We arrived at our eclipse parking spot at 8:15am on a gorgeous western morning. We were directly on the path of totality! We could not have picked a better spot to take in this glorious natural phenomenon.
First off: shout out to the park service! They had done an AMAZING job of setting up this key road that would be the epicenter of eclipse viewing in Jackson, Wyoming. They had rangers to help guide the parking process, and put up port-o-potties every quarter to half a mile. They even had rangers walking through the crowd with extra eclipse glasses, in case someone forgot them! YAY Rangers!
Once parked, Devin, Dana, and Jess climbed up the fairly steep slope to explore the options for the actual viewing. Zach hid in the car, because it was still a bit too chilly for his taste. From the top of the slope, we discovered a broad plateau with plenty of room to get away from the other folks who had started lining up on the road. The Tetons rose majestically in the background of this scene.
We went back to the car, and prepared for a few hours in the field. We packed up the collapsible cooler with some beers, wine, snacks, and waters. We put on sunscreen. We took the lid off the Styrofoam cooler, so Dana would have something to sit on (styrofoam cooler FTW!). And, most critically, we played Total Eclipse of the Heart (the Nikki French version) on repeat, for no less than 20 minutes. We were all so excited, it was hard not to get lured into going up onto the hill too early. There was no reason to leave the car with more than 20 minutes before the eclipse was going to start. But as more people streamed up onto the plateau, we started to get a little antsy about getting up there too.
While there were a few puffy clouds in the sky when we had parked, they cleared out entirely by the time we headed up the plateau to get into position. Many people were parking on the edge of the plateau facing the sun, overlooking the river. But we wanted to be able to see it all – the river and the mountains, unobstructed by others. So we trekked a bit farther into the field, and we were in position and ready by 10am. We opened a few drinks, chatted with the passing ranger, and unpacked our classy eclipse glasses. We socialized with the folks around us, particularly a charming couple named Patrick and Keeliah. We shared some beers with them while we waited for the action to begin.
At exactly 10:18, everyone in the field was facing the sun. A cheer went up as the first little bit of obstruction started. We watched periodically over the next hour, as the eclipse progressed. As we got closer to totality, the “solar snakes” appeared on the ground. You could see the rippling shadows of the solar flares in the waning light. The temperature dropped precipitously in the final 15 minutes before totality, and reached the low 40s during totality, only to spring right back up to 64 degrees, less than 15 minutes after totality ended.
And totality itself? As it occurred a cry went up in the crowd. It was a mix of jubilation, awe, and excitement. The dark field, the dark Tetons, and the dark sun were an amazing sight to take in. In the aftermath, we each struggled so completely to describe the experience that we’ve each written something trying to capture the moment.
Zach: Hmm... I think the best word to describe it would be surreal. I didn't expect to feel an emotional response to it, but I did. It's just so easy to get wrapped up in whatever random things we spend too much time worrying about here on earth, and in doing so we forget how awesome the universe is. Also, marveling at the eclipse is probably the only thing that the US can unite on in the age of Trump. It was weird that nobody came out to deny the science behind it. I'm ready for April 8, 2024 and the almost 5 minutes of totality it will bring!
Devin: I have experienced more in my 32 years of life than most people do in 80. I’ve seen a partial eclipse and a full lunar eclipse, and I foolishly assumed a full solar eclipse wouldn’t be much different. I didn’t expect the comradery of celebrating and talking with those around us. Once the moon began its interstellar dance with the Earth and the Sun, it became clear that everyone was expecting more than a shadow. As the moon slid into place and I beheld the total eclipse I was left in awe. Everyone, including me, welcomed totality with hoots and whistles, then fell completely silent in the face of this cosmic event. To see something so mundane in cosmic terms, yet so rare in human experience, was unbelievable. I have no words to fully express what I saw that morning, standing in a field in Wyoming, with the Tetons at my back surrounded by my friends and the love of my life as we shared this event.
Jess: I was completely blown away by this experience. I wasn't really sure what I was expecting - I definitely didn't think it would take my breath away and make me tear up! I couldn't believe how powerful and humbling the experience of seeing this amazing moment, the power of nature, would be. The time seemed both short, and so incredibly long. I tried to stop myself and my mind and be caught in those brief two minutes of time, and take in everything around me. The vast dark plateau and the beauty of the mountains, particularly as totality ended and the sun "rose" again.
Dana: (Apparently Dana was so astonished by the experience that she had NO words! – Just kidding. She’s a busy lady, and we’ll update when she has time to reflect on her experience.)
As totality ended, the sun glimmered out from behind the dark moon and the light rose (again!) on the beautiful mountains. We noticed that our wonderful new friends Patrick and Keeliah were extra-ecstatic, more than “we just saw totality!” ecstatic. Why? Because they got ENGAGED during totality! What a crazy cool thing! Lucky for them, we came prepared for a celebration! We popped open the wine (a Malbec rose, for the curious alcoholics out there), busted out our finest plastic cups, and headed over to toast to their happiness and good fortune. Married life, we told them, is pretty fucking awesome.
We stayed up on the plateau watching the sun come back out for a bit longer, as the field cleared out. As the day warmed up once again, we headed back to the car. The drive back to town took us past one of the most photographed sites in the Jackson area – the T.A. Moulton barn, backed by the Grand Tetons. While the traffic was a bit of a bear, we smiled the whole way. Okay, Zach (the driver) and Jess (the navigator) smiled the whole way. Dana and Devin slept.
But MAN! What an amazing, mind-blowing, awesome experience. We can’t wait to do totality again. Get ready, 2024: here we come!