Yellowstone Park Getting Hotter - Cljoses Volcanic Basin
From The Yellowstone Newsletter
The temporary closure is clearly marked and covers most of the western portion of the Back Basin trail starting at the Norris Museum. There are approximately 12,500 feet of trails in the Norris Geyser Basin-with approximately 5,800 feet affected by the temporary closure.
Norris is the hottest and most seismically active geyser basin in Yellowstone. Recent activity in the Norris Geyser Basin has included formation of new mud pots, an eruption of Porkchop Geyser (dormant since 1989), the draining of several geysers, creating steam vents and significantly increased measured ground temperatures (up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit). Additional observations include vegetation dying due to thermal activity and the changing of several geysers' eruption intervals. Vixen Geyser has become more frequent and Echinus Geyser has become more regular.
Park staff continue to monitor temperatures and thermal features in the area. When conditions have returned to acceptable ground temperatures and stable surface conditions have improved, the trail will be reopened. Norris is another example of Yellowstone's thermal features that are constantly evolving and changing.
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