Getting questions from readers of forestcamping.com about the 8/21/17 solar eclipse. The swath where you'll see a total eclipse passes thru at least a dozen national forests and one grassland. Should be awesome but I have little knowledge of such an event. Can you provide some thoughts, tips, or suggestions I can pass on to forestcamping.com readers? Thank you.

Come to central or eastern Oregon. SE Oregon has some really wide open spaces that should offer great vistas.

Well the number one tip is to protect your eyes by using the right eye protection.Eye ProtectionAmazonOther than that all you need to do is find a spot in the total eclipse zone and hope for clear skies.The last time I was near a total eclipse zone, we traveled a couple of hundred mile and the sky was heavily overcast. It got dark and then it got light and that was it. Serious letdown.

There are several good websites with detailed zoomable maps of the path of totality. We are looking mostly at Eastern Oregon (clear sky but hot), Idaho, and Wyoming. The latter two have some afternoon clouds during summer days, but they also have some high altitude places that are in the path of totality.Jackson Hole will be very crowded, along with the Sawtooths in Idaho.We will probably be boondocking during that time, and we plan to hike to a remote peak somewhere so we can get a good view. Totality lasts only about two minutes, and that is the only time that you can look right at the sun safely. Some folks are planning to be on highways that run east and west, so that they can chase clear sky during the minutes before the eclipse. I doubt we will do that -- too stressful. I'd rather sit on a mountain-top and wait and hope -- as with boondocking, the goal is to be far away from anyone else!

donn0128 wrote:Come to central or eastern Oregon. SE Oregon has some really wide open spaces that should offer great vistas.This is good advice but if folks have not already made reservations in state or national parks, or private campgrounds or RV parks, they will find that most campgrounds along the path of totality are sold out. Camping sites in Oregon State Parks, along the path of totality, were sold out within an hour of becoming available. In like manner, most (if not all) private campgrounds and RV Parks are also sold out with some having waiting lists available to fill possible cancellations. We're avid amateur astronomers and started working on this months ago. Still, and for the time being, we've settled for a site in an RV park at the fairgrounds in Corvallis, OR where we have family. We'd rather be on the coast and are on the waiting list for an RV resort in Lincoln City. (started at #42 on the waiting list and as of yesterday, 2/7, had moved to #37.)

This site is excellent; it shows the path of totality in each state in which the eclipse will be visible. https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/best-places-to-view/

August 21, 2017 Solar Eclipse - any tips | Good Sam Community

Sarvi
Explorer
Apr 21, 2017
StarkNaked wrote:
Sarvi wrote:
StarkNaked wrote:

P.S. We also just figured out that an event called Oregon Eclipse 2017 is going to be just 5 to 10 miles away from us while we're watching the eclipse. 20,000 people, live music (100 plus bands/multiple stages), art installations, etc. Imagine an event like Burning Man.

Where?

Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco Mountains.

oregoneclipse2017.com

That looks pretty neat.
EsoxLucius
Explorer
Apr 21, 2017
Bring your pocket book.
fanrgs
Explorer
Apr 24, 2017
Some astronomers in Denver have arranged a one-day bus trip to Nebraska for the eclipse. The total right now is 17 buses with 55 passengers each and the group is trying to find more buses for those on the waiting list. Not Rvers, but enough people to make the group one of the largest "communities" in western Nebraska!

Incidentally, every campground and RV park in western Nebraska is filled to capacity for the night of August 20.
MidWestMama
Explorer
May 20, 2017
fanrgs wrote:
Incidentally, every campground and RV park in western Nebraska is filled to capacity for the night of August 20.

Newbie here...

Some of the smaller towns in Nebraska are just starting to prepare for the Eclipse. If you look, there are still a lot of options available that are super affordable. For example, Hyannis, NE is expecting 2 minutes 19 seconds of totality and has some accommodations available with options for hook-ups, and space for camping. I think they are advertising at https://www.sandhillsareachamber.com/2017-solar-eclipse Just an hour south is a great lake for camping, fishing and boating-Lake McConaughy for the weekend before and days afterwards.

Best of luck and hope you all find great locations to view the Eclipse!! I'll be out in the middle of nowhere in the Nebraska Sandhills. :-)
pnichols
Explorer II
May 21, 2017
MidWestMama wrote:
I'll be out in the middle of nowhere in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Outstanding ... now that's the way to do it!!

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