It was the 2nd River Vent Pause and I was riding at a even pace down to Fan and Mortar. It was day 5 since they last erupted and a considerable crowd had gathered. I parked my bike just as High and Gold came on and it quickly became apparent they were on for the long run. Angle Vent came on a few minutes later and the following events took place between three of my friends and I.
High Vent starts going steady trying to lock, droplets reaching halfway up the opposite bank from my perspective. Gold can't make up its mind.
Ryan's on the verge of psychological breakdown.
Demetri has his radio halfway to his mouth but has a face of "I have no idea doing".
A few minutes later I notice "chevrons" becoming visible in High. Will starts flapping his arms like hes trying to take flight. "DEMETRI LOCKITLOCKITLOCKIT."
Demetri hesitates: "uuuhhhh, uuuhhh."
Ryan's excitement is about to hit critical.
Gold joins in and Fan is in full lock, I just about explode. "DANG IT DEMETRI! LOCK IT!"
Demetri calls lock, it lasts for 5 minutes, during which im running up and down the boardwalk screaming like a bafoon. Demetri's glued in place, Ryans shaking like a leaf. Will is wooping and staring from near Mortar.
Im standing next to Ryan, snap a picture of his idiot grin. 23 seconds later East Vent explodes without even a puff of steam to precede it. All hell breaks loose.
 |
| Fan's East Vent takes off! |
Will screams and dives off the boardwalk, racing to get in the splash zone, Demetri calls it like a nuclear strike just occured. Ryans just screaming, glued in place next to me. I snap another picture of his face (its his first F&M.)
Main Vent rockets upward, Will leaps into the deluge and embraces it like its the second coming of Christ. Ryan and i scatter towards the bridge. I don't know what Demetri's doing. We continue to cheer and watch F&M for the bext 30 minutes.
Unfortunately fan and mortar have not been as well behaved as we have hoped. They've erupted twice since the 15th eruption, and its been 5 days at the time of this writing. And just 30 seconds ago I got a message they're in an event cycle, will they go? We can hope!
Nice writeup! I felt like I was there. That's what it was like when I saw it. The watchers' involvement and reactions are a big part of the show. I still remember Lynn with her arms raised in front of her, summoning forth nature's bottled-up powers, like Sauron entreating the mountain to tumble.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, where are the photos!
ReplyDelete