Loon Lake pit

[Deleted]

 I am making plans to go to the Pit next moonless run, looks like DeepSkyDarrell is also planning.
As you can see by the post by DSD , we need someone to give us a report on the snow pack
near the Pit Area. Hopefully with all this nice weather it will be perfect for observing.
Most likely i will only spend a night, but if it looks like a good sky i may make it 2 nights.
A caution for those thinking of coming up.... there are no facilities, i bring my own!
It gets Cold at night, capital C cold! so dress accordingly! Last time i was up in April 2009
with Derrick S. it was -8C one night. The sky was a 21.7 on the SQMeter with perfect seeing
most of the night. I think i have had only 3 nights in many years of observing that where equal
to that time. This is what motivates me!
Mark Mc
 

[kimjenner]

Hello Mark,

My wife and I will be goimg out to Kelowna in about ten days or sooner.We''ll stop in at the pit,and give you a report.All the best, Kim

[Deleted]

Thanks Kim!

  Looking at the highway webcam tonight and it looks almost clear.
Let us know, we are chomping on the bit!
Mark McL

[Deleted]

Today, the Aspen Grove camera at 3507 feet shows all snow gone ; images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/370.html

The Elkhart camera at 5309 feet shows some snow (a foot?) in the surrounding areas.

images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/41.html

The Pit is at 3807 feet.  We should be good to go.

Of course it clouds over during the moonless run.  It would be nice though.

DSD.

[R. Scott Dixon]

Can you put specific dates in the post.  Maybe we can get more members to come out.  I’m probably in for most nights.

[Deleted]

We won't know until the Clear Sky Chart gives the okay. If it's too short notice I'll just drive up to Shylock instead. But if it looks like we can get at least one great night and one fair one it could be a go.

Sunday May 6th gives us a moon rise at about 01:50 which is only a three hour window without twilight.  After that it gets a bit longer.  So I'm looking for Sunday night or after for a couple nights at the Pit.

DSD.

[Deleted]

Right now the forecast for Merritt isn't that good for Sunday night: 

www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/merritt/50.1%2C-120.769?cm_ven=localwx_10day

 if you hit 'customize' and choose 'cloud cover'. 

Perhaps Monday or Tuesday will be better.  We'll keep watching.

DSD.

[Deleted]

Sorry, got my moon rise time wrong.  Saturday evening moon rise is about 01:50.  Giving us a 3 hour window on Saturday night.  Currently that night is the only decent one in the cloud predictions.  Perhaps Shylock would be the answer for that evening.  We'll see what the Clear Sky Chart shows for there when the time is closer.

DSD.

[kimjenner]

Greetings All, on a trip to Kelowna Friday morning; stopped in at the "Pit", all is clear and looking good.Lots of loose gravel on road.Kim Jenner

[Deleted]

Thanks for the report, Kim.
 IF the weather is right Darrell and i will head up. We have no date firmed up yet, i will leave that to him.
We may opt for the Shylock location on the Coq. instead.
Did you find my rake and give the area a small do over(ha ha)?
Mark McL.

[Deleted]

 Looks like this weekend the weather is going to co operate.
I may go up to the Pit for Friday or Saturday, and if the weather stays good
would stay for another night. I am photon starved....
 DeepSkyDarrell and i discussed this at the last dinner meeting, and i am going to let
him make the call as to when. I am packed already!

As other observers have expressed an interest in attending watch this post thread.

And remember while at the Pit you must bring your own facilities!  (and IPA)
Mark McL.

[Deleted]

Still debating / considering on going up as to Friday or Saturday.  The Chart for Loon Lake observing site is iffy for Friday night at this time.  May wait for an update tonight before committing.

DSD.

[Deleted]

Mark and I have it figured. We plan to leave Saturday morning and set up Saturday afternoon at the Pit.   We hope to stay two nights.

The Jet Stream looks poorly for Friday night and improves for Saturday and Sunday.  There's only a 3.5 hour twilight free window.  With the Moonless Runs early in the month, both June and July will be almost useless, twilight wise.  So for me that's it for the Pit until August.

Others are welcome.

Darrell.