Eclipse Camping/Viewing Options: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming
- Thread starter EMSC
- Start date
One of those was probably the Gros Ventre campground which Garry and Patti Klassen have used many times, staying for as much as a month. His setup is a larger version of admin's, a huge trailer towed by a Dodge V-10 diesel truck with 5th wheel. They can explore around the region in the truck leaving the trailer in camp as a base. The campground is big, but only one of its eight circles has hookups. Garry and Patti have always found a dry camp spot; then they get up every morning to see who's leaving the hookups and eventually move in there. This year they plan to arrive a week before the eclipse and stay into mid-September.Evren":2f7spgt6 said:
The Wind River situation could get interesting. Our group is probably among many who might head that way if the weather forecast for Jackson is unfavorable. But we would probably prefer eastern Idaho if weather odds are similar.
Evren
New member
So Tony, do you think that there will be a lot of people going a week early? Maybe I will go Sunday, since some weekenders leave then. And if not, I can be scouting first thing Monday morning.
Would you suggest any place other than shadow mtn or the area across the highway from cummingham cabin rd?
Would you suggest any place other than shadow mtn or the area across the highway from cummingham cabin rd?
I'll defer to camping experts about sites. But for any kind of site requiring first come first served reservations, I think you should be there a week in advance minimum. So I think you want reasonable access to Grand Teton, Yellowstone or what ever might interest you for that week before the eclipse.
As far as traffic paranoia is concerned, the immediate hours before and particularly just after the eclipse are the ones to worry about. If you are in a camp or hotel outside the path, try to get to your viewing area by 5-6AM with enough supplies to be self sufficient for 24 hours. Similarly departing by 5-6AM the next morning should be a no-hassle drive. Late evening departures on eclipse day should probably be OK too.
As far as traffic paranoia is concerned, the immediate hours before and particularly just after the eclipse are the ones to worry about. If you are in a camp or hotel outside the path, try to get to your viewing area by 5-6AM with enough supplies to be self sufficient for 24 hours. Similarly departing by 5-6AM the next morning should be a no-hassle drive. Late evening departures on eclipse day should probably be OK too.
It is interesting how someone who has never been to an eclipse knows what the traffic patterns are going to be.
I'm trying to supply constructive advice to people who are asking or may be lurking.
I'm trying to supply constructive advice to people who are asking or may be lurking.
Tony Crocker":3suhy5z0 said:
This may be lost on you, but I didn't create that estimate myself, I used the estimate of a self-professed eclipse expert: yours.
And with having to reportedly hunker down with adequate supplies for 24 hours, I'll probably never see one. I have a problem dealing with stupidity like that just to see a shadow.
EMSC
Well-known member
Or you can go with what amounts to my current camping plan... wing-it. No, seriously. I'm in San Fran for 30hrs after having been in Irvine earlier this week. I have no time to plan this summer.
I do know that Jackson is too far for me with far easier options only 3hrs away.
I do know that Jackson is too far for me with far easier options only 3hrs away.
I do not advocate Jackson as a great choice for last minute or "wing it" plans. Garry Klassen has a lot of experience with campsites, and the one in Jackson in particular, so I defer to his opinion there.EMSC":2fhmk6mj said:
Today was my last day if the 2016-17 season. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12457EMSC":2fhmk6mj said:
Yes that's a daunting challenge. :-({|= Admin has been doing this almost every weekend for the past 3+ months. That's part of why his ski season ended in mid-April.admin":2fhmk6mj said:
jasoncapecod
Well-known member
Admin":278x08hr said:
=D>lizardqueen
New member
So much harshness in this thread. As an informed party, I can vouch that Tony isn't trying to call out anyone's stupidity.
What is getting lost is that a TOTAL solar eclipse is an immersive experience where the world looks different. The scene around you is illuminated by wavelengths of light that are invisible under any other circumstance. Your TV doesn't emanate those wavelengths, you have to be there.
I'm not sure how a case of getting an eye operation during the eclipse time frame is relevant here, since anyone with that kind of conflict would only be thinking about coming out of it with their eye working. But since you're talking about it, it's very evident that Marc C's eclipse experience was during a partial, from his comments plus the factors Tony mentioned. Neither of us are arbiters of other people's vision, until we get some extra microchips implanted in us, but since this August is going to make 20 totals between us, we know how to make this distinction. Debunking people who mistakenly think they've seen a total is a parlor game among the eclipse-chasing community - no offense intended, we frequently have this talk with friends.
Partials need to be viewed through a solar filter, whether combined with a telescope, binoculars or protective glasses. Same thing with a low magnitude annular like the one during May 2012. Not a comparable experience.
Before I made a habit of eclipse-chasing, I missed one when I didn't get it together to fly from NYC to Cabo on 4 days notice. I do understand many people think as hard about driving to the next town as I would about the NYC-Cabo trip. I also know very well how people skip new experiences when effort is involved. My parents took me and my brother to the Grand Canyon, and all we did was peek over the edge. The world is full of rim-peekers.
We don't put you in the rim-peeker bucket Admin, so that's why Tony is urging you to seize the day on this. But don't worry, I'm not going to try and talk you into it, it's your decision.
What is getting lost is that a TOTAL solar eclipse is an immersive experience where the world looks different. The scene around you is illuminated by wavelengths of light that are invisible under any other circumstance. Your TV doesn't emanate those wavelengths, you have to be there.
I'm not sure how a case of getting an eye operation during the eclipse time frame is relevant here, since anyone with that kind of conflict would only be thinking about coming out of it with their eye working. But since you're talking about it, it's very evident that Marc C's eclipse experience was during a partial, from his comments plus the factors Tony mentioned. Neither of us are arbiters of other people's vision, until we get some extra microchips implanted in us, but since this August is going to make 20 totals between us, we know how to make this distinction. Debunking people who mistakenly think they've seen a total is a parlor game among the eclipse-chasing community - no offense intended, we frequently have this talk with friends.
Partials need to be viewed through a solar filter, whether combined with a telescope, binoculars or protective glasses. Same thing with a low magnitude annular like the one during May 2012. Not a comparable experience.
Before I made a habit of eclipse-chasing, I missed one when I didn't get it together to fly from NYC to Cabo on 4 days notice. I do understand many people think as hard about driving to the next town as I would about the NYC-Cabo trip. I also know very well how people skip new experiences when effort is involved. My parents took me and my brother to the Grand Canyon, and all we did was peek over the edge. The world is full of rim-peekers.
We don't put you in the rim-peeker bucket Admin, so that's why Tony is urging you to seize the day on this. But don't worry, I'm not going to try and talk you into it, it's your decision.
lizardqueen":mm4vnksr said:
And as I told Tony literally months ago, that decision was made for me when I couldn't get the time off from work. Simple -- case closed. No amount of cajoling from Tony is going to change that fact.
However, that said, even if I could get the time off it's becoming apparent that the situation is going to be quite the cluster, and as you know those are things that I go out of my way to avoid. And quite honestly, without any offense to those for whom an eclipse is an earth-moving experience, it really doesn't do that much for me. If it's not a major inconvenience I'll see it. If it is, I'll probably pass.
This is complete BS. The subject of admin's time off from work was never mentioned until July 16, so sure, maybe by then it was too late to get the day off. Admin had just taken the previous week off, camping ironically near Stanley, Idaho, right on centerline of the eclipse.admin":352lgp36 said:
However Liz and I made a small presentation to Admin's crew and handed out eclipse glasses over sushi dinner on Mar. 10. Perhaps requesting one day off in August should have been considered well in advance. But the bottom line is that admin has the same opinion of the upcoming eclipse as Janice in Accounting.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4tB-oTykv4[/video]
Here's the web page about eclipse viewing in the Wind River area: http://www.windrivereclipse.org/
The bottom of that page mentions permits required on Indian Reservation land. However, many of the sections above that one (Crowheart, Riverton, Ocean Lake, Shoshoni, etc.) say nothing about advance reservations/permits being necessary.
This is our eastern escape region if Jackson's weather is unfavorable.
The bottom of that page mentions permits required on Indian Reservation land. However, many of the sections above that one (Crowheart, Riverton, Ocean Lake, Shoshoni, etc.) say nothing about advance reservations/permits being necessary.
This is our eastern escape region if Jackson's weather is unfavorable.