Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Planning

Look what’s happening on April 8, 2024 at 2:00 pm!

New item by Warren Long / Google Photos

The Gang

Mike already lives under the path of the eclipse in Ironton. Ben, in California, agrees that this is a must-do. So, viewing it from Ironton(or near by) is an easy decision.

Driving South

Driving North

Schedule and Day-by-Day Plans

Saskatoon to Ironton (4+4 days)

We have 4 days to drive 24 hours. Then 4 days of Ironton and eclipse watching, weather permitting.

  • Tuesday April 2
    • Ben flies to YXE April 2, arrving AC7746 at 23:39
  • Wednesday April 3
    • We drive south (and arrive Ironton April 6-ish)
    • Leave Saskatoon 10-ish
    • Hotel in Fargo or Minot?
  • Thursday April 4
    • Museum of American Speed
    • Strategic Air Command Museum
    • Stay somewhere
  • Friday April 5
    • Free day, Ha Ha Tonka? Ironton or ??
  • Saturday April 6
    • Arrive Ironton
    • Stay with Dubos
  • Sunday April 7
    • Play with Dubos, Investigate eclipse watching sites
    • Stay with Dubos
  • Monday April 8
    • 2 pm view the eclipse from best non-cloudy, highest elevation that we can find
    • Stay with Dubos
  • Tuesday April 9
    • Free day
  • Wednesday April 10
    • Drive to Hot Springs Off Road Park

Ironton to Hot Springs Off Road Park and Rock Bouncers (1+3 days)

We have 1 day to drive the 5-ish hours to Hot Springs Off Road Park.  Then a day to drive an ATV off road for a couple of hours.  Some more exploring, there is a tower nearby, and hot springs.  Campground looks nice, and we  should have time to set up our site to be functional.  And we need to buy/plan for camping meals.

The two days of watching the rock bouncers race!

  • Wednesday April 10
  • Thursday April 11
    • Side-by-side adventure 12:30 pm to 2:30 ppm
    • Tent at Hot Springs Off Road Park
    • Disc golf at Cedar Glades ?
  • Friday April 12
    • Rock Bouncers Day 1
    • Tent at Hot Springs Off Road Park
  • Saturday April 13
    • Rock bouncers Day 2
    • Tent at Hot Springs Off Road Park
  • Sunday April 14
    • pack up, say goodbye to Dubos and head to Tulsa/Amarilla.

Hot Springs to Saskatoon via  New Mexico (8 days)

The Minuteman Missile Silo was cancelled because the fire suppression at facility is broken and all tours cancelled.  So we are changing plans, and going farther west before heading north.  Our schedule is now more flexible.  Fastest route going through Amarillo, TX is 30 hours.  We will probably add up go an extra 15 hours by zigzagging about a bit.  At this point in time, I am expecting to return to Saskatoon on the 2nd.  Ben’s visit to Emma Lake would be better served in summer one day.

Lots of things are still in winter mode:

  • All steam railroad stuff is closed until May
  • All high elevation roads (Mount Blue Sky, Grand Lake to Estes) are probably still closed

Driving North Schedule

  • Sunday April 14 (8 hours driving)
    • After leaving Hot Springs, we planned to visit some Ozark waterfalls, but plans changed a bit:
      • Long Pool Falls Hike was to a REALLY minor little water fall, barely 6 feet high. Cute but…
      • Car Wash Falls was a washout. About 5 km along the grid road, there was a river crossing, about a foot deep over a wide river. Not doing that in a Murano. We turned back.
      • We did the hike around Pedestal Rocks which turned out to be awesome. And then didn’t bother withKings Bluff Falls, in spite of it being the highest waterfall in Arkansas.
      • On to the big highway to Tulsa, where we settled in to the Ramada by Wyndam. Cheap and seems nice.
  • Monday April 15 (6 hours driving)
    • Tulsa Air and Space Museum (4 1/2 hours driving)
    • Stay in Palo Duro Canyon State Park (another 1 1/2 hours driving)
  • Tuesday April 16 (5 1/2 hours driving)
    • Amarillo Texas Air and Space Museum
    • Cadillac Ranch
    • Taos Pueblo is a 5 1/2 hour drive
    • Find a hotel
  • Wednesday April 17 (10 hours driving)
    • Explore Taos Peublo
    • Find a hotel in Hot Springs SD
  • Thursday April 18
    • Jewel Cave
    • Mount Rushmore
    • Badland NP, tent at Sage Creek
  • Friday April 19
    • Explore Badlands NP
    • Badland NP, tent at Sage Creek
  • Saturday April 20
    • Sturgis and Full Throttle Saloon
    • Spearfish Canyon Disc Golf
    • Devil’s Tower
    • Stay Spearfish Hotel?
  • Sunday April 21
    • Disc golf Makoshika
    • Tent at Lewis and Clark State Park
  • Monday April 22
    • Re-enter Canada
    • Drive to Saskatoon
  • Tuesday April 23
    • Recover and play day
  • Wednesday April 24
    • Ben flies to SFO on April 24, AC7743 at 05:30

Other Things?

Just some more random things which could be fun. Even if I have done them before. I have created a list in Google Maps called BenPossible (click on it to view).

Ben and Mike:

  • Graceland was fun. Are you guys interested? Sandy and I just visited it, but will be happy to drop you two off.
  • There are several things to do around Hot Springs. There is a lookout tower (Hot Springs Mountain Tower). And a variety of hot springs, both antique, and usable (I think).