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Posted by Ballpark Frank (69.178.8.75) on 10:50:35 07/18/15
In Reply to: Mary Bay road pic posted by Skeets
Skeets,
There is no comparison between the minor annoyance on the Upper Terrace Loop and what is going on around Mary Bay.
Unlike the travertine terraces of Mammoth, where geological change is constant, yet gradual, and the hydrothermal temps rarely exceed 160F, the Mary Bay area lies in close proximity to one of the most volatile parts of Yellowstone. What we see in that portion of Yellowstone is a lengthy history of major steam explosions and blowouts. That is what created some of those large ponds alongside the East Entrance Road. The bottom mapping program in Yellowstone Lake uncovered evidence of many high impact steam explosions on the lake bottom. In one portion of Mary Bay, thermisters inserted down into the subsurface mud (can't remember the exact depth) registered temperatures in the 400F range. Now, that is HOT! In the geologic spirit of role models like Mount Vesuvius, Mount Pinatubo, and Mt. St. Helens, this part of Yellowstone has a decided preference for large scale, melodramatic change. Let's hope the next major steam explosion in this area doesn't obliterate this section of road.
Ballpark
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