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And we absolutely must have an eastside alternate site.

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I'm probably going to take the trailer back to Dallesport for the winter, two or three weekends from now. Steve & John, you two Columbia Gorge guys (or anyone else), do you have any interest in meeting me, to evaluate my G/dale property as a possible alternative site?

And as for Ike Kinswa, I'll hold off on my vote until I get a chance to go down & take a look at the place. It strikes me that it is subject to the same weather as MSH, and with its location down by the river (and much closer to Centralia/Chehalis) I doubt if the skies are any darker or the horizons any wider than MSH. We really need a dry-side location.

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Mike
Look! Up in the sky!
_____________________________
XT 10i - the i stands for Telrad
Megrez II 80 ED Triplet APO "Punk"
Siebert Black Night BVs
8 X 42 Celestron Regals

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Well, here's the problem I see. The portable bathroom!

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I can cancel the portable toilet up until 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the event. The company that's been hauling it out to Mt. St. Helens wouldn't be able to take it to another location unless it was within about that same distance of their home in Longview. We would need to make arrangements for the alternate site or choose a site that already has facilities (the State Park does).

We saw how great MSH can be last September. On a good night the skies are better than Table Mt. The trouble is guessing when the weather will cooperate. For example, this year the previous weekend would have been great at MSH.

What we need is flexibility, either in date or location or both.

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Tom (Pegster)
DSH-8 (GSO Dob)
15x70 Oberwerks
SVP 100 f/6 achro
WO 66 Petzval
Sears Discoverer EQ 60/900
8x42 Regals




History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
Thucydides

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I know I'm the one that set up the poll but I still haven't voted. I'm with Mike...I need to see Ike Kinswa in person...The only real reason for choosing it is because we can camp there and they have facilities, etc...

Mike - Happy Birthday!!!

Maybe we should check out your Goldendale location as well for our eastside location...tell us a little bit about it. As I've said, I am willing to travel to get there.

Rob, you're close enough for a planned outing, just kind of tough for us Oregonians with potential family participants for a spur of the moment visit.

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I know... that's what I'm sayin....

I takes me 2.5 hours to get to Portland from here, going through Shelton. Still, if one wanted to make a short trip up for a nice Friday, or Saturday party, it is very possible, and I would put them up for free.....

I'm just getting weary of planing these long awated parties, to only have them rained out. Knowing in advance that the weekend will be nice, and *throwing* a party together on the spur of the moment isn't a problem for me....but is for others, as you have pointed out.
My other issue is bringing LBM.....I WANT him at parties, and to bring him all the way to just be rained on isn't my cup of tea. He likes his OC. An I don't blame him..

Rob (what to do)

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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
Providing a great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.

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I know I'm the one that set up the poll but I still haven't voted. I'm with Mike...I need to see Ike Kinswa in person...The only real reason for choosing it is because we can camp there and they have facilities, etc...

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Camping and facilities are a PLUS!


(I might be able to check it out on Wednesday ...I'll post picts of the place if it happens)

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Maybe we should check out your Goldendale location as well for our eastside location...tell us a little bit about it. As I've said, I am willing to travel to get there.

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Yes, tell us more Mike.

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Equipment Overload!
Kerry.

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I'm probably going to take the trailer back to Dallesport for the winter, two or three weekends from now. Steve & John, you two Columbia Gorge guys (or anyone else), do you have any interest in meeting me, to evaluate my G/dale property as a possible alternative site?

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Keep us posted ont he date you will be heading over Mike, I might be up for that...might even bring the scope too.

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Equipment Overload!
Kerry.

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Yes, tell us more Mike

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Okay then, here's the bird's eye lowdown on that caper, whatever that means:

First, on Google Earth's LP overlay the property is located in the center of the "light black" area (one tone darker than TMSP), between the illumination sources of Goldendale (pop. 3500) and The Dalles (larger but light blocked by a ridge.) The elevation is around 1750'. There are no floodlights in the immediate vicinity; *but* when I was last there in June the first stages of property improvement in a neighboring lot were happening.

There's about 1/2 mi. of gravel on county road after blacktop (some dust kicked up while driving), not counting driveway. Gravel driveway goes along the south border of the property, maybe 50 yd. from the elevated portion of the 20 acre lot, which is the best place for setting up (it's where I'll some day build an observatory.)

The property is totally unimproved. This means that from the common driveway a vehicle would have to negotiate a bit of a ditch to get onto the lot, but I think with care passenger cars could do this with little trouble. Setup would be, as I said, roughly 50 yd. from the driveway on low (nothing above mid-calf) scrub and grasses. There's plenty of room for setting up gear, car camping, tents, etc., etc.

The horizon is essentially uncluttered in all directions except south. The ground rises to the south, but not dramatically. While I haven't attempted to measure anything, I'd guess that the horizon to the south is roughly 10 deg. above horizontal. On a clear day the top 1000' or so of Mt. Hood to the SW is visible.

So summarizing, I'd describe the property as rough, but in a good location, and totally lacking amenities other than what we bring & rent (honey bucket.) I'd want someone else to give me a sanity check before I recommend it without reservation.

I'll attach a couple of pictures, taken in April '06, which might help.

First, here's the view to the north, with Mt. Adams in the background.

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Mike
Look! Up in the sky!
_____________________________
XT 10i - the i stands for Telrad
Megrez II 80 ED Triplet APO "Punk"
Siebert Black Night BVs
8 X 42 Celestron Regals

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Keep us posted ont he date you will be heading over Mike, I might be up for that...might even bring the scope too.

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I'll post a note once I figure out when I'm going, and I'll try to give at least a couple of days' warning, or even better a week or so. The more the merrier! You're welcome to stay and observe, spend the night, whatever.

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Mike
Look! Up in the sky!
_____________________________
XT 10i - the i stands for Telrad
Megrez II 80 ED Triplet APO "Punk"
Siebert Black Night BVs
8 X 42 Celestron Regals

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