Mostly vegan trip to Fremont Peak, Saturday, Sept. 27

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone,

 

We are doing another road trip to Fremont Peak on saturday Sept. 27th to do

astronomy. Fremont Peak is near San Juan Bastista and at over 3000 ft high and

relatively dark sky is a good spot for astronomy.

 

Adrian reserved the much coveted camp site #25 for us, which can hold up to 8

people. So let me know right away if you want to go; Please RSVP no later than

Wednesday 9/24.

 

We'll leave S.F. in carpools at 2:45pm. In San Juan Batista, we'll stop at a

veggie-friendly live music providing mexican restaurant for dinner, then drive

up the mountain and set up our campsite around sunset. Then we'll wait patiently

for the sky to become suitably transparent so we can see through it to the vast

universe beyond.

 

You may also hike up a short hike to the actual summit of the peak before it

gets dark.

 

I believe Adrian will bring his telescope, and I will probably bring my new

telescope for its SFVS debut. Also, a bunch of other astronomers from the south

bay will have their telescopes set up and many are happy to let the public take

a peek. As if that weren't enough, the huge 30 " telescope in the observatory

building will probably be showing amazng views to the public that night and

there will be a presentation by a scholar.

 

Probably by 3am or so everyone will flop down in their tents and sleep. We'll

return to S.F. on sunday around 1pm (after stopping for breakfast in Santa Cruz

at the very vegan friendly Saturn Cafe)

 

Logistics: You should bring a sleeping bag or perhaps a large blanket suitable

for wrapping yourself up in while you sleep. Also a pad and ground cloth. Adrian

strongly recommends a tent, to keep animals (e.g. raccoons) from disturbing your

sleep as well as mosquitos, scorpions, etc. He also recommends that you bring

mosquito repellant since there have historically been numerous mosquitos up

there and some can give you west nile virus. Mountain lions are known to prowl

Fremont Peak, too.

 

There can be no assurance about the weather. At over 3100 ft. it is quite high.

When we were there in late July, it was warm and pleasant with no wind all night

long. On the other hand it was quite chilly on the night of Sept. 20. So it can

be cool, and perhaps windy, up there. But if you dress warmly it is really worth

it to be able to see the stars and galaxies in a much darker sky than we even

have in S.F.

 

So let me know right away if you want to go, and whether you need a carpool ride

or can drive others in your car. (Carpools drivers can expect to be reimbursed

for some of their expenses.)