10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,0 days and counting - Eclipse in Northern NH - Where you going to be ?
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NHChris
Active member
Sounds like gas for sure.
And do buy that shirt. I can't tell you how many time I did not and regretted it when I got home!
Nessmuk
Active member
from the shore of Lake Ontario near Watertown NY. High variable thickness clouds. this is the best I could do with that. yesterday was solid blue sky horizon to horizon.
Nessmuk
Active member
It was busy in Jackman, estimates are 30K people came to the area over the weekend. Traffic outbound was bumper-to-bumper on US 201 all the way to Skowhegan - about 70 miles. Coming back from where I viewed the eclipse in West Forks I say maybe 10 vehicles northbound. All in all it wasn’t bad at all, I hope some of the visitors found other things we have to offer up here and come back sometime.
I drove about 12 miles down a logging road and snowshoed up a small (2400’) peak. Going was rough because my route turned from hardwood to dense evergreen, I stopped on a hilltop (1800ish feet) lower than the summit because it took me an hour to go 1/2 mile and I had 1.5 miles to go an hour before totality. The camera battery I charged Friday or Saturday was dead
so I only had my phone. The view was better than the pics suggest.
I drove about 12 miles down a logging road and snowshoed up a small (2400’) peak. Going was rough because my route turned from hardwood to dense evergreen, I stopped on a hilltop (1800ish feet) lower than the summit because it took me an hour to go 1/2 mile and I had 1.5 miles to go an hour before totality. The camera battery I charged Friday or Saturday was dead
so I only had my phone. The view was better than the pics suggest.Attachments
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TEO
Well-known member
Andrew
Active member
Agreed. Initially was going to take the event in stride at home with partial, but the encouragement from others here to seek totality (which for us only 20 minutes away) was a world of difference, that was cool.
We sat in a crowd and one of the coolest things was a disco ball hanging in one of the display tents. It reflected little crescent suns all over the place and made everyone giggle.
It was interesting that a huge traffic tie-up occurred very late in the evening in Bethlehem (8:30-10:30 or so), with what I can only guess was the after-dinner crowd working down from the far north NH, and seeking every short cut on town roads that their phones were directing them to. Police actually shut down some of the town roads that were being utilized through tight residential neighborhoods.
My guess is Waze was redirecting traffic around jammed roads I saw that in Berlin. When I finally broke free of traffic jamb at the lights in Gorham I encountered a lot of traffic with out of state plates head east towards Gorham I expect they were trying to avoid southbound traffic jambs to the west at Franconia Parkway. I was up early this morning and I could hear a lot of traffic on RT 2 going in both directions.
No S&R reports on NH F&G, my guess is the folks were up late so it may lag a few days but hopefully no one got hurt trying to view the eclipse.
No S&R reports on NH F&G, my guess is the folks were up late so it may lag a few days but hopefully no one got hurt trying to view the eclipse.
sierra
Well-known member
I went up the to Castle of the Clouds area to get a hike in on what was a magnificent day. Only a few cars in the area and a couple of telescopes set up. I got my gear ready and headed up Mt. Roberts. Spring snow and a popular trail for tourist lent to very boney and postholed trail conditions. I strapped on my snowshoes and made the best of it. It was a brilliant day and the 100% sun and peace and quiet of the trail was just about as pleasant as a hike could be. As I emerged from the woods, a new world had been born, there were thousands of people everywhere, my car was swallowed up by the crowd. I meandered my way through the masses and got to my car, loaded my gear, changed and off we went to beat the crowd home. No regrets on missing that cluster you know what coming home from far North, I'm all set. #147 52wav peaks done, my dog gets a steak for 150.
Daniel Eagan
Active member
Great conditions at North Hero, a few high, filtering clouds but the sun was always present.
Most of the eclipse matched those I've seen before: some darkening like dusk, or clouds before a storm.
The totality was unreal. The last few seconds before totality, darkness dropped like a curtain. With views north and south on Lake Champlain, you could see the extent of the shadow, with sunlight that looked like sunset beyond. We saw the flare on the southwest rim of the sun. It got noticeably colder.
When it was over we turned east and watched the shadow depart over Mt. Mansfield.
We stayed an extra day and avoided most of the traffic home. In the short life I have left I will never forget the eerieness of descending dark. Definitely do not regret all the hassle and expense experiencing this.
Most of the eclipse matched those I've seen before: some darkening like dusk, or clouds before a storm.
The totality was unreal. The last few seconds before totality, darkness dropped like a curtain. With views north and south on Lake Champlain, you could see the extent of the shadow, with sunlight that looked like sunset beyond. We saw the flare on the southwest rim of the sun. It got noticeably colder.
When it was over we turned east and watched the shadow depart over Mt. Mansfield.
We stayed an extra day and avoided most of the traffic home. In the short life I have left I will never forget the eerieness of descending dark. Definitely do not regret all the hassle and expense experiencing this.
JoshandBaron
Well-known member
That was the most awesome thing I have ever seen. Very emotional. We had perfect viewing conditions from our cabin on a hilltop in Atkinson, ME. The views included the entirety of the 100 Mile Wilderness, capped by Katahdin at the end. I watched with my dram of Lagavulin as Katahdin went completely dark and the shadow raced towards us. I was thrilled not to be in a crowd of people, everything went totally quiet when we were cloaked by the shadow. The planets came out. 360 degrees of sunset. I couldn't bring myself to bother to take a photograph or video for our 48 seconds of totality. Amazing.
There was no traffic for the drive up on Sunday morning. We got the last parking spots at Bissell Brothers in Milo but it was only moderately crowded. Highly recommend them for anyone heading up to Baxter, the food was spectacular (Beard nominated) and everything is very reasonably priced. No traffic coming home on Tuesday. Thank you to anyone who encouraged us to experience totality. It was easily worth all the time and expense.
There was no traffic for the drive up on Sunday morning. We got the last parking spots at Bissell Brothers in Milo but it was only moderately crowded. Highly recommend them for anyone heading up to Baxter, the food was spectacular (Beard nominated) and everything is very reasonably priced. No traffic coming home on Tuesday. Thank you to anyone who encouraged us to experience totality. It was easily worth all the time and expense.
We had a terrific experience with the eclipse in Millinocket, in the path of totality. We went up early, and walked around downtown on Penobscot Ave Saturday evening, seeing next to no one though the Scootic In was full. But then on Monday, there were many folks walking around, sitting on the lawn of Heritage Plaza, some with a telescopes, and more milling around Veterans Park, with food and vendors. We watched a Native American blessing song and drum circle at the Wabakaki healing and recovery center.
Our vantage point was a deck on a home about a block from the festivities. There was quite a cheer from the crowds as the eclipse went into totality. A friend noted, there was a hole of utter blackness in the sky where the sun had just been; it was both haunting and magnificent. We speculated how folks before modern astronomy and calculations of future eclipses would have maybe only just heard about the phenomenon, and were it to occur, would catch everyone by surprise.
As the Moon moved on over, the first bit of sunlight returned as a burst of intense bright light. Again, hoots and hollers from downtown. We heard a flock of geese quacking at the change. It had gotten colder, and the light in totality was like dusk all around.
Almost immediately after that, while there was still an hour's worth of Moon-on-Sun viewing to do, vehicles began exiting towards the interstate. We saw a number of small propeller planes and four private jets depart from the local airport. The town facebook page and others have noted the jets, and all the visitors, hoping that they return.
Some pics. Really hard to capture it all. Second Katahdin photo is from Knife Edge brewing and pizza at NEOC.
- Joseph
During the main event I enjoyed a Bissell Brothers Umbra, a special eclipse stout, with can artwork showing the celestial alignment of the eclipse. I didn't notice it was a Maine brew until I saw your post above. Will have to try their food.
Our vantage point was a deck on a home about a block from the festivities. There was quite a cheer from the crowds as the eclipse went into totality. A friend noted, there was a hole of utter blackness in the sky where the sun had just been; it was both haunting and magnificent. We speculated how folks before modern astronomy and calculations of future eclipses would have maybe only just heard about the phenomenon, and were it to occur, would catch everyone by surprise.
As the Moon moved on over, the first bit of sunlight returned as a burst of intense bright light. Again, hoots and hollers from downtown. We heard a flock of geese quacking at the change. It had gotten colder, and the light in totality was like dusk all around.
Almost immediately after that, while there was still an hour's worth of Moon-on-Sun viewing to do, vehicles began exiting towards the interstate. We saw a number of small propeller planes and four private jets depart from the local airport. The town facebook page and others have noted the jets, and all the visitors, hoping that they return.
Some pics. Really hard to capture it all. Second Katahdin photo is from Knife Edge brewing and pizza at NEOC.
- Joseph
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Looks like we just burned up lot of positive karma credits for weather like we had on Monday 
Glad to see you had a good time in Millinocket. Some day some how they will catch a break.
There is a soon to be new entrance to Katahdin Woods and Waters through the new big chunk of Tribal land that will start near Millinocket so that is going to be plus to both communities.
Glad to see you had a good time in Millinocket. Some day some how they will catch a break.
There is a soon to be new entrance to Katahdin Woods and Waters through the new big chunk of Tribal land that will start near Millinocket so that is going to be plus to both communities.
injektilo
Active member
I enjoyed the eclipse with the fam here in midcoast Maine. Took a bunch of afocal photos through my telescope. Here's one...
Bernerbabe
Member
Yes, but were they Lear jets?
Only if they were headed to Nova Scotia?
Probably should have gone to upstate NY instead - now for the eclipse, then come back in a couple months for the Belmont (at Saratoga, where their horse will naturally win).
OK, maybe that's a bit too much of the song?
I used the Flightradar24 app to check on a couple of them, and saw a Cessna Citation, and a I think a Gulfstream. Not sure models at this time. We tracked a couple of them to NYC and to Long Island -- 1%'ers having a fun day trip. You can see a couple of the jets in my first Katahdin pic, though there's little detail to be seen.
The town of Millinocket posted this on their facebook page. I'll put the link below. I looked up the black one, an Embraer from New York. Someone on the post comments that billionaire Jim Koch, of Sam Adams brewing, flew up in that one. Not sure how they would know, but it's possible. I drove by the airport that morning, taking trash to the dump, and noticed lines of folding chairs, portapotties, food tables etc set up within the airport fence -- no need to mix with the common folks in town!
The town of Millinocket posted this on their facebook page. I'll put the link below. I looked up the black one, an Embraer from New York. Someone on the post comments that billionaire Jim Koch, of Sam Adams brewing, flew up in that one. Not sure how they would know, but it's possible. I drove by the airport that morning, taking trash to the dump, and noticed lines of folding chairs, portapotties, food tables etc set up within the airport fence -- no need to mix with the common folks in town!
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JoshandBaron
Well-known member
I once sat next to Koch on a Southwest flight. I guess he doesn't fly economy anymore.
hikeritz
Active member
I was flying back from Amsterdam to Boston, and hoped our flight path would cross the eclipse path, but we actually had a tail wind (usually a headwind when flying in that direction) and were about half an hour ahead of schedule. As we passed about 100 miles east of Bangor ME, the pilot announced that the slightly darker skies to the west were about the best we were going to get. On the plus side, the snow-capped Presidentials stood out clearly in the distance!
Digging through my phone I found this shot during totality. Cannon and Lafayette are visible south of the eclise. ![20240408_152939[1].jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/vftt/data/attachments/3/3453-0bb1954aeee4526d39ec8ce615df57c7.jpg "20240408_152939[1].jpg")
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