or their space. However, being mentally prepared can help you have the most effective reaction.

Every situation is different, but below are guidelines on how brown bear attacks can differ from black bear attacks. Help protect others by reporting all bear incidents to a park ranger immediately. Above all, keep your distance from bears!

Brown/Grizzly Bears: If you are attacked by a brown/grizzly bear, leave your pack on and PLAY DEAD. Lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain still until the bear leaves the area. Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face.

Black Bears: If you are attacked by a black bear, DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Try to escape to a secure place such as a car or building. If escape is not possible, try to fight back using any object available. Concentrate your kicks and blows on the bear's face and muzzle.

If a bear attacks you in your tent, or stalks you and then attacks, do NOT play dead—fight back! This kind of attack is very rare, but can be serious because it often means the bear is looking for food and sees you as prey.

And remember, bear spray is the best weapon against an attacking bear.

Also, remember to always stop in a ranger station to let them know where you will be hiking and when you expect to return. This awesome photo was taken by Adam Willoughby-Knox.

If you keep these tips in mind, you'll be fine and you'll have a wonderful time you'll never forget. =]:)

a poem about natures calming hand

I stand atop the world, arms out at my sides,
a world stretched out below me, and yet the world hides.
The din of shouting voices, and disharmony fade,
yielding to creation; eminence of nature they abrade.

My eyes are closed and yet, I can see it all,
the meadow lush and sweet, would catch me if I fall.
I hear the rumbling water, it crashes then it wanes,
like the blood that gives me life, rushing through my veins.

I feel a mellow breeze, dance across my face,
it tickles in my ears, like feathery lace.
The trees whisper secrets, the ones I need to hear,
manifesting on my cheek, as a solitary tear.

The sun is rising now, I feel warmth upon my skin,
I open up my eyes, to take the beauty in.
The majesty and wonder, unshackles and it frees,
It draws away my breath, I drop down on my knees.

© 2016 Peter Noah Thomas ~ All Rights Reserved

a poem about true, unconditional friendship

when the world ended,
i fell to the floor,
tears rolling down,
the future tore.

heart in my throat,
my jaw felt weak,
you held me tight,
you kissed my cheek.

when the world ended,
your hand on mine,
softly caress,
fingers entwined.

no whispered words,
you let me be,
your quiet strength,
meant the world to me.

And on that day, when the world ended,
you held my hand,
you stayed with me,
you made me see,
my world could be...
mended...
again...
someday.

© 2015 Peter Noah Thomas ~ All Rights Reserved

We are not makers of history. We are made by history. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pronounced: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/pronunciation/english/epoch

Some other uses for this word:

1. the beginning of a new and important period in the history of anything: the first earth satellite marked a new epoch in the study of the universe
2. a period of time considered in terms of noteworthy and characteristic events, developments, persons, etc.: an epoch of social revolution
3. a point in time or a precise date

Have a great Wednesday and rest of the week. =]:)

The Yellowstone Otters are a treat to see any time of year, but they are particularly hilarious during the winter season. Watching them "swim" through the snow is a treat you will never forget. As you make your way on a snowy trail, you might catch a glimpse out the corner of your eye. A squiggle, almost like a pencil mark on white paper. Your head turns to have a look, but you see nothing. That's because they have spotted you, and are hiding under the snow. But they've got your number and their little eyes follow your every move.

Yellowstone is home to quite a few species of owls. I'm told 11 species, but I include the Barn Owl, so I'll say 12 species in all. Owls are nocturnal, so seeing one in Yellowstone is a rare treat. You can see them in daylight now and then, but I wouldn't count on it. If you camp in or near Yellowstone, you will hear them hooting through the night. You can't see them, but they make their presence known.

So would you like to meet a few of our owl friends? Okay, I'll talk about a few of them, and list the others. I'll start with the Barn owl...

Barn Owls (Tyto alba) are medium to large owls with big heads and heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There is 1 Yellowstone species. When most folks think of owls, they probably picture the barn owl in their minds. Photos of Barn Owls

Next up is the Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa). This owl prefers to live in secluded coniferous forests. It will take over abandoned hawk or eagle nests or tree stumps. They will settle right in and make it their own. They usually eat small rodents like mice and squirrels. The great grey owl has a massive 60-inch wingspan, causing it to look larger and more imposing than it is. An adult weighs only 2-3 pounds. Photos of Great Grey Owls

Now meet the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). This owl is one of the most common in North America and it is the most common in Yellowstone. It gets its name from the tufts of feathers on the upper part of the head that resemble horns. This one has a light gray underside with dark bars or stripes with a white band of feathers on its upper breast. It has yellow-orange eyes. They hunt from high perches, spotting their prey and then swooping down to snatch it up with large, razor sharp talons. I see a Horned owl out where I go running. He lives under an old bridge, and even has some other owl friends drop by now and then. If you're interested, my pics and story are here.

The Long-Eared Owls (Asio otus) have what look like long ears. I call them Dumbo owls. The "ears" aren't ears at all of course, but are tufts of long, black and reddish brown feathers. Their real ears are just holes on either side of their head but are under the feathers so you won't see them. You can tell the difference between long-eared owls and great horned owls by their brownish-colored bodies with heavy barring and stripes on their breast and belly. Photos of Long-Eared Owls

The Short-Eared Owls (Asio flammeus) feel inferior to the long-eared owls. Okay, not really. These guys have a rather unique habit, they’ll play dead to evade a predator. It's the funniest thing to see. They are brown with dark streaks on the chest, belly and back and it provides them with great camouflage. The males are a bit lighter in color than females. Photos of Short-Eared owls

Boreal Owls (Aegolius funereus) are only nocturnal. You won't see these in daylight so hopefully you'll have your night vision goggles handy. They eat small mammals, birds and insects. They take over abandoned woodpecker nests or other recesses in trees. They are quite small with a body length between 8 and 11 inches. Their wingspans however, stretch to between 19 and 25 inches. Photos of Boreal Owls

The Flammulated Owl (Psiloscops flammeolus) is a small, nocturnal owl approximately 6 inches long and has a 14 inch wingspan. The females are larger than the males. This one gets the name flammulated from the flame like markings on its face. The flammulated owl is similar in appearance to the western screech owl but is only about one-quarter the size and lacks large ear tufts. These owls are obligate cavity nesters, meaning they will only create nests in tree cavities and no where else. Photos of Flammulated Owls

The Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii) is a small owl native to North and Central America, closely related to the European scops owl and the North American eastern screech owl. The scientific name commemorates the American naturalist Robert Kennicott. Their length averages 8.7 inches and wingspan is 22 inches. Again, the females are larger than the males. They have a round head with ear tufts, yellow eyes and a yellowish bill. Their appearance is similar to whiskered and eastern screech owls, so it's best to identify them by their calls, which is a series of short whistles at an increasing tempo or a short then long trill falling slightly at the end. Photos of Western Screech Owl

The Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada. This species is native to most wooded environments of its distribution and, more so than any other owl in its range, has adapted well to man made development, although it frequently avoids detection due to its strictly nocturnal habits. Adults are 6.3 to 9.8 inches and a wingspan of 18 to 24 inches. Photos of Eastern Screech Owl

The Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma), known as northern pygmy-owl in North America, is a small owl native to North and Central America. I found this and hadn't heard it before: Some experts consider this bird a superspecies with the mountain pygmy owl. The American Ornithologists' Union, the authority for the North American region, does not recognize this split, so the populations are still considered conspecific. Males will regularly perch at the top of the tallest available trees to give their territorial call, making them somewhat ventriloquistic (is that a word?) in sloped landscapes, and causing distress and confusion among observers on the ground hoping to get a glimpse. They are incredibly hard to spot because of their size and color. They are 6 inches and are gray, brownish-gray or reddish-brown in color. This owl has a round white spotted head, weakly defined facial disc, and dark upper breast, wings and tail, the latter quite long compared to other owls. The eyes are yellow and the bill is yellowish-green. The bird has two black nape spots outlined in white on the back of its head, which look like eyes. The mid to lower breast is white with darker vertical streaking. Photos of Northern Pygmy Owl

The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small, long-legged owl. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated by prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.). Unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls are often active during the day, although they tend to avoid the midday heat. But like many other kinds of owls, burrowing owls do most of their hunting from dusk until dawn, when they can use their night vision and hearing to their advantage. Living in open grasslands as opposed to the forest, the burrowing owl has developed longer legs, which enables it to sprint as well as fly when hunting. Burrowing owls have bright eyes; their beaks can be dark yellow or gray depending on the subspecies. They lack ear tufts and have a flattened facial disc. The owls have prominent white eyebrows and a white "chin" patch which they expand and display during certain behaviors, such as a bobbing of the head when agitated. Photos of Burrowing Owl

The Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is another small owl. In fact, it is one of the smallest owls in North America. They are close to the size of an American robin. The northern saw-whet owl has a round, light, white face with brown and cream streaks; they also have a dark beak and yellow eyes. The scientific description of one of the sub-species of this owl is attributed to the Rev. John Henry Keen who was a missionary in Canada in 1896. This owl is the one pictured.

Whew! So there you have it. I hope you are lucky enough to spot one of these if you visit Yellowstone. There is something special about being in the presence of an owl. It's a feeling you get that is difficult to explain. Maybe a kind of reverence. You'll know it when you feel it. =]:)

© 2015 Peter Noah Thomas ~ All Rights Reserved

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.” ― Bernard M. Baruch

This one is pronounced, (mona.chop.sis). Did that help? I didn't think so. If you find a better pronunciation, please put it in the comments. Have you felt  monachopsis? I sure have.

Happy Wednesday everyone. =]:)

This beautiful Bobcat is prowling for ducks along the banks of the Madison River near the Madison Campgrounds.

The Yellowstone Bobcat (Lynx rufus) is one of the more elusive animals to spot in the park. They like to hang out in rocky areas, conifer forests and you can occasionally see one near a river or lake as they hunt. Winter is a great time to spot one.

The adults can reach 15 to 30 pounds or so and are usually 31 to 34 inches long. They are striking animals with their colors of red-brown fur with indistinct markings to light buff with dark spots, a short tail and ear tufts.. They are solitary and are most active between sunset and sunrise. They eat rabbits, hares, voles, mice, red squirrels, wrens, sparrows, grouse and sometimes deer and adult pronghorn.

Here's some additional information:

In the early years of the 20th century, bobcats were reported as "somewhat common" in the park. There have been 9 to 14 reported sightings each decade since 1960. These sightings have occurred throughout the park; about 80 percent have occurred in the northern half. Bobcats have been reported in about equal numbers during all seasons. In 1960, a bobcat was killed by a car near Squaw Lake (now Indian Pond) on the north shore of Yellowstone Lake; its skull was deposited in the Yellowstone Museum collection.

Other roadkilled bobcats were reported in 1993 and 1996. In 1960, a young bobcat was reported on the porch of the administration building at Mammoth; other young bobcats have been reported at Pebble Creek bridge (February 1977) and at Canyon campground (July 1986), where one accompanied an adult bobcat.

No research has been conducted in Yellowstone to determine the numbers or distribution of this elusive animal that usually is solitary, nocturnal, and widely scattered over its range.

Unlike Canadian lynx, which they resemble, bobcats elsewhere have been highly adaptable to human-caused changes in environmental conditions; some biologists believe that there are more bobcats in the United States today than in colonial times. Yellowstone has many rock outcrops, canyons bordered by rock ledges, conifer forests, and semi-open areas that seem to offer conditions favorable for bobcats—adequate shelter, a variety of rodents, rabbits, hares, birds, and other small animals as well as seasonal carrion, for food.

Carrion is seldom used if live prey is available. Studies elsewhere have shown that bobcats also may kill both young and adult antelope and deer; they stalk bedded adults and may be carried long distances while biting their prey in the neck. Bobcats live an average lifespan of about 7 years.

Visitors are advised to report any sightings of bobcats or bobcat tracks to a ranger or visitor center. For animals so seldom recorded, every observation is considered useful and important.

So if you see one, have your camera ready. And then buy a lottery ticket. You'll be one of the lucky ones! =]:)

"Mike" Michael L. Baird [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

"I don't like a lot of frills and fusses" - Nancy Reagan

This one is pronounced: foo·fa·raw /ˈfo͞ofəˌrô/. I know a few folks I will introduce to this word today. So many people worried about so much that means so little. Don't you think?

Have a wonderful Wednesday and rest of the week. =]:)