56 replies to this topic

[Jack Day]

Well things are coming together for our 2024 event!

 

July 30th - August 3rd  -Save the date!

 

Our new location is at Jameson Lake, Washington.

 

https://wdfw.wa.gov/...ess-sites/30077

 

Registration should open around May 1st.

 

More details to come soon!

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Edited by Jack Day, 19 April 2024 - 07:50 PM.

[cchagadorn]

Exciting! With any luck I'll be able to make it!

[opticsguy]

Wonderful to hear about this new location, have passed by this area many times, nice place!!!   Unable to attend this year, however already looking at the moon phases for 2025 and entering onto my calendar.   Have a great time and possibly see a few of you at camp Delaney in 10-11 days!!!!

[bignick243]

Was this the same star party that was up by Oroville? I think on the Eden ranch? I was leaning heavily towards OSP but this might be closer for me.

[Jack Day]

Was this the same star party that was up by Oroville? I think on the Eden ranch? I was leaning heavily towards OSP but this might be closer for me.

Indeed it is, new location for us and a new name!  Where ever you end up, Clear skies!  -Jack

[TayM57]

Do you antipicate less attendees for WSP than for OSP? OSP is quite large.

 

I'm not sure yet, if I'll be able to attend either OSP or WSP. If I do, I'll bring Steve's final 24".

[ShinySteelRobot]

The new location looks intriguing and much closer to me than Oroville was.  My family and I already have plans to travel to the OSP -- which unfortunately overlaps the exact dates of this year's TMSP WSSP -- otherwise, we'd go to both.

 

Hope everyone has fun this year!  I'm looking forward to hearing attendee reports.

Edited by ShinySteelRobot, 27 April 2024 - 05:50 PM.

[bignick243]

Indeed it is, new location for us and a new name!  Where ever you end up, Clear skies!  -Jack

Sounds good! I'm kinda bummed I'll miss OSP but this should be a good time! I'll keep my eyes peeled for registration.

[bignick243]

Indeed it is, new location for us and a new name!  Where ever you end up, Clear skies!  -Jack

It looks like the registration is open. I'm wondering how the setup is going to work. Is the Telescope field away from where RV's will parked? Or can you set up close to your RV? I think it's ok I just wanted to make sure.

Edited by bignick243, 04 May 2024 - 09:42 PM.

[Jack Day]

I think both options will be available!  We are still figuring it all out!  

[DLuders]

I just registered, and plan on bringing my fishing pole for the Rainbow Trout stocked there in Jameson Lake!  

Edited by DLuders, 11 May 2024 - 05:19 AM.

[phonehome]

While at Camp Delany a few ago I took a detour and visited Jameson Lake for a few hours where I found it had the makings of a great star party site.   

 

My quick take:  Paved access all the way in.  Seems seldom used except by a few fisherman and I got the impression from talking to folks there this well-developed site is woefully underutilized.  Not a leaf on site so taking plenty of shade is called for as it's likely hot during the summer.  No dust with packed & well drained graveled camping areas - all very flat/level - a HUGE improvement over Eden Valley.  ~7 stocked ADA vault toilets in good condition.  Concrete driveways down the middle of camping areas, perfect for strolling up & down the field at night.  No insects were noticed but it was still early in the season.  Excellent boating, kayaking, fishing & hiking opportunities.  Jack's restaurant/retreat with some dry goods/supplies within easy walking distance.  WA state Discovery pass required.   Zero cell service (all carriers) - approx 18 miles out to cellular.  Looks dark on LP maps but I cannot confirm.   I don't think any local lights will be visible, especially from the lower camping area.  47.67 latitude & elevation ~1800'.  Should be warm at night in August.  Winds and local seeing conditions unknown.

 

Here are a few photos from the lower camping site:

 

My camper & truck for scale in the center of lower field .  South is to the left side, centered in "the gap":

 

Lower field north view:

 

North view from edge of field & Jameson Lake:

 

Gravel camping area up close:

 

One of ~7 ADA vault toilets:

 

Ed

Edited by phonehome, 13 May 2024 - 09:49 AM.

[Jack Day]

Hi Ed!

 

I agree!  Should be a great site for the event!  Hope you can make it sometime!

 

Cheers!  Jack

[FoxIslandHiker]

Doesn’t look good for tent campers.  No trees = no shade = no sleeping past sunrise or afternoon naps for those in tents.

[ShinySteelRobot]

Doesn’t look good for tent campers.  No trees = no shade = no sleeping past sunrise or afternoon naps for those in tents.

Ideally, at a star party, people will use "blackout" or "dark room" tents. Normal tents can leak stray light if there are bright lights inside.  Dark room tents prevent light from leaking out at night and keep it dark inside in the daytime.  Here's an example of a lined Coleman tent:

 

https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B09HN32T8Q/

 

No insects were noticed but it was still early in the season.  Excellent boating, kayaking, fishing & hiking opportunities.  

Nice to know that early season is fairly bug-free; I may use the site in the spring next year.  Given the site's immediate proximity to large amounts of still water, it seems likely that mosquitos will be prevalent in mid-summer.  I'd definitely bring quality bug spray to the star party.

[FoxIslandHiker]

Ideally, at a star party, people will use "blackout" or "dark room" tents. Normal tents can leak stray light if there are bright lights inside.  Dark room tents prevent light from leaking out at night and keep it dark inside in the daytime.  Here's an example of a lined Coleman tent:

 

https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B09HN32T8Q/

Thanks for the suggestion.  Heat is the problem, not light.  I have a good sleep mask.  One of the reviews for this tent mentions how it gets quite hot inside.  I would imagine that in Eastern Washington in August, any tent in the sun would become an oven.  I learned the hard way at my first star party at Mount Kobau.  Site your tent in the trees so it at least is shaded from the morning sun.

[DLuders]

Since there are no trees at this Jameson Lake star party site, I'm going to orient my pickup truck sideways so that it provides morning shade for my tent that's pitched in the gravel on the west side.  Foam camping pads or an air mattress will make things comfortable. 

 

One can always take a dip in the lake and sleep in the shallow, warm water!  

[kraberus]

Very much looking forward to attending this year!

 

I'm a bit concerned about what it will be like for tent campers or those who need to stake down an EZ-up etc.  Does anyone know if the ground is soft enough to drive stakes into etc? I'd like to be near the scope field if possible.

Thanks,

Nick

[vsteblina]

I doubt that you would want to drive a stake into the parking lot area.

 

I might be up there son and will try it!!

 

I do use a EZ UP on my deck at home and anchor it with these:

 

https://www.ezup.com/wbwtrgy4.html

 

https://www.amazon.c...d_source=1&th=1

 

At about 20 mph I take off the canopy.  It is fairly easy to take on and off, once you drop the height of the canopy.

[phonehome]

I do use a EZ UP on my deck at home and anchor it with these:

 

https://www.ezup.com/wbwtrgy4.html

 

https://www.amazon.c...d_source=1&th=1

 

At least there's plenty of water for bags down at the boat ramp!

[Jack Day]

Very much looking forward to attending this year!

 

I'm a bit concerned about what it will be like for tent campers or those who need to stake down an EZ-up etc.  Does anyone know if the ground is soft enough to drive stakes into etc? I'd like to be near the scope field if possible.

Thanks,

Nick

Nick,

 

We sent a pre-party exploratory team to the site in September, 2023.  I can say they were able to use tent stakes in the gravel parking area without too much trouble.  You will likely wand a good quality steel stake, not cheap wimpy ones!

 

Something like this might work well:  Screw in GITD Tent stakes

 

Or this: 12 inch tent stakes
 

Also, there are 60 acres + of dispersed camping. Those areas should not present a problem!

[BradleyB]

I've had good luck with large steel spikes with fender washers under the heads, even at the OR star party. They might be more expensive than the tent stakes linked to though.

 

Brad

[astronomania]

Five days till on-line registration closes. Last chance to order this year's apparel.

 

You will still be able to register on location with a $25 group surcharge.

[DLuders]

[NOTE:  There's two weeks before the start of this Star Party.  I got this email below from a Star Party organizer a few hours ago, since I'm already signed up to go.  Per the official website, "Pre-Registration is now CLOSED.  On-Site Registration will be available."]

 

 

2024 Washington State Star Party Updates

 

David, thank you for registering for the 2024 Washington State Star Party!

 

As we all start preparing for the event this year, I just wanted to pass along some information and reminders for you to consider. To put a spin on a borrowed phrase, "an ounce of preparation saves a pound of trouble."

 

The nearest stores are in Coulee City and Ephrata which are 30- and 40-minute drives each way respectively. Although Jack's Resort is just down the road, we have no arrangement with them to provide services of any kind. Don't plan on relying on them to provide anything you may need like ice or water.

 

Please bring an adequate amount of water for your needs. We may have a limited amount of potable water available but this is not guaranteed. Plan for a Dry Camping trip and bring what you need. We've checked and the Coulee City Campground has a potable water supply that you can use free of charge.

 

The Coulee City Campground also has showers available. These are $.25 showers so bring quarters if you might want to take advantage of them.

 

We advise to bring some type of shade as there is none on-site. We anticipate temps to be in the mid-90's during the day and it gets a lot hotter sitting exposed in the sun.

 

Please bring adequate staking for your structures. Breezes do pick up in the afternoons and can be strong and gusty. Having your gear get carried off is not what we want happening! The ground is rocky under the gravel covering of the main camping area we will be using. We have tested that area and recommend 8" metal nail-stakes as a minimum. (There's an example image on the home page of the TMSPA website.) Better staking is gutter spikes, which can be found at well-stocked hardware stores, though they may be too large for the anchor holes of some structures; they do make excellent anchors for tie-downs though. The metal hook-stakes that come with tents and awnings may work if they are long and made of steel. Plastic and aluminum stakes are NOT recommended. Another option is to bring empty 5-gallon buckets and fill them with rocks from around the site to use as weighted tie-down anchors.

 

For food service, we have a food truck scheduled to be on-site starting Tuesday afternoon. It is mainly Mexican fare but they offer a selection of more standard fare like burgers and dogs, along with some snack-type foods. Hours of operation are TBD at this time.

 

Lastly, cell phone service is extremely limited at the site. I had no AT&T coverage on my iPhone there; other carriers and phones may be different. We may have limited WiFi service available but it will be restricted to conserve bandwidth use.

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare to join us this year. We all look forward to seeing you at Jameson Lake!

 

-Doug Groesbeck
Chairman, TMSPA

[bignick243]

Just saw the news about OSP. That is a bummer. Hopefully we can all congregate here. Praying for clear smoke free skies!