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Self-sufficient Eclipse Chasers Hit the Road To 'Totality' (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the talk-of-the-town dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Michael Zeiler packed his portable toilet then headed out on a 10-hour drive from New Mexico to Wyoming where, on Monday, he intends to mark the ninth time he has seen the moon pass in front of the sun in a total solar eclipse. Zeiler is a self-described "eclipse chaser," part of a group of avid astronomy buffs, telescope hobbyists and amateur photographers whose passion for such celestial events takes them to the far corners of the earth. For the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in the United States in almost a century, and the first visible anywhere in the Lower 48 states since 1979, Zeiler had only to drive some 650 miles (1,046 km) from the desert Southwest to the Rockies. He showed up prepared and early on Wednesday at his destination in Casper, Wyoming, within the "path of totality," the corridor over which the moon's 70-mile-wide shadow will be cast as it crosses the United States over 93 minutes. Along that path at the height of the eclipse on Aug. 21, the sun will be completely blotted out except for its outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

23 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. First. To the isolated spot in the wilderness. by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

    First. To the isolated spot in the wilderness.

    >> Hey, that place you posted on your account, we're here too, and we brought our phones and some kids.

    F**k

  2. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

    That sounds like something an eclipse totalitarian would say!

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  3. Self-sufficient by Osgeld · · Score: 2

    packed his portable toilet

    Really, never heard of sitting on a log or digging a hole ... I dont think its really "Self-sufficient" if the main thing to mention is a portable toilet

    1. Re:Self-sufficient by sysrammer · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, he packed it himself, and he considers it sufficient...

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    2. Re:Self-sufficient by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      But it's a smart toilet, it syncs up to his smart phone.

    3. Re:Self-sufficient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      > Really, never heard of sitting on a log or digging a hole...

      Those are unsanitary things to do that are illegal in many jurisdictions.

      > I dont think its really "Self-sufficient" if the main thing to mention is a portable toilet

      It's just as justifiable to complain that he's driving around in a car (or even eating food) that didn't come from a universe that he created from scratch.

      A portable chemical toilet is far more sanitary (and much better for the health of the environment) than simply shitting wherever you feel like it.

    4. Re:Self-sufficient by Osgeld · · Score: 1

      well I have heard it all now, a chemical toilet designed to KILL THINGS submerged in it is better for the environment, how has the earth survived all this time

    5. Re:Self-sufficient by riverat1 · · Score: 1

      The issue is if a bunch of people do that in a relatively small area it becomes a problem. There's going to be lots of people out looking at the eclipse.

  4. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by sysrammer · · Score: 3, Funny

    I imagine he'll take umbrage at that.

    --
    His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  5. Re:First. To the isolated spot in the wilderness. by sysrammer · · Score: 1

    "You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye"

    --
    His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  6. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Deadstick · · Score: 1

    An official near here made a sensible recommendation: Make sure you have water, food, first aid and a full tank of gas. With that, you can deal with most of the problems. But there's gonna be traffic jams, accidents, shortage of emergency personnel, and general pissed-offness.

    By one estimate, the population of Oregon will be up by 25%.

    Not a bad idea to plan on an extra day, or half-day. Huge crowds gather in a progressive way, but when the event is over, they all want to leave now.

  7. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Darinbob · · Score: 1

    First person to hit the moon wins!

  8. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Darinbob · · Score: 1

    (2) Idiots pulling cars with hot underparts on grassy areas and starting brush fires.

    I misread that as "hot underpants". That was a disturbing visual.

  9. I, the benevolent lord of /.,... by mapkinase · · Score: 1

    I, the benevolent lord of /., impose an obligatory minimum Youtube tax on every eclipse watcher. If you do not make a nice video of this, you are just worthless waster of my oxygen.

    --
    I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
  10. I'll just use my own toilet thank you. by riverat1 · · Score: 1

    My road trip consists of walking out my front door. I might walk over to the park two blocks from my house. Weather report for Monday in Salem, Oregon is sunny so I'm all set.

  11. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    I imagine he'll take umbrage at that.

    *rimshot*

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  12. Re:mini-disaster in the making by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    I live to the north in Washington and the traffic in Oregon is already reported as being epic- backups for 5 to 10 miles in places already and it's only Friday.

    You couldn't get me to drive down to Oregon right now for *anything*.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  13. Re:mini-disaster in the making by bobm · · Score: 1

    The fire service agrees, I sat next to fire fighter in the Phoenix airport who will be up in Idaho because they think a lot of fires will get started.

  14. On I-90 doing the same by Strider- · · Score: 1

    Three geeks in a VW Westfalia, cameras, telescopes, and suitable camping supplies, a big solar panel and a bunch of batteries. Trundling down I-90. Our goal is an isolated spot in Idaho or Wyoming.

    --
    ...si hoc legere nimium eruditionis habes...
  15. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by sysrammer · · Score: 1

    I'll be here all week, folks! Mondays are dark days, of course.

    --
    His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  16. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Gavagai80 · · Score: 1

    All those things make it sound like just another average day.

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    This space intentionally left blank
  17. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    I'll be here all week, folks! Mondays are dark days, of course.

    In all fairness the review did say, "Great food, but no atmosphere."

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  18. Re:I'll make a point of crapping in the back yard by riverat1 · · Score: 1

    The difference between 98% and totality is the difference between night and day. It was spectacular to see the total eclipse earlier today.

    But there are people in the world who have no interest in things like this. I don't understand how they aren't interested but they aren't.