Eclipse!

We made the decision that, despite the potential crowds

and traffic congestion, that Dixie Butte, east of Prairie City, OR 

would be the best place to view the eclipse. 

At 7500 ft. elevation, it's the highest

point for many miles, and the 360° view would allow

us to see the shadow approach and recede and get

the full effect of the sunrise/sunset all around the horizon.

This was the beautiful base camp, about a 3 mile hike from 

the top, on the evening before.

The crowds weren't a problem at all. To the contrary, 

these were only the most committed ecliptomaniacs.

Nerdstock!

Totalitarians!

The temperature dropped, the coyotes howled, 

the stars came out. We laughed; we cried; we cheered.

I stared directly at the sun! Through binoculars!

This is what I saw:

And so it passed.

The Search Continues...

The moon and the sun appear closest together 

on the day of the full moon, so as the day

approaches the sliver becomes harder to find.

This was taken on 08.18.17, three days before the eclipse.

 Still looking for the best place to view the eclipse

we checked out Greenhorn, OR, the highest (no, not weed high)

incorporated city in Oregon; official population: zero.

Olive lake

 This is a truck that firefighters use 

to fight forest fires, rampant this year.

Sumpter, OR is home to this gold dredge.

Floating in a pond of its own making that moved

along with the dredge as it gobbled up 

dirt and rocks and extracted gold and left 

mountains poisonous tailings in its wake.