The Sky is Falling!!

Cakewalk · Post by **Cakewalk** » Nov 13 2002 11:52 am

The annual Leonid meteor shower is going to peak on the evenings of nov 18th and 19th.
The weather so far looks good.

They are predicting a storm this year. Imagine seeing hundreds or even thousands of shooting stars per hour! You will need to get away from the city lights.

Last year, Mrs. Cakewalk and I went out towards lake pleasant - it was pretty spactacular- even thow the sky was pretty cloudy, we still saw at least 3 per minute.

Go HERE for more info.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Nov 15 2002 4:48 pm

Mrs Mike and I are thinking about Garden Valley, too. It hinges on whether I can get Tuesday off.

MtnGeek · Post by **MtnGeek** » Nov 15 2002 5:10 pm

where is garden valley? I might be interested in coming. i have not been on a haz hike in quite a while.

Unregistered · Post by **Unregistered** » Nov 15 2002 5:34 pm

Well, here are our tentative plans...

Head out 88 towards Canyon Lake to First Water trailhead about 9:00ish and start for Garden Valley via Second Water trail. I can only check out the views for a little bit past midnight. Early video conference for me in the morning.

We can't really remember any popular hang-out spots as we most often do Black Mesa. Maybe that intersection, or just past?

Any suggestions?

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Nov 15 2002 6:39 pm

Steven, check out the description for the Second Water Trail. That'll give you the best idea. Garden Valley is just under 2 miles along this trail. If you get there early, as in before dark, hang a right at the junction with the Black Mesa Trail and hike to the top of Black Mesa. It's not difficult, nor long, and the view of Weaver's Needle from there is one of the best in the Superstitions. The cholla forest on the mesa is pretty cool, too! In Garden Valley, as you approach the junction you'll see a small mound of rocks. It's actually the ruins of a Salado Indian house. There are some grinding holes around the opposite side of the ruin, and some about 1/2 way up the large hill north of the trail.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Nov 17 2002 5:16 pm

I got the day off Tuesday, but our plans have changed. We got an invite from a good friend and are headed for Christopher Creek tomorrow to his cabin. We'll be watching the light show from the mouth of See Canyon!! We may hike to the spring and/or rim, if we're not too droopy Tuesday morning!

Snick33 · Post by **Snick33** » Nov 17 2002 5:45 pm

I'm thinking more along the lines of Cholla camp grounds, just West of the Roosevelt Dam. It's good and dark, and they have fire pits to keep warm.

ck_1 · Post by **ck_1** » Nov 18 2002 5:21 pm

I understand that the rim is the idea place to see the show! Have fun!

Sredfield · Post by **Sredfield** » Nov 18 2002 7:10 pm

The North Rim? I imagine that would be awesome.

Snick33 · Post by **Snick33** » Nov 18 2002 8:13 pm

I could be wrong, but I think he means the Mogollon Rim. Come to think of it, that's a great idea. I'm off to FR300 and Promontory Point!

Paintninaz · Post by **Paintninaz** » Nov 19 2002 9:28 am

I saw quite a few meteors from my own backyard...far from optimal conditions, (especially considering my neighbor left his backyard light on!), but the easy access and close coffee pot made the minimal effort worth it! I counted over 50 in less than 1/2 hour (then I stopped counting) :roll:

Any reports from you folks who watched from Garden Valley??? Are any of you awake???????

Snick33 · Post by **Snick33** » Nov 19 2002 12:06 pm

The view from the Mogollon Rim was spectacular! It was too cold for camping so we drove back to the city at about 5:00am. Did I mention it was cold?

nealz · Post by **nealz** » Nov 19 2002 12:15 pm

Paintninaz wrote:I saw quite a few meteors from my own backyard...

Yup, me too. I was impressed with the display from my backyard in Giblet. I hadn't really planned on getting up early but my idiot dog woke me up about 03:10 and we spent some time outside 'nid gazing. I saw one that was faintly red. Pretty cool stuff.

-Nealz

kurthzone · Post by **kurthzone** » Nov 19 2002 12:40 pm

Went out in my back yard at 3:30 and viewed the heavens for about 10 minutes and saw 30 or so mostly thin and short streaks across the sky. One, however, was very bright and much longer; so much so that it left an after image for quite some time when I closed my eyes. Dogs wouldn't quit licking my feet, so I went back to bed.

kurthzone · Post by **kurthzone** » Nov 19 2002 12:40 pm

Would have been a better show without the bright moonlight!

evenstarx3 · Post by **evenstarx3** » Nov 19 2002 12:57 pm

kurthzone wrote: Dogs wouldn't quit licking my feet, so I went back to bed.

Aw Man....hope the poor pups recover :yuk:

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Nov 19 2002 12:57 pm

Snick33 wrote:I could be wrong, but I think he means the Mogollon Rim. Come to think of it, that's a great idea. I'm off to FR300 and Promontory Point!

Yep, the Mogollon. We were just below the rim at Christopher Creek, in See Canyon Homes, back of Creekside. The meteor shower was awesome from up there! We completely lost count! It was a mite cold, too! Got down to around 20 at the cabin! We also saw a hugemongous bull elk when we drove down to Creekside for dinner. He was right next to a cabin all lit up with Christmas lights! Made Mrs Mike get verklempt...

Kurthzone, I think we saw the same big one you did, right around 3:30! We saw quite a few big ones, but none that matched that one.