Prismatic

Camping and Travel Daily Image No. 86
Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Wyoming, August 8, 2010

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Wyoming, August 8, 2010

Grand Prismatic Spring

Wikipedia
(accessed 9/15/22)

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica. It is located in the Midway Geyser Basin.

Grand Prismatic Spring was noted by geologists working in the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, and named by them for its striking coloration. Its colors match most of those seen in the rainbow dispersion of white light by an optical prism: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.

The first records of the spring are from early European explorers and surveyors. In 1839, a group of four trappers from the American Fur Company crossed the Midway Geyser Basin and made note of a “boiling lake”, most likely the Grand Prismatic Spring, with a diameter of 300 feet (90 m). In 1870 the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition visited the spring, noting a 50-foot (15 m) geyser nearby (later named Excelsior).

The bright, vivid colors in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The mats produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature gradient in the runoff. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The center of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat.

The deep blue color of the water in the center of the pool results from the intrinsic blue color of water. The effect is strongest in the center of the spring, because of its sterility and depth.

The spring is approximately 370 feet (110 m) in diameter and is 160 feet (50 m) deep. The spring discharges an estimated 560 US gallons (2,100 L) of 160 °F (70 °C) water per minute.



Lucky to find parking

Camping and Travel Daily Image No. 85
Vista Cruiser Class C Motorhome, Midway Geyser Basin Parking, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, August 6, 2010

Vista Cruiser Class C Motorhome, Midway Geyser Basin Parking, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, August 6, 2010

Crowding at Yellowstone isn’t new, but, in recent years, it’s gradually gotten worse. Our strategy has been to visit the more popular spots early in the day and/or visit the park during the autumn off-season.  Like other popular places, Yellowstone is experiencing a surge, I believe, because of people’s desire to get out and about after not being able to go during COVID.

Why is Yellowstone National Park so Busy?

Bozeman Convention and Visitors Bureau
(accessed 9/15/22)

Apr 12, 2022

This year marks the 150th Anniversary of Yellowstone, the world’s first national park. These 2.2 million acres are home to 10,000 hydrothermal features, including roughly half of the world’s geysers, plus the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. There are 67 types of mammals, 150 birds, and five amphibian species. The wide rivers, expansive valleys, and towering mountains make it an endless outdoor playground.

With such a vast amount of land, it’s hard to imagine the park being crowded. However, developed roads and corridors account for less than 1,750 acres, and most visitors stay within a half-mile of these corridors.

2021 was Yellowstone’s busiest year on record, with 4,860,537 visits, up by 28% over 2020. May, June, July, August, and September all set records, with July being the most-visited month on record in the Park’s history– the first-time visitation exceeded 1 million visits in a single month.

On top of record-breaking traffic, due to construction projects and COVID-19, there were 20% fewer campsites and hotel rooms available and, as such, 20% fewer overnight stays.

Read the rest of the article.



Goosenecks

Camping and Travel Daily Image No. 84
Goosenecks State Park, Utah, September 30, 2011

Goosenecks State Park, Utah, September 30, 2011

Goosenecks State Park

Wikipedia
(accessed 9/15/22)

Goosenecks State Park is a state park in Utah, overlooking a deep meander of the San Juan River. The park is located near the southern border of the state a short distance from Mexican Hat, Utah. Millions of years ago, the Monument Upwarp forced the river to carve incised meanders over 1,000 feet (300 m) deep as the surrounding landscape slowly rose in elevation. Eroded by water, wind, frost, and gravity, this is a classic location for observing incised meanders.

Goosenecks State Park is largely undeveloped. Primitive campsites with picnic tables are scattered back from the edge of the cliff, and vault toilets are available. Campers are advised to bring their own water, food, and other necessary gear.

The park received International Dark Sky Park designation by The International Dark-Sky Association in March, 2021. Night photography and stargazing are popular activities because there is little light pollution due to its remoteness.

 



Class C rental

Camping and Travel Daily Image No. 83
Camping World RV rental, Freedom Elite Class C Motorhome, near Mexican Hat, Utah, September 30, 2011

Camping World RV rental, Freedom Elite Class C Motorhome, near Mexican Hat, Utah,
September 30, 2011

Apparently, Camping World doesn’t offer RV rentals at any of its stores anymore.  Instead it “connects” private RV owners with renters.

Camping World Announces Peer-to-Peer RV Rental Marketplace Launch Plans

Buisiness Wire
(accessed 9/15/22)

April 28, 2021

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWH) (“Camping World” or the “Company”), America’s Recreation Dealer, today announced details surrounding the planned launch of the Peer-to-Peer RV Rental marketplace, marketed as Camping World RV Rentals. The rental marketplace further expands the Company’s commitment to invest in technology within the RV and outdoor industry with the goal to make RVing more accessible for consumers.

Camping World’s new Peer-to-Peer RV rental platform seamlessly connects owners and renters to maximize the owner’s return on investment while allowing the renter to pay less money to experience the lifestyle first-hand. The platform will include both towable and motorized RVs.

Camping World RV Rentals opens for listings of RVs beginning May 14th, 2021 at RVRentals.com and will allow customers to browse RVs and register for alerts when bookings become available. By early July 2021, bookings will open to customers as the rental marketplace enters a soft launch phase before a full nationwide launch in Fall 2021. Camping World’s sister company, Good Sam will provide products and services such as rental protection, 24/7 roadside support, and membership savings on booking and service fees to round out the rental experience.

Note: RVRentals.com is now marketed under the Good Sam label.  Camping World and Good Sam are subsidiaries of Affinity Group Holdings, Inc.



Yellow-bellied

Camping and Travel Daily Image No. 82
Yellow-bellied marmot, String Lake Trail, Grand Teton National Park, September 4, 2014

Yellow-bellied marmot, String Lake Trail, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, September 4, 2014

Yellow-bellied marmot

Wikipedia
(accessed 9/4/22)

The yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), also known as the rock chuck, is a large, stout-bodied ground squirrel in the marmot genus. It is one of fourteen species of marmots, and is native to mountainous regions of southwestern Canada and western United States. The fur is mainly brown, with a dark bushy tail, yellow chest and white patch between the eyes, and they weigh up to approximately 5 kilograms (11 pounds). They live in burrows in colonies of up to twenty individuals with a single dominant male. They are diurnal and feed on plant material, insects, and bird eggs. They hibernate for approximately eight months starting in September and lasting through the winter.

The yellow-bellied marmot lives in southwestern Canada and western United States, including the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. Northwards, its range extends into the southern British Columbia and goes eastwards up to the montane and basin regions of Wyoming, eastern Montana, Colorado, and southern Alberta. Southwards, its range extends into northern New Mexico. It inhabits steppes, meadows, talus fields, and other open habitats, sometimes on the edge of deciduous or coniferous forests. In Colorado, they are found from as low as 1,600 m (5,400 ft) to over 4,300 m (14,000 ft) of elevation. In central and eastern Washington, they are common at low elevations.

They are found in valleys, meadows, and foothills, and tend to occupy open areas which are free of vegetation. Their territory is about 2.5 hectares (6 acres) around a number of burrows dug during the summer. They choose to dig burrows under rocks, as it is less likely to be visible to predators. These predators include foxes, dogs, coyotes, wolves, and eagles. Upon seeing a predator, the yellow-bellied marmot whistles to warn the others in the area, after which it typically hides in a nearby rock pile until there is no more threat.



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