Calistoga's Old Faithful in the Rain

Calistoga, California. While it's a sweet Valentine's Day weekend getaway known for human indulgences such as soothing mineral baths and fine dining, it has a few natural wonders to ponder as well. The Calistoga Valley has a rich ancient history of geologic, seismic, and volcanic activity, and was surprisingly targeted as a gold-rush area for early settlers. Russian settlers tried to farm the land but were unsuccessful. One lucky family, however, managed to gain ownership of Calistoga's Old Faithful, the geyser that predictably erupts a fountain of boiling water at 40-minute intervals, and has for centuries attracted visitors from around the world. When historical precedence keeps a natural wonder a private enterprise, the entrance fee is steep ($10/person), but if you don't mind parting with a ten or two, it's worth the visit. After all, Olga Kolbek's successors are preserving this natural wonder and surrounding vegetation and teaching the public about its rich history. One thing I learned is that Olga made a discovery that Old Faithful can predict earthquakes. The connection is based on increased intervals between the geyser's eruptions, occurring just days before a major quake in the surrounding area. Scientists hadn't completely rejected the hypothesis, but it still needed a lot of study before it could be supported as reliable. I don't know where the idea stands today, but regardless of whether or not the geyser can predict earthquakes, its spectacular burps can be predicted by us. In the winter, it erupts every five to ten minutes. Saturated ground water fills its bladder so that it shoots out the volcanically heated water in shorter, less dramatic increments. As the water hits the cold air and rain, it cools into droplets riding a gentle, foggy steam that drifts with the wind. No one needs to worry about getting scalded if standing too close. But in a steady, cold, Calistoga winter rain, it might help if you take one of the complimentary umbrellas with you. Farming still occurs here, and the sheep knew better than I on how to stay dry. (Photos by Chris and Randi Logsdon.)