Sometimes it seems as if getting a group of folks together can
be a major undertaking. Hang wringing and dithering prevail. Something as
simple as meeting up for a beer after work becomes a hassle and many
times doesn’t happen at all. Other times, intricate plans fall into place seamlessly
and a posse forms with minimal dawdling. Thus is the case with the upcoming eclipse.
While I probably wouldn’t have motivated on my own to make an
eclipse gathering happen, I have a few friends who have been talking about it for
years. Thanks to their enthusiasm and people-wrangling skills, I’m part of a
big posse that is gathering in Wyoming for the celestial event. Although I
cringed at the thought of joining the masses and driving the ten plus hours to
the eclipse destination, my friends’ enthusiasm was contagious and it was hard
to say no. I’m glad they convinced me to go as I’ll get to catch up with a group
of friends, will take a few glorious days off of work, and if the eclipse is
the epic, cool event it is expected to be, I’ll be there to experience it
first hand and won’t have any regrets.
Wyoming’s population is expected to double for the event and
massive traffic jams are predicted. The state of Wyoming has advised travelers
to have a full tank of gas and allow plenty of time to get to and from their
destinations. Officials in towns along the eclipse path are advising everyone
to have sufficient food and water on hand as the grocery store shelves are
expected to be picked clean of their provisions. Although there is no doubt it
will be busy for a few days in sparsely populated Wyoming, I am curious to see
if things really will be that jammed. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were to be
Y2K all over again; much anticipation and much hype, but uneventful in reality.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, always mobbed in the summer, has been
booked solid for over a year. Casper, Wyoming is bracing for impact, and even
tiny Douglas, Wyoming is bursting at the seams with its own festival and, last
I checked in December, its remaining few hotel rooms going for $800 per night.
Snow King Resort in Jackson recently offered indoor camping spaces for $325
with outdoor camping spots at the Wind River Reservation near Riverton offered for $500. I
am sure this is just skimming the surface of what is going on along the eclipse
path.
I’ll report back with post-eclipse observations. In the
meantime, if you’re wondering what it took to make this trip happen, here’s the
complete list:
- Two+ years of planning and anticipation
- Two visionaries to keep the conversation alive and get the sixteen person posse stoked
- One dedicated individual to organize all of the personalities and coordinate the emails
- Six individuals flying into Denver
- Ten individuals driving from points throughout Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado to join the crowd.
- Two rented RVs
- Two small rental cabins
- One rental mini-van
- Two Bozemanites to drive said mini-van to eclipse site
- Sixteen pairs of eclipse glasses
- One VRBO townhouse (For post-eclipse shenanigans in Bozeman)
- Six hotel rooms (For post-eclipse travels)
- Piles of food and libations to assure we don’t have to leave the eclipse site from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday morning
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