I was just looking at Deadwood. There are options.


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Every agency or outfit with a good eclipse-viewing location seems to be marketing it really hard,
in order to get themselves some of the $$$.
Unfortunately that means that those who attend might not get the quality experience they're hoping for.
I know a guy who's flying down to camp at Madras L51 for the eclipse,
but the internet seems to indicate they're expecting hundreds if not thousands of motorhomes to camp there also.
Ugh.
I not only don't want to attend, I feel sorry for those that live there.
The Olympic Peninsula is bad enough on a sunny summer weekend with all the Seattleites and out-of-staters,
I can't even imagine how fucked up Madras and all the other places are gonna be.

A few weeks ago Madras announced that they were opening up an additional 1500 spaces for RV's on land "adjacent to the airport" price was $150 for 1 night, or $300 to arrive as early as the 18th and leave by the 22nd. they were all reserved in a few hours. this is in addition to 500 spaces on the airport. Madras is holding a 4-day "eclipse festival" with live music, beer garden, etc. I will NOT be there for any price.

It's like the modern day gold rush here in Central Oregon! Those who own land have made a mint renting it out for this event. Our infrastructure is not really set up well to handle the current growth we are seeing, let alone the craziness that the eclipse promised to bring. As long as my cars have full tanks and the fridge is stocked, it promises to be entertaining to watch!

Update on Garden Valley: EAA Chapter 105 has reserved 35 of the 40 tiedowns with IAA for the 21st, and they're fully subscribed. Has anyone checked Payette or Weiser? Thanks.

CAVU

Yeah the Division put out a thing on FB...kind of a summary of what is going on and what to expect...which included this. So GV is no longer on my list.


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3 weeks to go, and space.com is comparing the eclipse to the zombie apocalypse, I hope they are exaggerating.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2017/07/ ... ready.html

My current plan is to go to Warm Springs or Shafer on Sunday (maybe Saturday), camp at the plane until the eclipse and fly home Monday afternoon, shooting video of ID-21 and the Banks-Lowman road on the way. Plan B is launch before sunrise Monday and fly to Council or Midvale for the day. Midvale is not taking reservations but they will have port-a-potties at the airport and are charging $10.00 to park Monday and $40.00 per night to camp at the airport. Can't find any real information on Council yet but it has a good location for fly in, farther from the Interstate than some other towns so not as attractive to drivers. If anyone else is there, I'll be in a silver square tail C-172.

You can come camp at our airport in northwest Puget Sound.
Only 92% eclipse but free camping.
I was surprised to read that we were getting that much of the eclipse, not as dramatic as 100% but I won't have to brave the crowds and the zombies either.

CAVU wrote:Update on Garden Valley: EAA Chapter 105 has reserved 35 of the 40 tiedowns with IAA for the 21st, and they're fully subscribed. Has anyone checked Payette or Weiser? Thanks.

CAVU

I made a call to the Idaho div of aviation. They told me that a bunch of folks from Oregon were coming. Nothing is reserved and it was first come first serve. He said the tie downs were not taken tell a plane is tied down.

Tim

That's always been they way it works. Hopefully people, especially new comers, will also realize that if there is a tent pitched next to a tire down and chairs, coolers, etc on the tie down, it's also taken.


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So If someone lands and then coolers and lawn-chairs four spots because his buddies are planning to fly in, is that right, or BS? I don't know and won't have to figure it out...any time or place there's competition for a tie down or camp site is something I avoid like chlamydia.

Seems like some of those little-used strips in the Arco Desert might be good options, but it's hard saying. Wouldn't be surprised if they were parking lots of vehicles, since they so rarely see an airplane. I'd cary enough fuel to get home without a stop, regardless of the destination.

I'll be watching from outside the total eclipse band...it only get 90-something percent of it, which is just fine with me. When I compare the drama of trying to find a location within the eclipse band to the hand-full of seconds the eclipse will be total, it doesn't compute for me. Besides, umbra is soooo overrated...pre and post umbra is where all the action is!

That's funny! That's our plan. Have enough fuel to check out multiple places if needed and to just go home if it's too much of a zoo. I think there are enough options to find some place to enjoy it.

Hopefully common sense courtesy will prevail. I've had and seen people come and park in what is an obviously occupied spot. I don't think there will be much extra flying for us on this one. Once parked I think we will be on he ground. Especially if it's busy.


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After not having any luck with all the private strips on the eclipse path nearest me (calling and asking permission to land for eclipse), I think I've settled on heading to Lusk, WY (KLSK). Seems off the beaten path more than the vast majority of public airports in the totality. If anyone else is interested in heading there, especially from the Boulder/Denver area, let me know. Will probably just be me and a non-pilot photographer friend of mine.

Glendo (76V) would be the prime spot with a nice grass runway, on the direct path, etc. But the airport is closed because the runway is serving as the primary eclipse viewing area for the town and their expected visitors.

-asa

Hammer wrote:So If someone lands and then coolers and lawn-chairs four spots because his buddies are planning to fly in, is that right, or BS? I don't know and won't have to figure it out...any time or place there's competition for a tie down or camp site is something I avoid like chlamydia.

Seems like some of those little-used strips in the Arco Desert might be good options, but it's hard saying. Wouldn't be surprised if they were parking lots of vehicles, since they so rarely see an airplane. I'd cary enough fuel to get home without a stop, regardless of the destination.

I'll be watching from outside the total eclipse band...it only get 90-something percent of it, which is just fine with me. When I compare the drama of trying to find a location within the eclipse band to the hand-full of seconds the eclipse will be total, it doesn't compute for me. Besides, umbra is soooo overrated...pre and post umbra is where all the action is!

You got it Hammer, and that's where I'll be. Though I have yet to overlay a sectional with the eclipse track, I'm pretty sure Bear Trap or Laidlaw, or even Big Southern will work.

There's a lot more to the total eclipse than just the couple minutes of totality. Even shadow snakes if you're lucky.

How to scientifically watch an eclipse.
http://iafi.org/how-to-watch-the-eclips ... every-day/

People raving about totality do get pretty tiring but, having seen a total eclipse, I can say that almost is not good enough (kind of like an orgasm) especially when totality is so close by. I was thinking maybe Howe or Mud Lake might be possibilities.

Winston

That's funny. I see it this way: its close to a once in a lifetime event so...I'll brave the chaos to go check it out. I think I'd regret not seeing it myself, or giving my kids the chance, if we sat it out. The beauty of it all is an airplane lets you be pretty flexible on where you decide to view it from.


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Hollow Top gets my vote......., https://www.airnav.com/airport/0U7, instead of Laidlaw, it eyeballs pretty good to be the best zone to be in, and I can't imagine it being swamped with people as it is a royal PITA to drive to. Right now, I plan to fly in there about an hour or so before the even, and then takeoff immediately afterwards, primarily so on my flight home (about an hour away) I can see what the junction of I-15 and I-84 is looks like, and will then reach around and pat myself on the back for being a pilot!

Anyone else think Hollow Top looks good? See you there if so.

courierguy wrote:Hollow Top gets my vote......., https://www.airnav.com/airport/0U7, instead of Laidlaw, it eyeballs pretty good to be the best zone to be in, and I can't imagine it being swamped with people as it is a royal PITA to drive to. Right now, I plan to fly in there about an hour or so before the even, and then takeoff immediately afterwards, primarily so on my flight home (about an hour away) I can see what the junction of I-15 and I-84 is looks like, and will then reach around and pat myself on the back for being a pilot!

Anyone else think Hollow Top looks good? See you there if so.

Hollow top is not in the path of totality. It's close, but you'd need to fly further north if you want to see the total eclipse. Antelope Valley or Copper Basin would be better. Use this site and you can see exactly where the shadow will be and how long the total eclipse will last at any point along the path: http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/so ... om=15&LC=1

I've kind of been wondering why Copper Basin and Twin Bridges haven't been mentioned more. TB seems to be in a bit more of an open area and might be a good option. It's about as close to the center of totality as you can get. I've not landed there in 20 years though. Anyone been there recently?


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