| Comments: | At Echinus about 2350 we heard a very loud noise and I ran -sprinted-to Steamboat which was in full eruption. When we had walked by 10 minutes earlier water was spouting from both vents to at least 70-80 ft. The wind was blowing from SSE generally toward Emerald Spring drenching the boardwalk area just south of Dr Allen’s Paintpots. John & I were both soaked and covered with a thin layer of silt. The water phase lasted from 2350 til 0009 hrs. The north vent gradually changed to steam about 16-17 min. into the eruption followed by the south vent about 1 min later. The roar of the eruption was very loud but not deafening the ground was shaking a little and the air vibrated so that I could feel it on my chest and in my ears. The steam phase roared loudly and could be clearly heard at the Museum until about 0600 when the noise died down. The steam plume rose at least 400 ft. A spectacular sight and sound show with an almost -full moon. What a way to start the season! |