I'm planning to head up Saturday; if those of you going up Friday (and coming back Saturday) wouldn't mind posting observing conditions there related to the smoke levels from the Miday/Heber fire, it would be appreciated, especially by those of us that have a 90+ minute drive commitment each way. Thanks, Rich --- David L Bennett <dlbennett@mac.com> wrote:
Howdy folks,
For those of you who may not be able to make it to Jerry & Cindy Foote's (is that Feet?) in Kanab this new moon weekend for the CCD seminar, please let me offer a 'cool' local alternative. On both Friday & Saturday nights - the 26th & 27th - there will be several of us heading to the higher climes of Wolf Creek to get up above any remaining smoke & haze in the valleys. I've spoken to people who are going up for just Friday, those going up for Saturday only, and a few diehards that will be up there for both nights, so pick and choose as need be.
A moment ago I spoke with a nice woman from the National Weather Service here in Salt Lake. She says that the smoke is mostly staying in the valleys along the Wasatch Front and will continue to dissipate throughout the heat of the days. There is a chance, as the smoke dissipates, that some will make its way west but she said our altitude at the site should be above the haze line.
I've included a link below to my homepage that has two maps that I have compiled to and of the site. The 1st shows the site in relation to Salt Lake (my apologies for my SugarhouseCentric view) and the 2nd shows the site in relation to the Wolf Creek Summit/Campground. The 2.5 mile dirt road from the Summit/Campground is not bad at all. I've driven it often in a Saturn sedan without any worries...just avoid the puddles if there are any. Note the photo in the map album of the 'Dead End' and 'Fuelwood Cutting Prohibited' signs. This is where you would turn LEFT (NNE) at the 1.7mi mark. The last time I was up there (June), one of the signs was hanging kind of skawampus from a series of bullet blasts so don't be surprised if it is missing altogether. Please feel free to direct any questions about the observing site or the weekend to me dlbennett@mac.com or call me at 583-3295.
http://homepage.mac.com/dlbennett/
Just click on 'Wolf Creek Maps'...my site is being revamped but the maps and photos from a few of the W.C. Fields star parties are the still available.
Hope to see some of you there! Regards, Dave Bennett
P.S. Below you'll find a written description to the site that was supplied graciously by Jo Grahn in an earlier email....(Thanks so much Jo!) Estimated travel time; 1 hour and 15-30 minutes ** depending on where you live in the Valley. **Unless of course you stop for pizza or a malt in Kamas!
P.P.S. Be sure to come prepared for a late September night at 9890 feet!!!! Bring lots of layers, thermals, moon-boots if you got 'em, and hot coffee/cocoa/possum/postum
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Take I-80 East (past Park City exit) to Exit 148. (Rt. 40 East). Stay to the right on the exit, as it splits. Head East on Rt. 40 to Exit 4. At the bottom of the exit ramp, go left towards Kamas. (I think this is Rt. 248, but I won't swear to it.) Follow this road as it winds through the hills to Kamas. In Kamas there is a stop sign at the intersection of this road and Rt. 32. Go right (South) on Rt. 32. Take Rt. 32 several miles to the intersection with Rt. 35 in Francis. Go left (East) on 35. You will go through Francis and Woodland and up past the Mill Hollow reservoir turnoff. Towards the top of the pass, you will see a sign for the Wolf Creek campground on your right. Go to and through the campground on a dirt rd, and continue on about two miles heading south, until you reach the edge of the world (ormaybe it just looks that way). The road comes to an abrupt "T". Go left, past the dead end sign, .8 miles. There is a beautiful wide grassy area to the right that Dave Bernson and Dave Bennett found several years ago. The sky is dark enough that the milky way casts a definite shadow.
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