Vixen Geyser

30 miles North of Old Faithful and the geyser basins along the Firehole River, past the Madison River and through the Gibbon Canyon lies a large unique thermal basin. This is the Norris Geyser Basin. Norris has long been known as the most energetic basin in terms of activity, but in recent years. Geyser Gazers have began to call Norris "Snorris" for it's lack of geyser activity. There are only 3-5 semi-reliable geysers here. And if your lucky, something else will erupt for you somewhere along the trail system.

Norris Location

 Norris Geyser Basin is divided into two main sections. The North end of the Basin is dubbed the Porcelain Basin. It is characterized by it's barren flat landscape, full of sizzling areas, roaring fumaroles, and numerous small perpetual spouters. Temporary features rather than permanent ones are the norm here generally, save for a select few hardy survivors, but that is a topic for another post.

The scenery of the Porcelain Basin. Photo courtesy NPS

 The South portion of the basin is called the Back, or Tantalous Basin of Norris. Here many of the features are more permanent, and back in the day this contained several significant geysers. Of course, this basin is home to the most significant geyser in the world. Steamboat Geyser, again, that's a whole different topic that will be discussed in detail later.

The scenery of the Back Basin Photo courtesy NPS

Presently there is only one geyser that is really well behaved in the Back Basin, and that term is used in the most cautious way. Because Vixen Geyser can really live up to its name.

Vixen Geyser erupts! Photo courtesy of MA Bellingham

Vixen Geyser is a fountain-type geyser, that erupts from a small reddish crater a stone's throw away from the boardwalk (of course, you wouldn't dare take that literally.). You never really know what your going to get with Vixen, it can have dormancies of several years, and then suddenly spring back with fantastic eruptions that make gazers elated.

This year I visited the Norris Geyser Basin 2 times (4 if you count when I went to watch the Steamboat eruption this year). The first time I spent just an afternoon there, where I saw 2-3 eruptions of Vixen. That first visit the eruptions were about 40-50 minutes apart, and lasted only 1-3 minutes. I visited Norris again in September, where I watched Vixen for probably a total of about 4-5 hours. To my utter joy, Vixen was going crazy. Eruptions were occurring every 25-40 minutes apart and lasting anywhere from 2-7 minutes, it was a blast. a couple of the eruptions threw nice sized rocks, and after every eruption the crater drained with a hilarious and delightful draining sound.

 

Me watching Vixen Geyser erupt with a group of visitors

Video courtesy of Natalie H.

I was surprised Vixen climbed so high on my favorite geyser list, but I can see why. For one, it's a small feature, and I have a soft spot for the small features. 2nd, it's close to the boardwalk, so you can easily observe it. 3rd, it is a visitor favorite, they love Vixen! especially the drain sound. And 4th, it has a pretty straight forward building of events to any eruption. Usually it starts with wisps of steam drifting out of the crater, almost unnoticeable, then gurgling is heard within the vent, and gets louder as the water level gets higher. Soon water starts to surge within the crater, boiling and frothing and causing a commotion. Finally at some point, there s a larger than normal surge that gives way to jets of water knifing into the air about 10-15 feet. It's a great little show for a small geyser, and that's why it's number 5 on my top 20 list.

Penta Geyser.

Nearly smack dab in the center of the Upper Geyser Basin, surrounded by an open sheet of sinter deposits, bordered on the south by the frigid (Ironically named) Firehole River, Lies a cluster of about 19 different springs and geysers in an area roughly the size of half a football field. Welcome to the Sawmill Group.

Aerial view of the Sawmill Group. Geysers are White, Hot Springs are blue, Penta Geyser is Gold. 

Named for the largest Geyser in the group, this is one of the most fascinating groups of features in Yellowstone. Why? because of a certain type of activity known as an "exchange of function". When you walk up to the Sawmill Group, you are walking up to a geothermal battlefield. every day there is a constant battle that rages for which geysers get the energy. I'll explain more of this activity of the whole group on a later date, but for now, I'm going to focus on the geyser that is cherished (and loathed) by many a geyser gazer in Yellowstone. This is the humble, yet mighty, Penta Geyser.

Penta Geyser's cone. taken from a kneeling position on the boardwalk. June 2013.
Photo courtesy of Micah Kipple 

Penta Geyser is one of the many geysers in Yellowstone that "thrives on the tears of geyser gazers", you need just the right kind of set up to get it, and sometimes even the set ups end with crushed spirits and vehement cursing. But when the set up actually ends in a eruption, it is a one of a kind show. Penta is named for it's 5 vents, the largest of which erupts to 25 feet. the other's can get up to 6 feet. Here's the catch, Penta is only about 4-5 feet from the boardwalk. Which means when there's an eruption. It's shower time. The pulsing jets of this delightful cone can last for 2 hours, this year however, it's been anywhere from 40 minutes-1.5 hours.

Penta Geyser erupts September 6, 2013. Photo courtesy of Suzanne Strasser. 

Penta Geyser eluded me for almost the entirety of the 3 months that I was employed in Yellowstone National Park in 2013. I always seemed to miss it, sometimes only by minutes. It erupted 25 times behind my back. Finally, on September 6, 2013, my luck held, and while waiting for nearby Grand Geyser (#10 on the list) Penta geyser was called. One gazer also waiting on a nearby bench simply recalls "a orange blur flying down the boardwalk blowing by bewildered tourists". But I managed to make it, and enjoyed almost the entire eruption of 52 minutes.

Celebrating my first Penta eruption. Photo courtesy of Suzanne Strasser