I live in Oregon and we are expected to get approximately 1 million visitors to our State. I also live in an area that is expected to get 250 - 300,000 of those visitors. I know we have some members from Oregon on the SDMB and I’d like to hear how you are preparing. However, others may feel free and chime in.
I live in southern Indiana and I’m considering renting a car and driving down to Hopkinsville, Kentucky which is about a four hour drive. Although on the other hand in 2024 there is another one going very close to my hometown in Indiana so I may just end up seeing that one as my once in a lifetime experience.
We’ve booked a condo in a golf resort south of Bend. Planning on arriving (fully-stocked with groceries) on Friday, and leaving on Tuesday. A FOAF is being VERY doom-and-gloomy about the crowds, but even he approves of our plan. We’re driving up from the Bay Area and planning on staying with friends in Humboldt, and camping near Grant’s Pass on the way in.
I have relatives in Corvallis, so we’ll drive down Sunday and spend the night. We’ll see what the roads are looking like Monday and decide if we want to fight our way back to Portland that evening.
And if the forecast is for clouds in the valley, I’m heading east and crashing at araminty’s condo. That cool? 
As a former Oregonian, now living in San Francisco, this was one of the reasons I decided to take a pass. August in Oregon, especially the Willamette Valley or the coast, is no guarantee of blue skies, folks. But I wish y’all the best of luck.
By the way, araminty, you realize Bend and Sunriver aren’t in the path of totality? Are you going to try to head north a bit and catch it?
And on the other coast. . . while it’s certainly no PNW, overcast afternoons with occasional thunderstorms are pretty common. I’m in the path of totality, but whether or not I’ll actually see it remains to be seen.
I live in Albany, close to Corvallis. We’re in the path of totality. I realize that there may be morning fog, but we’ll have to hope for the best. Not much we can do otherwise on the day.
We have some family coming to stay, via train to avoid cars. I think some Dopers are planning to try and get here too.
We have several telescopes we’re planning to set up and also the eclipse glasses.
Here locally they are advising us to plan ahead as much as a week for things like gas, groceries, pet food, household supplies and prescriptions. I guess I’ll believe the forecasted level of congestion when I see it. Sounds armageddonish.
Yes, it does sound armagedonish! I live near San Francisco and am driving up to Idaho for it. A friend has a house that’s 1 hour from totality. On eclipse day we’re getting up early and heading out around 0600 to a pretty remote viewing spot. We’ll be in place around 0700-0730 and I’ll cook breakfast and we’ll hang out until it starts.
I’m hearing a lot about madding crowds. I hope to avoid them.
I’m bummed. I had plans to go Sunday night to a friend’s place in Philomath (near Corvallis), but they are running into unexpected extended illness in the family and have withdrawn their invitation to the friends they had hoped to host for this event.
I’m less than 20 miles from totality, but there are only two decent routes to get into the zone. They will be overrun. I’m half contemplating a convoluted logging road route to Alsea but could easily manage to get lost before I get there.
May have to settle for almost-totality.
That’s unfortunate that the Philomath family had to cancel. I hope it’s not a serious illness for them. But…
Don’t settle! Surely you could do something like waking up @0400 and driving north. I see that Alsea is only at the very southern edge of the totality path (USA - 2017 August 21 Total Solar Eclipse - Interactive Google Map - Xavier Jubier), and then you’d be somewhat trapped along OR-34 between Alsea and Flynn with not many options – unless you head out on the small or forest roads like BLM Road 10. Or heading to the top of Mary’s Peak may be an attractive option, but that’s still pretty far south of ℄, the center line.
Why not leave early, at zero dark thirty, and head past Scio and on out to the area of Fox Valley - Mill City - Niagara? Or a town with the interesting namr of Sublimity? OR-226 and OR-22 look like they might give you many options, all right along ℄. The key is heading out early. Consider heading out very early and packing a picnic breakfast or brunch. That’s what I will do.
LOL, so when I said “south” of Bend…! It’s really north of Bend, and within the path of totality.
Sorry for the tardy reply – missed your response.
We are of the same mind, and thanks for checking out some options I hadn’t previously considered. I’m northwest of Eugene, though, so it doesn’t make sense for me to try to head further east. I only need to fight my way north. I figured Alsea would be the closest I could get to totality, but if I managed to get that far and had time to keep heading north, I’d sure do that.
LOL, I’ll bet those logging roads could be busier than I’ve ever seen them. On a regular day, you can get lost for ages up there if you don’t know where you’re going, and you probably won’t have cell phone service, either.
Mary’s Peak is already expected to be swarmed, I’m afraid. I checked that out. Also all the wineries along Highway 99 have rented out space to eclipse observers and those are all sold out (as I would expect).
The problem is, I-5 is the main north/south route here. Every other road that heads in these directions are one-lane-each-way jobbies and there are precious few of those. Highway 99 West would be my usual choice. I have no problem with the idea of heading out at “zero dark thirty” just see how far I can get, but I’m positive I will be far from the only person who has this idea – and it might be gridlock even at 2:00 a.m.
Still, I’m set up to do it pretty easily with a Honda Element and a sleeping bag. I can pack a cooler and be set for 24-48 hours, with only bathroom considerations left undetermined. But those can be pretty big considerations… If I knew where to reliably find a loo, I’d just drive up Sunday night and “camp” in my car till the big event. I’m quite intrepid right up to the time I have to find a convenient private tree to… well… you get the idea. Especially if I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere with a few hundred fellow travelers. Also, the dachshund must accompany. He’s pretty easy, but he brings a few more considerations.
On a normal day, I can scoot up to Philomath/Corvallis in about 35-40 minutes. I just have no idea what to expect in that 48 hour period prior to the eclipse. Lots of people are coming in on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So again, even that early, the north/south routes may be hopelessly congested. There are simply very few options.
It would be more of an adventure if I could induce any of my friends to join me on the quest, but so far, no joy. They’re all mostly older married couples who are just not that interested and plan to hide out for the duration, staying off the roads.
All the same, thanks for taking an interest in my plight and trying to help me figure out some alternatives! Sorry for all the waffling. Good luck in your own quest!
“bathroom Facilities”= camping stores sell a toilet seat/lid that will fit on top of a 5 gallon bucket (think Home Depot shopping bucket) Put a trash bag in the bucket, put in a bit of kitty litter (have some extra litter to cover solids), snap on the toilet seat, toilet paper. Have a sheet with some clothes pins. If you are stuck on the side of the road: Open front car door, back car door, place bucket on ground between doors, drape sheet over the opening between the doors, and you are good to GO! I bought a 3’ x 3’ x 6’ tall pop-up shelter to put my portable potty in, so when I am camping, I don’t have to trek to the toilet facilities in the dark.
Good solution! I don’t yet have this setup, but I just might do this. Fortunately Mrs. Bullitt isn’t a frequent bathroom goer. But then again, recently she’s had some indigestion…
You would really want to head farther into the totality path. Checking the eclipse map, Alsea would get a very brief 14 seconds of totality, while Philomath would be just under 2 minutes. But I’m confident you’re doing your homework.
Understood. I still remember the tragic, terrible account in 2006 of a local man from San Francisco named James Kim (one article; and Wikipedia page) who got stranded on such a logging road about 50 miles NW of Grants Pass in Josephine County in the snow, with his wife and 2 daughters after Thanksgiving weekend. They got lost in snow on a BLM road at lat/long of 42.688611, -123.777222 (here is a map showing their apparent, stuck location). He tried to walk out and get help. In the end he died of exposure. Fortunately his wife and daughters were found and saved, but, very sad.
Y’know, this eclipse is starting to sound Armageddon-like. Real book of Revelation stuff. The survivalists might do well on eclipse day, while the rest of us might be stuck in traffic, miles from totality. Or maybe close enough to totality, but not quite in it, where we hear the tantalizing oohs and aahs from those survivalists. I hope not!
I get it! I get it! Please, stop with the descriptions, no need to go further. 
pudytat72 describes a good and simple solution. I might get set up for that. But I’m already thinking that the plastic bag will have to be near bullet-proof. Early visions of a used plastic bag tied up and bundled up in the back of my Jeep while driving around on twisty, bouncy roads… some disturbing visions (and odors) come to mind! :dubious: :mad: 
:smack:
And we’re set up similarly to your Element, with a Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2 sleeping bags.
That’s unfortunate. Maybe you’ll keep trying to find a good partner for the day, a true “trooper” who is flexible, accommodating, shares our sense of adventure, and makes for good company. Mrs. Bullitt is that way, besides also being loving and patient and forgiving – I am truly blessed, and am very grateful that she loves me.
Thank you, and you too! This will be my first TSE, and I hope it ends up being as good as all the hype. I am hopeful!
Er, guys, I’m in Albany, just east of Corvallis. If you can make it to me, I’ve got telescopes and viewing glasses. You can even camp in my yard and I have real toilets…
My folks are coming in on the train. Last I checked there are still tickets for the weekend. I’m not far from the train station.
Of course, camping is fun too. (Really - I like camping. :D)
Sunny Daze, that’s a most generous and kind offer. I was aware when you first made it, but at that time I thought I had this all worked out with my Corvallis friends. When things fell through, I figured you were already full up and didn’t want to push in at the last minute.
I have a few things I need to see if I can work out with respect to work obligations and also an animal caretaker for my livestock. If it’s ok with you, I’ll let you know by the end of the week if I am going to make a run for Albany and your place. 
Whether I can make it or not, thank you for offering!
My sister lives in San Diego. She’s going to stay with some friends in the Portland area, and hopefully watch it from there.
Me? I’ll look at the weather reports, and head the day before in a direction that could take me anywhere from western Nebraska to Kentucky or Tennessee. I hope to land in the St. Louis area (totality brushes the southern 'burbs) but of course that can’t be guaranteed.
I predict that in most populated areas, food and, ahem, facilities probably won’t be an issue. You just know that there will be food trucks, Scout troops, church groups, etc. selling food and beverages, and the Porta-Potty rental companies will make a shitload of money. (Pun intended.)
I’m thinking of strapping the kayak on the Subaru and heading up to Olallie Lake. It’s as near as dammit to path of totality and is less likely to be swarmed than Detroit Lake. I bet I can find a spot to put my boat in no matter how booked the campgrounds are and it’s at almost 5K feet elevation so chances of a clear morning in late August are pretty good. If I leave early I can head out on NF 46 and sneak up on it.
The point about weather is well taken, but the time of year that Oregon is most likely to have clear skies in the morning is late August. I wouldn’t bet on it for the coast, though.
I’m going to avoid most of the traffic problems by bicycling. I live in Beaverton and have a brother who’s house is in south Salem. He has a spare room that no one else in the family wants for unaccountable reasons. I originally was going to cycle down that morning, but since he has the room, I’ll go down the day before. I’ve already cycled to his house earlier this month, so I know how long it’ll take me (about three and a half hours – 60-some miles).