Telescope Reviews: Visit-Goldendale SP Site

I went to the site both Saturday and Sunday nights.

8/11
Left home at 4:45pm, arrived 6:45pm. No clouds-96*, but feels cooler. Breeze from the SE 3-5mph.

Access to the site: Turn onto Pinto which turns right (West)putting you on Appaloosa Ct. There are three roads to the right. The second one is the main entry for the star party field (where the tent trailer is). It might be hard for large trailers to make this turn-also lots of ruts in the road for about 20 ft-cars no problem! If you continue up the hill to the third road, a large trailer or RV can enter the site. (this entry is across from a large gate to the South). This is on top of the hill with the main area downhill to the North. Here's a image of it (I hope)-

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2Fmaps%2FtWEA5&aq=&sll=45.793906,-120.96017&sspn=0.004114,0.010418&vpsrc=0&t=h&gl=us&ie=UTF8&z=17

Secondly-after making either the second right or going up the hill to the top and trying to drive downhill (or just setting up on top-it's a short walk)you'll come to a berm that has a compound gentle 3 ft drop. Again cars and trucks-no problem, but larger trailers and RVs are going to want to take very it slow-plenty of room to park after that. Look carefully at the map. Don't forget-it's going to take a really wide turn to get back onto the dirt road. One of the images that someone had sent to me shows "the biggest TAS trailer" I'd be very interested to hear how they got in.

This third entry is for 'leave early' parking and can accommodate 5-7 RVs. The main area will accommodate another 15 or so. The main area has plenty of tent/car camping.

Goldendale in due East and slightly North. 5*high x 15*wide light bubble Zero impact for imaging or observing. Rotating airport light (not direct) is on always. The neighbors houses are light free (minimal) except at bed time-outdoor porch light comes on for about 5 minutes-a mini Sun to the dark adapted (both nights I could only pray that it wasn't going to be left on-it when off both nights. To the West is a light dome from Hood River a little larger than Goldendale's and Portland has a light dome about the same size of Goldendale's. Both of these pose no problem for imagers or observers-unless you forget to look at those western objects early in the evening. Sagittarius in South and about 10* about the horizon for a couple of hours at least-nice. To the NW you can see Mt Adams and to the right of it Mt. Rainier. What mostly impresses me in the way that the stars drop down to the horizon in all directions. The Earths shadow rose at 8:00pm and the temperature had dropped to 92* The sky was a pristine 9+ and the Persieds were everywhere. I counted about 60 per hour looking only in one direction-Eastward. I saw them from little faint ones to major players---very-very cool. Left for home at 12:00am.

8/12
The sky looked to be disappointing. Sunset was very red-signs of a major fire??? No earth shadow rising. Summer triangle were the only stars for the longest time. Looked like a 'sucker hole' was forming overhead. It took what seemed forever for the light of sunset to go away. More and more stars came out, and then surprisingly-the sky turned into a 10. The Milky Way looked 3-D not a star was twinkling-anywhere---I didn't bring a scope tonight-just the bino chair

. Of course there were plenty of Perseid meteors again. I've noticed a secondary shower over the years. It's perpendicular to the Perseids which had on both nights about 25 or so meteors.

I know windy boy----Overall, I'd rate this site a 9+ for access (an easy drive), close to services, and view of the sky. Seeing a big 9-10. It's not quite as dark as OSP, but way nicer than Table. Trout Lake is good to, but you don't get the great horizon that this site has. I look forward to using it with all of you.