A bit more on Lick history

[Mark Wagner]

Slowly enjoying Eye On The Sky.

It is a very humanizing account.  So much so the recounting of the lives and activities early on at Lick reminds me of times with TAC, and the amateur   astronomers, fun stuff.

On Mount Hamilton the residents working at the observatory would go swimming on hot days at the Gallileo and Keppler pools, nearby Lick.  Swimming holes on Ysebel Creek.  I recalled the fun TAC had at Shingletown in the local's swimming hole up Hwy 44, and that (intimidating ) rope swing we'd use to jump in.  Anyone else recall?  All sorts of non-observing fun used to take place.

The book also talks about the 36" refractor being used to look for water vapor on Mars when the "canals" were the big topic.  To do this they (director Wallace) had to account for Earth's atmospheric water content.  Anyone guess (or know) how that was done?  This was all spectrograph work - also a fascinating topic in the book in its own right.

[Peter Santangeli]

I did enjoy the swimming hole on 44 at least once.

You couldn't get me on that rope swing, but the thing that scared me was the potential for leaches in that kind of area. 

But I remember it as being lovely and cool.

pete

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[Ted Hauter]

I'd say leaches a great possibility. Even in the clearest waters they lurk.

The book, like Lick itself, is wonders abound!

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[Mark Wagner]

There were no leaches in the creek, but there were back in town.

That place was a lot of fun while it lasted.  300 attendees lined up camping with astro-gear on both sides of a remote single landing strip defunct airport runway, baking in the summer heat with red volcanic rock/dirt on either side.  Remember hiring a company to spray some sort of foam-dirt goo  (WTH was that stuff?) to keep down the dust?  Remember the Clampers BBQ?  The "Gambling Night" in town, The Widder DeWitt?

The swimming hole was something of a godsend at times, as was Manzanita Lake 17 miles uphill in beautiful Lassen National Park.  Stacey Jo, remember cooling down behind the water truck on that 110F+ day up there?

The observing was actually quite good!  I recall Chad Moore (Pinnacles ranger) establishing the Dark Sky Programs of the National Parks by documenting the darkness (for the NP) at our star party.  It was a great step toward GSSP, with a gentle push from the actual leaches.

I remember Ray Cash making Pisco Sours, Jay Freeman arriving an leaving, the other "activity" in town with our Karaoke Lunch event and pizza night.  We even had a few years of dueling star parties (back to Lassen)!  Who'd a thunk?

All this fun came from a few folks checking out Lassen for astronomy (I still think Bumpass was the all time best).  From tiny acorns.

[Peter Santangeli]

Bumpass was great, but I almost died a few times driving back to the group campsite at 4 in the morning.

I prefer somewhere I don't have to tear down these days.

pete

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[Jay Freeman]

For me, the great thing about Lassen was being able to take down my gear after I was done observing, then drive to my rented room in Old Station where there was a hot shower, air conditioning and heating, a soft bed with a non-dirt floor, and thick curtains over the windows so I could sleep late the next day. Then I would drive back to one of the Lassen sites for another night's observing, and so on till the end of the week. I love being outdoors but I have always detested camping out, and although I still observe regularly, the no nighttime drive-out rules have made me unwilling to attend any of the big days-long star parties for more than two decades. I rather miss them.

-- Jay Reynolds Freeman
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[Peter Natscher]

Can you still hear the karaoke?

[Mark Wagner]

Peter - its a sad story about the demise of the Wagon Wheel.  But a deserving one on that of SSP! Nyah-ha-ha-ha!

I wanted to post this in another thread, but since Bumpass was mentioned.  My FAVORTIVE view at any star party was an "it couldn't happen" luck-shot on a sucker hole night up at Bumpass, everyone standing around hoping it would clear - and I pointed my scope up toward a clear spot (ended up being in Canes Venatici) and landed all wheels down right on Hickson 68 with my 18".  I'll never forget.

To this day I find it up high on my list of most astonishingly beautiful views in a telescope.  The tight group of galaxies with biggun offset, accentuated by a pair of bright yellow and blue stars - a fantastically stunning view.  It may be the most eye pleasing group I've ever seen.  Its up right now, if you have a bigger scope and are headed to a dark(er) sky. Here (and to give credit - from this site)