Since Mars will be the closest to earth its ever been in a really long time, what better way to view it than a midnight run up to a mountain peak in your 4runner?

August 27th is the peak viewing night, and is also the night of our monthly WA4ROC meeting. So, the plan will be to head out to Tinkham Rd. after the meeting, brave the nasty Tinkhim hill climb, and hang out on top and do some cool star/mars gazing. Anyone with binoculars and/or telescopes should bring them. This is (literally) a once in a lifetime opportunity. Bring chairs, gas BBQ's (there is a fire ban), and non-alcholic beverages ( we will be driving back down, unless you opt to camp there for the night). Thanks to WATRD (Rob) for the suggestion to have an event of this kind.

 

Hmmm..... Do I dare say that would be fun and I wanna go? I better shut up until I am heading out the door & on my way.

 

i guess i might be able to go, but i'll leave my 4Runner down at the bottom of the hill climb. don't know how long i'll stay because im not sure what time i'll have to work on thursday morning. i should find out on monday.

 

Yeah, I figure that we can ferry people up to the top if necessary, and give them a ride back depending on when they want to leave. I'm not planning on staying all night, but it would be fun to do for a couple of hours. Might just take the next day off from work the next day.

 

You guys are going to need these;

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/where_is_mars.html#map

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/where_is_mars.html

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/spacescien...arsviewing.pdf

 

I just might be in on this one...with the wife too. She's interested in the Mars viewing.

Jim

 

That sounds sweet, just wish I could make it. Definitely keeping that location in mind for the next big meteor shower

 

Now that I think about it...might take the 'Runner and bring the pup too. He has yet to go "wheeling".

Jim

 

Jim,

Definitely bring the dog! The pups would have a blast together.

 

Yup. However we'd need shuttling for sure. Although a stock 'Runner is capable...that hill is pretty ballz-e.

What time do you think you all would be out there (after the 4ROC meeting)...?

Jim

 

Hmmm.... might be close to 10:00? I could call when we're on our way out there.

 

Nah, a guestimate is cool.

Maybe we'd get there early and tackle the hill...???

Jim

 

Definitely. My plan was to head up to the same hill top we were on last night. Might be interesting to do the climb in the dark...

 

Did ya get a CO2 fill-up? From w3rk?

Jim

 

Nah, not yet. Gotta swing by on Saturday to Central Welding Supply. Was kind of bummed last night about running out, but lesson learned! Ordered some swaybar disconnects today to help with articulation in the front. I've begun pondering going to leaf springs in the back based on a comment Rob made last night. Seems like I'm constantly getting a rear tire up in the air and wonder if a switch to leafs would help. Thats a bit further down the road though...

 

Nah, it's not the coils...there's something else. It could even be the length of the shocks (same problem as me).

A lot of the extremely flexy rock-crawlers use coil springs. They are hard to setup from scratch, but your's came stock - so you have an advantage there...

Jim

 

I spent this past weekend up at the top where you guys are going. Other than getting burned to a crisp, it was a good time.

I watched Mars come up last night as the clouds cleared away and it was fairly bright, but when I got up this morning at 4:00, Mars was SPECTACULAR! It was the brightest thing in the sky with the moon having already set and was a bright orange color.

Even if you are going to see it Wednesday night, make sure you get up early one day this week and see in the morning. I am NOT a morning person, but it was still seriously worth my time.

For those of you going up Wednesday night, look for a large mass of metal near the firepit, with a worn, canary finish. It has a message for you...

 

Did the Cruiser climb the hill...?

Chrisco told me about the quick air-up at the bottom. That's sweeeeeeet!!!

Jim

 

i don't know if i'll be able to make it to the mars thing on wednesday. im doing day camp 9am-5pm and we have like 40 kids and 4 councilers including me. so im pretty tired once i get off work. i would probably fall asleep on the way home from tinkham.

 

Well, it DID end up at the top...

It did amazingly well, but alas, it was not to be. The cruiser has now needed to be winched on 100% of it's runs... hehehhehe

Now that WAS sweeeeeeeeeeeeet It got me thinking...