Updates and Reminders for observers, Mt.Evans observatory: ========================================================= Check out our webcam: http://mysite.du.edu/~rstencel/MtEvans/womble2.htm and related met data from: http://culter.colorado.edu:1030/exec/d1metpage.pl --------------- DEAR COLLEAGUE: --------------- Your observing time at Mt.Evans observatory is quickly approaching. I'm happy to say that the telescopes have been working well and should be ready for you. Here are a few reminders as you prepare for your visit: 1. It may seem like summer, but its cold up top. Please bring your winter coat, hat, boots, even longjohns. Some guests have been under-prepared for standing around for hours in 30F temperatures. THE ONE LESSON CLEARLY LEARNED IN PAST SEASONS IS THAT LAYERING IS CRUCIAL: Dressing in layers is effective. All-in-one work clothes, such as Carharts seem to work well as an outer shell. Parkas are nice to have along too! Even in daytime, summit temperatures are 25F LOWER than Denver's, so layers help especially when high winds and precip occur. Always handy to bring a water bottle and snack along too. The only restrooms are the outhouses at the summit parking area (no plumbing at the observatory), so a flashlight will prove handy. 2. If you have a laptop computer, bring it! That way you can directly run the CCD camera and save data to hard drive for later processing. Images files now exceed one Mb per shot, so they add up fast. Please bring a flash drive or external USB type disk or your own CD/DVD burner. 3. A personal flashlight (red/white) will help you navigate in and around the premises at night. 4. Dorm towels are neither large nor absorbent. You'll want to bring your own. For the weeks we are not using the larger Echo "dorm" facility, we will be in the smaller "Lab 2" which has bunkbeds, so please also bring a sleeping bag. All food decisions will be made communally, including procurement, prep and cleanup. If you need something special, plan to bring it along. 5. Have your observing list organized by right ascension and priority. Please remember that we have 600 inch focal lengths, so fields are small (a few arcmin) 6. Plan your arrival at Echo Lab for after-lunch Monday of your week. Many times I catch lunch at Echo Lodge myself Monday noon if you want to meet there. Group meeting at 3pm. 7. Your camera, laptop computer and cell phone are most definitely welcome! Portable telescopes can be accommodated if they fit within your vehicle. 8. *NEWS 6/02: we veteran high altitude observers have been pleased with the herbal medication GINGKO BILOBA in terms of avoiding the typical sinus headache that comes with altitude and dryness. An M.D. recommended trying this, and it outperforms aspirin and ibuprofen. Check with your medical advisor about suitability. Long term side effects are unknown. p.s. 2006: actually, simply chewing gum during ascent and descent seems every bit as effective in avoiding the typical sinus headache too. See you soon! --Dr.Bob Base camp, Echo Lab info at webpage: http://www.du.edu/~rstencel/MtEvans/access.html ROAD REPORTS ETC. 2008 [solar minimum]: 5/20/08 - CDOT reaches summit after several warm dry days, tidying up road edges and will open road, weather permitting, for 5/24, Memorial Day weekend. 5/12/08 - The crew has been struggling against the weather after reaching Lincoln Lake. Another foot of new snow expected in the mtns this week. 5/6/08 - CDOT has reached Lincoln Lake drift (mile 6). 4/27/08 - a winter of above-normal snowfall, tho dry along Front Range lower elevations. Anticipated that CDOT begins plowing May 1st. 2007: 5/24/07: Observed CDOT reclearing the road to past mile 12 following a several inch snowfall. Thus, likely to be open to summit by Mem. weekend. 5/9/07: CDOT plot crews have entered Lincoln Lake cirque, mile 6 area 5/3/07: CDOT plow crews have reached mile 5 (just past Goliath pass) based on albedo evidence - linear feature in snow visible from campus. 4/24/07: Two feet of new snow reported at Evergreen area due to wet spring upslope storm... 4/15/07: April has been wetter than March and Mt.Evans often emerges between storms with a fresh white coat of new snow...typical pattern. . 3/1/07: snow cover gauged at 115% of average, but dry period began first half-March. 2006: 5/13/06 - road cleared to the summit; remarkably dry at altitude; initial brief visit showed no obvious overwinter damage. 5/8/06 - another dry year; plowing crew near mile 10 [summit lake] 4/30/06 - Plowing on Trail Ridge road started mid-April. Plowing of Mt.Evans highway usually begins May 1st. 2005: 26 May 05, CDOT passed Summit Lake last week and appears to be on track for opening the road to the public by Memorial Day weekend, once again. 13 May 05, recent snows, but CDOT working mile 5 area on Mt.Evans highway ==NOTES FROM PRIOR SEASONS== 2004: 13 May 04 -- new snow, 12+ inches, but Mike Richards says probably open to top by about 18 May... 12 May 04 -- flyover: CDOT equipment parked at Ptarmigen Pass [mile 11.5] 10 May 04 -- Echo Lodge open, reports CDOT at Lincoln Lake, mile 6 30 April 04 -- CDOT begins snow removal after wet month 4/14/04 - visit to summit; battery servicing, etc. 2003: Nov.8, 2003: MogEvans 11 ingress successful, total lunar eclipse Sep/Oct.2003: more snow that prev year but passable Aug.2003: Mars opposition observathon, A frame PV system rehab July 2003: monsoon, IAU meeting and contracting for solar roofing repair June 2003: good viewing session of Mars, despite lighting damage to solar power panels 5/17/03 CDOT has opened the road; drivable to summit, let the viewing begin! 5/12/03 CDOT snow plow crews past summit lake (mile 10 of 14); Echo Lodge activity as well in prep for Mem Day opening; Echo Lab still snowcovered 5/5/03 CDOT plowing in evidence to mile 5 4/30/03 CDOT scheduled to begin summit road plowing 3/17/03 Major blizzard buries Echo Lake in 4 to 5 feet of snow 2/7/03 Helicopter visit to summit; battery servicing, etc. 1/18/03 MogEvans 10 attempt thwarted by big drifts near mile 7 2002[Drought max?]+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 6/24/02 -- Drive refinements and optical coalignment procedures, new camera commissioned (Apogee Ap8p - great images!), more guests and solar. 6/17/02 -- Ryan Hannahoe, Gary Becker and student guests from Penna. 6/14/02 -- Complete polar alignment, phase B4 -> great tracking! 6/10/02 -- Begin spring maintenance tasks 5/9/02 -- First observing night of spring season 5/2/02 -- CDOT phoned with news they reached the summit after an unprecedented 2 days of plowing. Extreme lack of snow due to drought! Summit visit showed overwinter minimum of -26F, little winter damage except for very dry battery levels (refilled). 2001+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 7/10/01 - Mechanical polar realignment effort. 6/11/01 - Optical coalignment effort. 5/30/01 - MAJOR improvement in electrical supply at summit! 5/23/01 - Road open, reached summit, minor winter damage noted so far. 5/14/01 - Observed CDOT moving snow near mile 9, approach to Summit Lake 5/7/01 - Confirmed that plowing was underway, near mile 5. Reportedly CDOT reached mile SEVEN prior to the foot of new snow and drifting last week. The rate of progress suggests possible early access! 4/30/01 - probable start for CDOT plowing SH5 --> Memorial day opening but a wet spring snow 5/3 added an extra foot of snow/delay... 3/19/01 - road inspection for possible Mog attempt planned. Mile 2.5 drifts too severe to permit access by road... 1/15/01 - Site visit via Unimogs! Unusually dry conditions allowed 2 Mogs and 7 people to drive and dig our way to the summit in ~5 hours. Obs intact. 2000++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nov.4th - last ingress via Unimog convoy Oct.19th - final observing session via regular vehicle access Oct.7th - Unimog expedition found road largely dry Aug30-- Unusally persistent monsoon has brought many cloudy evenings and early light snow. The hummingbirds have left Echo Lake a week early and the aspens are showing signs of color change. (p.s. Access by road til Nov.4th, then heavy initial fall snows). Early July lightning-like surge fried half the fuses in the PV combiner boxes. Subsequent analysis shows 20% of solar panels on A frame damaged... Very nice imaging results have been posted tour webcam site, NEWPIX link (womble2.phys.du.edu/newpix.html) Summer2000 plans include FIXING the polar alignment problems, improving scope co-alignments, guest observers and trial run of remote-attended observing. CDOT cleared road of snow by May 15th (possibly a record early opening). The road opened to the public on May 22nd. Initial visits showed no significant over-winter damage to the observatory. Helicopter visit Jan. 21st, 2000 showed all systems intact. ----------------------see archives for prior year info------------------ ===end===