Great Eclipse of 2017

[MileHigh]

One month out for the first total eclipse from coast to coast in the U.S. in 99 years. 200 million people are within one day's drive of being in the path of totality.

I'm geeked up for it. Only about 90 percent totality for Denver and the Front Range, so I'm heading north into Wyoming and/or Nebraska -- along with millions of others, though I have alternate plans to avoid the mass rush the day before.

Predictions of massive traffic jams, people camping out as early as Friday and Saturday along I-25. Millions packing into Casper. Last time I checked, one room available in Casper the night before the eclipse -- for $1,700.

Anyone else have plans to check out the big show on Aug. 21 -- weather permitting?

 

[Starman]

A total solar eclipse will pass directly over my grave at 11:54 am on my 141st birthday. The first total eclipse in recorded history at that location.

Woo hoo.

 

[LanceyHoward]

One month out for the first total eclipse from coast to coast in the U.S. in 99 years. 200 million people are within one day's drive of being in the path of totality.

I'm geeked up for it. Only about 90 percent totality for Denver and the Front Range, so I'm heading north into Wyoming and/or Nebraska -- along with millions of others, though I have alternate plans to avoid the mass rush the day before.

Predictions of massive traffic jams, people camping out as early as Friday and Saturday along I-25. Millions packing into Casper. Last time I checked, one room available in Casper the night before the eclipse -- for $1,700.

Anyone else have plans to check out the big show on Aug. 21 -- weather permitting?

I was thinking about going to Glendo reservior that morning from Denver. Thought I could leave at 4 A.M.. Normally a three hour drive and or so so I would allow six. Maybe I should leave earlier. I think finding a hotel north of Cheyenne is a no-hoper so would try for an early morning exit.

 

[DanOregon]

Local officials out this way are saying it will be a "trial run" of the Cascadia earthquake. I imagine local tourism people weren't pleased.

 

[BTExpress]

We'll get 98 percent totality, being about 50 miles away from the path. But the paper I work on is a capital city right on the path, so they're doing stories every week (would be surprised if they didn't do a special section).

I suspect clouds/rain will **** it up for a lot of people, however.

 

[Huggy]

 

[bigpern23]

I was pumped up for this, but I'm pretty far outside the path of totality. Thought about flying somewhere to see it, but doesn't look like we're going to do it.

 

[dixiehack]

The totality goes over my old hometown, so I can stay with my parents for free. The astronomy professors at the local college are putting together a viewing party at the football stadium, complete with free glasses.

 

[amraeder]

Scheduled to be in a meeting @ work at the time....a meeting in the basement....

 

[Dyno]

I have a bunch of friends who are traveling to go see it but I really have no interest. I'm not sure why. I remember the eclipse in 1979 and found it very creepy. So enjoy the eclipse, all who are interested. I'll see footage on TV.

 

[dixiehack]

Carbondale, Ill., gets two eclipses in seven years.

Carbondale and the Solar Eclipse - 2017 Solar Eclipse

 

[MileHigh]

I was thinking about going to Glendo reservior that morning from Denver. Thought I could leave at 4 A.M.. Normally a three hour drive and or so so I would allow six. Maybe I should leave earlier. I think finding a hotel north of Cheyenne is a no-hoper so would try for an early morning exit.

Glendo was high on my radar for several months, but keep hearing people need to be in place by Sunday afternoon -- 24 hours before it happens. I-25 is going to be a zoo. We were going to leave about 2 a.m. but decided to go backward. Heading up Saturday to South Dakota to Rushmore -- never been; it's about a six-hour drive -- the early Monday morning, drop into a little town in Nebraska that is directly over the path of totality.

My brother-in-law got his pilot's license within the past year and is going to fly into the town early Monday morning. There's a big festival all weekend, but we've got seats at the airport along with glasses. I'm sure it's going to be crowded everywhere, but Wyoming is supposed to be off-the-charts nuts.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

My sister - who home schools - is taking her family to someplace in Tennesseee for totality.
She said hotels rates are through the roof.

 

[BTExpress]

I'll be interested in seeing front pages from the papers in the path of totality.

Curious what the main art will be. The semi-obvious choice --- telescopic view of the eclipse itself --- doesn't tell the readers "it was here!!!", as you could take a photo of one in Australia and no one would know the difference. And those kind of photos have been used in all the preview/explainer stories anyway.

To me the interesting choice is a photo that shows the eclipse high in the sky, but shows the surrounding darkness of the local city, preferably with some local landmark visible.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I'll be most interested in seeing how wildlife react to the totality. Will guys out fishing see a night bite in the middle of it? Will bats and other nocturnal animals awaken?

 

[swingline]

I am directly in the path, so all I have to do is step outside my house. I even got a Booches T-shirt to commemorate it.

 

[dixiehack]

Until this thread, I did not appreciate how nuts the logistics on the ground could be for this.

Get Ready for Major Traffic Jams During the 2017 Solar Eclipse

 

[Starman]

I'll be most interested in seeing how wildlife react to the totality. Will guys out fishing see a night bite in the middle of it? Will bats and other nocturnal animals awaken?

Birds in particular do react.

 

[Starman]

The 2024 eclipse should be a hum-dinger too.

 

[ChrisLong]

I know of two groups of friends doing this. Two couples rented an RV and have campground reservations in Idaho. They expect to be in Boise on Aug. 20 and drive to a viewing spot on Highway 55 on Aug. 21. They are also continuing their trip into Wyoming and Montana after the event. The other group is flying to Tennessee. Don't know their plans.
I heard about confused birds. We have a lot of birds in my neighborhood. Maybe we should put Jack Daniel's in the bird bath to really screw them up.