The next day, we weren’t disappointed. In a concentrated area at the Lower Geyser Basin, are some amazing, bubbling, perking evidence of very hot activity under the earth’s surface. The bubbling is in the Fountain Paint Pots and the nearby steaming is a series of geysers that are quite impressive.

A boardwalk takes you around the area and, as long as you stay on the boardwalk – which they require – you can see the activity and avoid the dangerous hot gases.

The first sight we saw was Silex Spring – a colorful pool with flowing water– but very lethal.  Hot steam and hydrogen sulfide are not especially great to inhale.

We walked around the Fountain Paint Pots, seeing something that could be out of MacBeth – “double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble.”  And, there was certainly a lot of bubbling going on.  Even though we were early in the season, we still were able to see some really active clay-like deposits that, according to the Parks Department’s pamphlet, were used by the Crow Indian tribe to paint their tepees.

RECIPE – For the Mudpots of Fountain Paint Pots

As we continued our walk on the boardwalk, we came to an area that had a half dozen geysers in varying states of activity.  It was a bit hard to tell which one was which, but the photo here – we believe is Morning Geyser, which put on a spectacular show.  Notice the yellowish deposits in the geyser not erupting in front.  The deposits, while colorful, are other evidence of the many chemicals the erupting earth bring s to the surface.

Geysers erupting in Fountain Paint Pot areas

Almost nearing the juncture of the boardwalk path with the entrance walkway, there are some “Lodgepole pines” that have become mired in the earth’s eruptions. It is a stark reminder of how destructive, yet beautful the earth can be.

The entire walk around the Fountain Paint Pots Trail and the geysers in the vicinity can easily be seen in less than an hour.  It is great to stay longer and watch the changes.

Next week: We’ll travel to Yellowstone’s Falls  – the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  We’ll explore from several vantage points.

Traveling means you go everywhere and try everything –for our readers.

Without a mine tour, we figured we weren’t experiencing Bisbee at its most memorable.  So, we joined a tour.  Advanced reservations are suggested as once the tour trolley is full, you must wait for another trip.  With five trips daily, there is lots of opportunity to have this experience.

Preparing for the experience

Once you’ve paid your money ($13 for adults, $5.5 ages 4-12), you receive a small, pin-on medallion.  When it’s time for your tour, you line up and get suited up.  Everyone – everyone the smallest child – receives a heavy yellow rain slicker and a lamp they wind around you so you don’t lose it.  (It’s best to leave large and heavy bags behind. Sturdy shoes would be a good idea.)  Once you’re suited up, you tramp outside and get on a trolley that you straddle.  It isn’t fancy, but probably it’s a lot nicer than what the miners had.

Suited up and ready to go below

Time to go below

The several-car trolley moves on its track to the opening of the mine, curving as it heads into the darkness.  It is cold and forbidding the moment you can no longer see daylight.  Miners, who worked 8-10 hour shifts, did not see a lot of daylight.  The extravagant amount the miners earned at most: $12.30 per shift (not hour!)

Our tour guide Steve kept us together and filled us in on what life was like for miners, how the metals were extracted and housekeeping issues.

Life in the Mines

Actually, in the Copper Queen area there were two mines, the open pit mine that was exposed for all to see, and the Copper Queen that includes 260 miles of tunnels.  Mine shafts are horizontally placed at 100-ft intervals.  Without lights, it is BLACK as night.  Early on, candles were the light source and, according to Steve, 5-7 candles were needed for each miner’s shift.  Two shifts were worked each day.  (In the mills and smelting, once the ore was extracted, three shifts tackled that effort.)

Trooping up stairs to a cavern area

The massive effort was responsible for over 8 billion lbs of copper being extracted from the mine.  By products included zinc, lead, and silver.

The miners did not use canaries to gauge air quality.  Rats and cockroaches would let them know if cave-ins or poor air quality was an issue.  Still, many miners developed silicosis, a disease that cause lung problems.  Steve, our tour guide, told us he worked in the mines, but not for long.  He went back to school, earned a degree in mining, and improved his status in life.  Being a tour guide, he now goes underground regularly.

In the early mining years, tools were more rudimentary.  Dynamite, which was produced in nearby Benson at the Apache Powder Company, was used to blow holes in the walls.  Timber was used to prop up areas and support the walls.

Steve show how the drills worked

Interestingly, miners had an elaborate procedure for placing the dynamite, which was only done at the end of a shift.  They had an intricate way they set up the dynamite at distances and amounts for the explosions and safety procedures in place.  Since it took 40 seconds for a blast to go off, they could judge when to get out of the way. If a blast did not go off, they notified the next shift so they could be alert for it.  Phones were in the mines for emergencies that were hooked to both the local hospital and the mine office, so quick action could be taken to save anyone injured.

An elaborate system of bells was also used to let others know where people were in their rudimentary elevators that traveled between shafts. Five bells meant they were ready to blast, an important warning.

A map showing the mine tunnel locations - and the way out

With their precautions, purportedly only 14 were killed in cave-ins.

Still, it was not a fun life.  “Bathrooms” were “two-seater honeypots,” chambers fastened to a wagon that could be hauled away and dumped.  Steve said he never saw two people on the honeypot at the same time.

To make a point about how dark the mine is without lights, Steve had everyone turn off the lights for a moment.  Not just dark, it was profoundly black, damp and scary.  We rapidly turned our battery-operated lights on again.

What did miners do if their lights went out and they wound up alone (miners did work in pairs)?  They moved along feeling for the tracks that carried the ore out, following its path until they could get out. Not a situation anyone would relish.

Sadder than the miners’ lives underground was that of the mules used to haul the ore.  They never came up from underground for years!  When they were finally brought to the surface, they were close to blind and had to be gradually acclimated to light again.

According to one Bisbee local, the miners trudged up the hills, after a long day in the mines, to their homes that had no running water and no electricity.

Out again

Back to daylight

When we finally came back to daylight again, it was liberating.  We had been 1,500 feet into the mine.  An interesting experience, we were glad that we were not miners.

Surrendering our slickers and lights back in the tour office, we were glad to be back above ground again.

A shop with geodes and other possible rock purchases is available, plus a min-museum showing some of the tools and history of the mines.

Every time we see a copper penny or pipes, we will remember how that copper came to be used for that purpose.  The miners, in essence, made modern life possible.

Later this week…shopping around Bisbee.

Actually, Saguaro National Park is two parks – located about an hour away from each other.  Saguaro National Park West  (Tucson Mountain District) – and Saguaro National Park East – or the Rincon Mountain District offer two different views of cacti.

Of the two parks, we preferred the West version.  For sheer thrills just getting to the Saguaro Park West is a daredevil ride down the mountain, with curving, narrow roads and a fabulous view of mountains in the distance.  The driver, however, should be concentrating on the road.  It is that hairy a drive.

Once at Saguaro West, there is a modern visitor center and amenities (there is no food at this or the Saguaro National Park East.)  In the immediate area, they have spectacular views with saguaro and other Arizona flora and fauna on view.  Park Rangers give talks and there are exhibits on display.  One fascinating exhibit we saw was of a “boot” that is formed as a bird invades the saguaro.  In response to the bird, the saguaro forms a hard coating around the chamber, which can serve as a refuge for the birds.  When the cactus eventually dies, those “boots” have been picked up people.  Symbiosis at its finest! (Two living things working together.)

What’s a saguaro?

Saguaro

(pronounced – sah-wha-ro) It’s the image you see of Arizona – other than the Grand Canyon –that straight-looking cactus with arms reaching toward the sky. The large ones that you see are very old, as they only grow about an inch a year for the first eight years.  Typically, they live for as long as 125-200 years.  And, there are some interesting variations with rarer saguaro that have crests and curvy arms.

A hillside of saguaro - notice the one with arms waving

(Information courtesy of Saguaro National Park Web site. http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/The%20Saguaro%20Cactus.pdf )

Flowers bloom, really showy, gorgeous white flowers, after about 35 years. As a custom, Native Americans removed the buds before they flowered and brewed them into a rich, intoxicating drink for their harvest feasts.

Saguaro on a slope

We have seen saguaro north of Phoenix and as far west as California.  They also grow in Mexico.  However, they do not grow everywhere.  So, a sight of them is exciting – especially a whole hillside of them.

Back to the Parks…

Given a full day and children with a good attention span, visiting Saguaro National Park West, Old Tucson Studios (in the vicinity and detailed on Monday, January 25) and Sonoran Desert Museum (also in the vicinity, but we won’t be discussing this right away) might be possible.  But, start early and expect to spend some time at each location.  Bring snacks, as only Old Tucson Studios and Sonoran Desert Museum have food.

Saguaro National Park East is an hour away from the Eastern version.  We found it to be flat and less interesting geographically, however you can see mountains in the distance.

Hiking trails are available at both locations.  Views are memorable. The visitors centers have exhibits and friendly National Park Rangers who will answer questions.

Saguaro National Park East and West –

Admission – $10 for a car-load of people.  The receipt you receive for your admission is good for a week at either of the two Saguaro National Parks, just show it to gain admission to the other park.

Saguaro silhouetted at sunset

The Parks open at 7 AM until sunset, but the visitor centers are only open from 9 AM until 5 PM. daily.  Especially in the summer, we recommend an early visit as it gets very hot by late morning!

There are picnic tables on a first come-first-serve basis.

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

Biosphere 2 - giant science experiment

Much like the TV reality series, “Big Brother,” the scientists had to make things work while they spent 12-14 hour days running their experiments, maintaining the equipment that kept their oxygen and other essentials functioning, cooking and growing crops.  They did not leave Biosphere 2 during the two years, but did maintain a connection with the outside world using telephones.

Two-story crew quarters at Biosphere 2

The Biosphere no longer has crews that live exclusively in closed environments, but important experiments are still being conducted on 3 acres of the 34-acre campus of the 1,600-acre property, now managed by the University of Arizona.  The facility is able to simulate environments like rainforests, savannahs, deserts, tropics and marshes, while controlling every aspect of moisture levels, nutrients and the like.  So, experiments can be conducted that teach scientists about the impact of droughts and other climatic changes that impact people.

"Rainforest" in Biosphere - every plant was quarantined for a year before planting

In addition to the 8-member crew in the early ‘90s, in 1994, a 7-member crew lasted about six months in the environment.

What made it difficult was that during their long working days, they were only able to grow enough to live on 1,200 calories a day, considered a very low calorie intake.  They raised goats, chickens, rice, tilapia and vegetables.

Biosphere 2: The buildings

Spending $150 million to build the facility, every effort was made to use, then current, state of the art environmentally friendly materials and standards.  The 6,500 windows of the project used double glass panes with plastic sandwiched in the middle to insulate.  They only used second growth lumber, natural oils for wood stains, low volatile organic compound materials, and other appropriate earth friendly products.

Amazing geometry makes up the buildings

The geometry of the buildings is an interesting juxtaposition against the desert hillsides where they are tucked in, not visible to the outside world. The ceilings soar to as high as 90 feet, so the buildings are impressive.

Now, conferences can rent use of the casitas, campus-like buildings that skirt the Biosphere 2 experimental area.  The environments themselves can be simultaneously testing projects like the decomposition of consumer materials (soda cans, etc.) in several different environments.  For example, the schoolchildren running the desert trash project found that it was not decaying rapidly at all in the desert areas, but were experiencing faster decomposition in the wet environments.

Touring Biosphere 2

Visitors are welcomed on a daily basis with fees as high as $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and a discount for AAA membership to $18. Young children may have a hard time keeping up and would probably not find the tour compelling.

Tours are given about every 45 minutes that last 1 ¼ hours.  The tour guides are knowledgeable and do not drone on, but have interesting information to share.  They will answer questions.

Come prepared to walk – up, down, around.  The walking is strenuous and some of the buildings are not handicapped accessible.  There are ramps for same of the campus walkways, but much of the tour involves stairs, which can be slippery from the wet environments.

Visitors can tour some of the areas on their own, like the crew habitats and the tropical displays with very colorful fish.  Otherwise, you follow the tour guide.  (We had 31 people on our tour.)

There is a campus café, if you get hungry.  The guide who greets you suggests you head to the movie theater where all visitors are directed to see a film on an endless loop with background about Biosphere 2.  I recommend that you see the film so you know something about what you will see.

Science does come alive on some parts of the tour.  It is amazing to think of the variations scientists can use to study the earth’s environments.

One major message is how very expensive it is to do these studies, thus the pricey admission fee for the tour.

If you have any interest in the earth and science, I highly recommend a trip to Biosphere 2.

Extra added attraction

Phoenix Mars Mission spacecraft

Oh, and if you visit before May, 2010, you can see the Phoenix Mars Mission spacecraft before it heads to the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.  Before it returned to earth, it had generated 25,000 images from Mars.  That’s a lot of photos, but for the price tag ($457 million) that’s a pricey set of photos!

www.B2science.org

Come back tomorrow for a visit to the southernmost Arizona casino hotel.