Planning for April 2024 total solar eclipse! (thoughts?)

[BillOh]

This year we get our camper out of storage on 4/1. (Ohio) Will probably camp right away and looking forward to a lot more camping this year as this is the first year we have a new (dependable camper) But I'm already planning ahead for 2024. Our home in Columbus is just inside the area of totality for the solar eclipse of April 2024. I would consider making a reservation as soon as they become available, but with astronomical events (long time amateur astronomer) the event is very weather dependent and weather is iffy in April in Ohio.

I guess that means either boon docking, or waiting till about a week before the event and picking a spot. Anyone planning for this event? My first thought is make a KOA reservation at Wapakoneta Ohio as it would be cancelable (need to review their policy) as we like that campground - (IF you ever stay there, go to the Neil Armstrong museum!) But I want to be free to head anywhere up to the day before. May go anywhere from Paducah KY, or Erie PA- Erie is where I was born and we frequently camp there.

 

[kitphantom]

We're in the SW, out of the path of totality, so we'll just see what we can. In any part of the country, weather is always the unknown. My cousin lives near Rochester, NY, and knows someone having an eclipse party, which would be a good excuse to visit the area, but I am not traveling across the country in April.
For the last eclipse, we had plans to meet friends in Wyoming, at Gros Ventre CG in Grand Teton NP, which was in the path of totality. A total eclipse had been on that husband's bucket list, so they made their way there ahead of time (FCFS campground). We canceled, since there were wildfires nearby, and we didn't want to deal with the smoke, for health reasons, and for fear it would cloud the view. Our friends were happy with the view there, but the wife ended up in urgent care due to the smoke exposure.
We camped in Colorado, not totality. The campground was nearly empty, which was a surprise. It did get dark enough to be interesting, and we had a good view of the partial eclipse from our campsite.

The path of the annular eclipse this year goes right over our house - we'll be on our way home from Grand Canyon, so won't have the best view of it.

 

[vagov]

I be up for either ohio or Erie pa. Will keep a eye on thread as more develops

 

[kcsa75]

For the last eclipe, my college roommate, who I hadn't seen in person in 30 years, came back from Maine and we tent camped in a farmer's pasture near Atchison, KS. It was overcast so didn't get a great view of the eclipse but it was kind of wierd when it got dark at three in the afternoon.

 

[Susan Premo]

We're in the SW, out of the path of totality, so we'll just see what we can. In any part of the country, weather is always the unknown. My cousin lives near Rochester, NY, and knows someone having an eclipse party, which would be a good excuse to visit the area, but I am not traveling across the country in April.
For the last eclipse, we had plans to meet friends in Wyoming, at Gros Ventre CG in Grand Teton NP, which was in the path of totality. A total eclipse had been on that husband's bucket list, so they made their way there ahead of time (FCFS campground). We canceled, since there were wildfires nearby, and we didn't want to deal with the smoke, for health reasons, and for fear it would cloud the view. Our friends were happy with the view there, but the wife ended up in urgent care due to the smoke exposure.
We camped in Colorado, not totality. The campground was nearly empty, which was a surprise. It did get dark enough to be interesting, and we had a good view of the partial eclipse from our campsite.

The path of the annular eclipse this year goes right over our house - we'll be on our way home from Grand Canyon, so won't have the best view of it.

Wow, I'm glad you didn't go!

 

[BikeNFish]

We attended the 2017 eclipse but almost missed it because of overcast skies on the day of the eclipse.

We traveled 475 miles from MN to Kansas. We made our camping reservations early and booked six nights for a nice mini vacation. It was only our second overall trip with our N2U popup. We stayed at Sycamore Springs Campground near Sabetha Kansas. I highly recommend it as a campground. It is under new ownership since we stayed there, but it appears the new owners have made many improvements.

We had sunny weather on the four prior days before the eclipse and then it clouded up on the day of. Luckily, the clouds parted a few minutes before totality, stay parted throughout totality, then clouded over just after the diamond ring. This alone made the trip worthwhile.

We plan on traveling for the 2024 eclipse, however this trip will be a minimum of 670 miles. Anyone that is traveling to the 2024 eclipse must understand that there is no guarantee that the weather will cooperate. You can only cross your fingers.

 

[BillOh]

I be up for either ohio or Erie pa. Will keep a eye on thread as more develops

I'll be here till the day I assume! Erie would be good for me as I grew up there. But I'll be ready to go where needed, as a Pennsylvanian I'm sure you are aware of what April weather is like. Could be 20, could be 85f!

PS to anyone the pricing on eclipse glasses will likely go up in 2024, buy some now. I will have an expensive 16" solar filter that a few people can stand under with me, from an old telescope. I just also realized this trip will be some of the last vacation time I ever use. Planning on retiring 6/14/2024

 

[BillOh]

We had sunny weather on the four prior days before the eclipse and then it clouded up on the day of. Luckily, the clouds parted a few minutes before totality, stay parted throughout totality, then clouded over just after the diamond ring. This alone made the trip worthwhile.

We plan on traveling for the 2024 eclipse, however this trip will be a minimum of 670 miles. Anyone that is traveling to the 2024 eclipse must understand that there is no guarantee that the weather will cooperate. You can only cross your fingers.

Good post, thanks for sharing. The 2nd paragraph is especially true for this part of the country in April and is one reason I started this thread. No matter what people think of meteorologists these days, Predicting has gotten better. Since the eclipse is on a Monday I am sure we will drive home on a Tuesday, but figure out where we plan to go 3- 5 days out.

 

[PopUpSteve]

If you have never seen an eclipse in totality, I highly recommend you take this opportunity to experience one. I did in 2017 down at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. I was so lucky, had a beautiful clear sky for the event.

While everyone else have their cameras looking up, I mounted my GoPro on the top of my flagpole, looking down on my campsite. Here's the video.

2017-08-21 09.17.00.mov

Shared with Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[BillOh]

Great video! That just reminded me to get my go pro charged and ready! (glad I started this thread early. ) Maybe I'll put my drone up a few hundred feet looking down. Some time in the late 80s or early 90s we were in an area with about 85% coverage here in Columbus, this video has solidified I want to make the effort to get to a 100% coverage area.

 

[BikeNFish]

That just reminded me to get my go pro charged and ready!

Check your batteries. Two of my five batteries started bulging in the past three month and I had to replace them. If they bulge inside of the GoPro, they will get jammed in there.

 

[PopUpSteve]

So I wouldn't have a battery issue, I have a 30 foot USB cable I ran down the flagpole to a portable batter pack.

 

[Hilldweller]

... I would consider making a reservation as soon as they become available, but with astronomical events (long time amateur astronomer) the event is very weather dependent and weather is iffy in April in Ohio.

...

Make the reservation as early as possible in your favorite location. Screw the weather. The eclipse will happen whether you can see it or not, right? Party on.




...you can always cancel or change things as you move along...

 

[Lug_Nut]

Intending to head to the Great White North to experience that 2024 event, a second experience for me ( https://www.popupportal.com/threads/what-is-camping-pictures-only.72662/page-32#post-1163068 ), but first time for her. As P-upSteve said, if you can do it, do it.
It was absolutely clear there in southwest N.C. in 2017 until the blockage of sunlight cooled the air enough for condensation to form into clouds. They dissipated again shortly after totality ended.
We don't have firm plans for 2024, no reservations made, so we are not committed (should be, but aren't).
I on the other hand will be in the dark, even if I just drive up for the day and then back that night.

 

[BillOh]

Check your batteries. Two of my five batteries started bulging in the past three month and I had to replace them. If they bulge inside of the GoPro, they will get jammed in there.

Another good reason I started this thread early! Plenty of time to weed those out and make sure i have good ones for the GroPro and Drone.

 

[jmkay1]

Date wise I might actually be able to take time off to see it for once. Distance is going to be about 9 hours towing Traffic will also be interesting and probably will add to that time. So doable and still leave myself "some" daylight to set up. Now weather can be all over the map that time of year and in my experience rain more often than not. After all April showers bring the may flowers.

 

[Hilldweller]

Date wise I might actually be able to take time off to see it for once. Distance is going to be about 9 hours towing Traffic will also be interesting and probably will add to that time. So doable and still leave myself "some" daylight to set up. Now weather can be all over the map that time of year and in my experience rain more often than not. After all April showers bring the may flowers.

We might take a week off and go to LBL in KY. Get a nice sized group. Not that far from VA.

 

[Econ]

We were a half mile from the center of the totality path in 2017. Once you have seen totality, you will visit any country in South or North America to see it again.

There is an annular solar eclipse in Oct, 2023. May use that as a practice run. I have never been to an annular.

Here's my thread from 2019, 3 pages

Solar Eclipse, 8 April 2024

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/april-8-2024/ I have been to 2 total solar eclipses and will attend all totals in north, central and northern south America til they plant me. A 95% eclipse does not begin to compare to a total. The plan is to set up a base camp then 24 hours out decide...

www.popupportal.com

The weather bureau was called and asked them for probabilities based on historic weather patterns. Looks like i am going to South Texas.

 

[Anthony Hitchings]

Check your batteries. Two of my five batteries started bulging in the past three month and I had to replace them. If they bulge inside of the GoPro, they will get jammed in there.

For any device that I value, I remove alkaline AA and AAA bateries if the device is not going to be used in the near future. Its a bit of a PITA but worth it in the long run.

Once in a great while I encounter a device that truly has a user friendly battery compartment door system (e.g., Dewalt Laser distance meter) as opposed to the tiny Phillips head screw closing screw that is much more common (e.g., Sperry DVMs)

I have never had a problem with Lithium batteries of any type bulging.

 

[Sjm9911]

I was planning on the lake george region or niagra falls, unfortunately many campgrounds are not open that time of year, wonder if they will open a few weeks early for this event?