Conned Again

Super fandom requires super commitment. Therefore, Jason and I attend an impractical number of geeky conventions every year. Our latest of these was Salt Lake’s second annual comic con. Here are a few of the highlights from that gathering.

John Barrowman and Stephen Amell? Now that's a super pair.
John Barrowman and Stephen Amell? Now that’s a super pair.

This year Salt Lake Comic Con again broke records with 120,000 attendees. Woohoo! These numbers weren’t without their tribbles though. The first night, a Thursday, turnout exceeded estimations by 30,000 and people had to wait up to 4 hours just to get inside the Salt Palace. Fortunately, Jason and I had picked up our registration early so we avoided that fixed point in time.

My precious!
My precious!

Among the show’s highpoints were its many excellent panels. John Barrowman, Stephen Amell, Bruce Campbell, and Alan Tudyk all entertained us onstage. Bruce Campbell turned his session into a game show, Alan Tudyk gave away signed stuff from his bag o’ crap (including a pair of Prada sunglasses), and John Barrowman sang to his audience. Be still my geeky heart!

Stephen Amell's panel was great. He came across as a nice and grounded person.
Stephen Amell’s panel was great. He came across as a nice and grounded person.
Jason and I met our long-lost siblings at comic con.
Jason and I met our long-lost siblings at comic con.

The smaller panels at SLCC were definitely much better this time. We learned about ways superheroes can keep the feminine while adding the -ism, tricks for photographing cosplay, and techniques for generating novel plots. That may be more nerdy knowledge than the average person wants to assimilate but my positronic matrix has been hardwired to crave it.

The band at the Evermore Park booth was fantastic. Upon seeing my Star Wars dress they played an impromptu cantina song for me.
The band at the Evermore Park booth was fantastic. Upon seeing my Star Wars dress they played an impromptu cantina song for me.
Evermore's Osiris was quite the winged beast.
Evermore’s Osiris was quite the winged beast.

The exhibit hall was enormous this time, taking up every inch of the Salt Palace’s 670,000 square feet. We bought Doctor dolls, Elven earrings, and leather goods in its congested space. We also purchased nerdy t-shirts and cool prints but that’s kind of a given. I was excited to see the first SLCC exclusives emerge this year, like newborn Uruk-hai ready to snuff out everything around them. Yes, special-edition toys are a sure sign that your con has amassed the power to take over the world.

FarAway Creations created this sweet starry setting.
FarAway Creations created this sweet starry setting.

All comic cons are exhausting, this one was no exception but we rallied on Friday night with the help of friends and food. We caught up with Lee, Steven, Meggie, and Ben over a pizza dinner and listened to recounts of their con happenings. Not all nerds think or drool alike so this was a fascinating discussion.

These Weeping Angels were convincingly creepy.
These Weeping Angels were convincingly creepy.

Salt Lake Comic Con was tremendous as usual. (I can say that now because it’s been around long enough to have a usual.) Nerds always need a good reason to brush their teeth and get out of their mom’s basement. Thanks SLCC for providing incentive for good oral hygiene and an opportunity to don super garb.

The Family Stone Part II: Other Spouters and Splashers

The next day, we all jumped in our respective vehicles, forming a caravan of familial trippers, to journey around the park. We saw everything from a dragon’s maw to an acid lake during that gradual loop through Yellowstone. The following is an account of our round.

Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in Yellowstone, was difficult to see under its shroud of steam but the intense bacterial mats surrounding it were hard to miss.
Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in Yellowstone, was difficult to see under its shroud of steam but the intense bacterial mats surrounding it were hard to miss.

We began by heading east from Old Faithful, toward Fishing Bridge. At Fishing Bridge we paused for an extended time to allow for multiple unsynchronized potty-stops and to purchase extra layers of clothing. Why the extra layers you ask? Yellowstone was cold! Although it was August, the temperatures never rose above 50 F and they definitely drifted a lot lower. Most of us were not prepared for this unseasonal preposterousness and the omnipresent rain didn’t help our readiness.

It was neat to have a group of family members traveling with us.
It was neat to have a group of family members traveling with us.

However, the disagreeable weather didn’t stop our convoy from continuing north to the Mud Volcano area. The Mud Volcano region is stranger than fantasy. There you will see hillsides cooked by steam, lakes as acidic as stomach juices, and seething masses of ashen mud. Your nose will constantly be assaulted by the pungent aroma of hydrogen sulfide gas, something akin to a rotten egg reek. Yes, it’s a putrid, bizarre, and magical place.

Lower Falls is twice the height of Niagara Falls. It roars 308 feet down into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Lower Falls is twice the height of Niagara Falls. It roars 308 feet down into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

After Mud Volcano, we stopped for a picnic at Otter Creek. Our table was situated in a lovely spot near the Yellowstone River but the chilliness encouraged our eating to proceed rather speedily.

Acid-loving thermophiles have transformed the runoff from Pinwheel and Whirligig Geysers into these streams of green.
Acid-loving thermophiles have transformed the runoff from Pinwheel and Whirligig Geysers into these streams of green.

Following our quickly-consumed meal, we checked out the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Lower Falls plummets 308 feet into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Between the emerald tint of the gushing water and the red hues of the rusting canyon, this chasm is definitely a keeper.

Vixen Geyser, so named because of its temperamental disposition, erupts for seconds to nearly an hour at internals that range from minutes to hours.
Vixen Geyser, so named because of its temperamental disposition, erupts for seconds to nearly an hour at internals that range from minutes to hours.

The majesty of the falls persuaded most of the members of our group to seek a better look via Uncle Tom’s Trail, which leads to an unparalleled view of the waterworks from 500 feet down into the canyon. Uncle Tom’s Trail is not recommended for those with heart, lung, or other health conditions…or little brothers with acrophobia. This short but strenuous route travels over 300 stairs made of perforated steel sheeting, AKA holey metal, which means that you remain quite aware of the extreme drop-offs beyond your feet as you descend it. Drew was not thrilled about the vertical vertigo produced by Uncle Tom’s but he managed to make it to its terminus with some motivational chiding from his child.

Porcelain Springs in Norris Geyser Basin is colored by silica.
Porcelain Springs in Norris Geyser Basin is colored by silica.
We spotted this elk near the road.
We spotted this elk near the road.

Our last stop on the way back to Old Faithful was Norris Geyser Basin. This utterly wacky region was mesmerizing. Norris is one of Yellowstone’s most acidic and fieriest stretches. The water in many of its hot springs maintains temperatures above the boiling point and its colliding colors are nearly as extreme. We lucked out and saw Constant and Vixen Geysers shooting their stream as we wandered past them but even without those interesting bursts Norris would have been a rare treat.

Vibrant groundcover paints Biscuit Basin as well.
Vibrant groundcover paints Biscuit Basin as well.

The next morning, before Jason and I headed back to Utah, we toured the Black Sand, Biscuit, and Fountain Paint Pot areas. We were still eager to discover more of Yellowstone’s spurted secrets. We saw Fountain, Clepsydra, Cliff, and Spouter Geysers explode but Black Sand Pool was probably the most interesting feature we encountered that a.m. The natural plumbing feeding Black Sand Pool periodically shudders and groans like strained pipes before it shoots a wave of bubbles to the surface of the pool. The ground literally shakes beneath your feet. We weren’t expecting this and it was pretty dang cool.

The Fountain Paint Pot is a peculiar area in the Lower Geyser Basin where acidic waters have dissolved stone and created pools of bubbling sludge.
The Fountain Paint Pot is a peculiar area in the Lower Geyser Basin where acidic waters have dissolved stone and created pools of bubbling sludge.

Yellowstone’s bubbling springs, blasting geysers, and polychromatic streams are incredible and beautiful. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the most visited national parks. Got some family and/or some time? I’d recommend checking it out.

The Family Stone Part I: Upper Geyser Basin

My family has not gone on vacation together for almost twenty years. This fall we attempted to remedy that, sort of. Jason and I traveled to Yellowstone National Park near the end of August with my parents and my brother Andrew’s family for an extended weekend overflowing with hydrothermal masterpieces.

Old Faithful is probably Yellowstone's most famous feature. Its show are pretty predictable, every 45-125 minutes, and last 1-5 minutes typically. Old Faithful discharges boiling water up to 185 feet in the air during these spectacular happenings.
Old Faithful is probably Yellowstone’s most famous feature. Its show are pretty predictable, every 45-125 minutes, and last 1-5 minutes typically. Old Faithful discharges boiling water up to 185 feet in the air during these spectacular happenings.
While we were in the Upper Geyser Basin, a buffalo wandered very close to our group. He even kindly posed for us.
While we were in the Upper Geyser Basin, a buffalo wandered very close to our group. He even kindly posed for us.
Isabelle did not fancy walking on her own much so Andrew frequently strapped her on his back like a babe.
Isabelle did not fancy walking on her own much so Andrew frequently strapped her on his back like a babe.

Thanks to our well-timed reservations, made nine months in advance, we were all able to secure accommodations in the Old Faithful area. Jason and I, along with Drew’s clan, stayed in the frontier cabins adjacent to the lodge and my parents resided at the Old Faithful Inn. The cabins were definitely a relic of a bygone era. They by no means were sophisticated. However, despite their simplicity, they were tidy and, more importantly, literally a minute away from Old Faithful and the other geological oddities of the Upper Geyser Basin.

One side of this cabin was ours during our stay. No, it wasn't spacious or super comfortable but it was very convenient.
One side of this cabin was ours during our stay. No, it wasn’t spacious or super comfortable but it was very convenient.
Boardwalks are quite common in Yellowstone due to ground instability, thermophilic organisms, and scorching runoff.
Boardwalks are quite common in Yellowstone due to ground instability, thermophilic organisms, and scorching runoff.
Morning Glory Pool, beautiful at 158 degrees, has repeatedly been the victim of vandalism. Leave it to the idiots of the world to treat a unique and delicate spring like their personal wishing well.
Morning Glory Pool, beautiful at 158 degrees, has repeatedly been the victim of vandalism. Leave it to the idiots of the world to treat a unique and delicate spring like their personal wishing well.

It’s difficult to describe Yellowstone to those that have never been there because it seems unbelievable even as you are witnessing it: the pockets of steam peppering the horizon, the vibrant pools and stinky mudpots, the streaks of living color turning the ground into a rainbow, and, of course, the fickle geysers. The Upper Geyser Basin holds the majority of the world’s active geysers. From Old Faithful, which erupts roughly every 90 minutes, to Giant, which hasn’t erupted since 2010, Upper Geyser’s performers are a fascinating natural phenomenon that will keep you hurrying down boardwalks in search of the next upsurge surprise. During the afternoon we spent in the area, we watched some spectacular steam and spout explosions. Grotto, Turban, Spasmodic, Sawmill, Lion, Anemone, and Old Faithful all showed us their geyser stuff. We were really trying to catch Grand Geyser’s routine too but we missed it by minutes.

Grotto Geyser discharges about every 8 hours on average. Although it only shoots water 10-40 feet, its sinter shell, formed by coated tree stumps, makes these events very cool.
Grotto Geyser discharges about every 8 hours on average. Although it only shoots water 10-40 feet, its sinter shell, formed by coated tree stumps, makes these events very cool.
The Firehole River winds through Upper Geyser Basin forming a strip of normality amidst the remarkably odd.
The Firehole River winds through Upper Geyser Basin forming a strip of normality amidst the remarkably odd.
Sawmill erupts roughly every 1-3 hours. It was named for the humming sound it makes during these events.
Sawmill erupts roughly every 1-3 hours. It was named for the humming sound it makes during these events.

The Upper Geyser Basin was extraordinary. It’s amazing how nature’s genius can transform a little groundwater and some magma heat into an assortment of majestic and powerful spray displays. I wish we had had another day to spend near Old Faithful but we had other park wonders to see. You will hear all about those marvels next week. Will you be able to quell your boiling curiosity until then?