If you're one of the 600,000 people expected to descend upon Wyoming or Nebraska this weekend, we have just two words for you: BE PREPARED.
It's hard to imagine what kind of apocalyptic-type traffic I-25 is going to see in advance of the solar eclipse on Monday. I mean, something akin to hurricane evacuation levels seems pretty obvious -- only all the travelers will be
happier and not in fear for their livelihood. But does that mean we let our guard down? That we can just head north with nary a preparation, trusting in the goodness of our fellow Coloradans to care for us, should things not quite pan out? No! Hence, a survival guide is needed.
Authorities are expecting an extra 600,000 people to flock to Wyoming alone, with two thirds of those (or 400,000) coming from the south (that's us!). That means that at least one in 13 Coloradans is planning to travel north for the once-in-a-lifetime event, a figure which will approximately double Wyoming's sparse population.
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We can only WISH that traffic will move this swiftly.[/caption]
What this could mean:
- I-25 usually handles about 83,000 vehicles per day. Assuming that people travel in groups of two or three, we could estimate that 400,000 people traversing the stretch north means an extra 150,000 vehicles on I-25 traveling both there and back.
- The pilgrimage north will feature Hollywood film-style insanity. They're going to make movies about this.
- Wyoming cell phone towers, which are typically meant to handle the state's population of half a million people, may not be able to accommodate double the amount of cell phone usage.
- It's going to be every man for himself.
- Only the prepared will survive.
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Because we genuinely care about the well-being of
all eclipse enthusiasts, we've compiled a helpful, handy survival guide for traveling to view the eclipse. Of course, there's the usual survival guide advice that you should always heed (like bringing one gallon of water per person per day, and making sure you start out with a full tank of gas), but we're going to assume you know all that already. Let's dive into the more
obscure advice that will definitely ensure your survival.
Survival Guide
- Bring along a hard-copy map of the area (i.e., an old-school "road atlas") in case you have trouble with your phone and end up needing to take an alternate route. For those young'uns unfamiliar with the term, you can usually purchase these at Walmart.
- Bring cash or items you can use for trading, if you find yourself in a pinch. Brush up on your bartering skills here.
- A hand-crank radio. This is something you should have anyway, in preparation for the zombie apocalypse. But if you don't, this one has a flashlight and a phone charger port included in the device, for added convenience! This could come in super handy if you run out of gas and become stranded in NoCo.
- Bring rope. Why? Because everyone knows that having rope is the first rule of survival. And when you build that temporary shelter and sit around the campfire, you can impress your fellow stranded travelers with your mad knot-tying abilities.
- If you have time, reading this comprehensive how-to survival guide before your trip can ensure your success -- no matter what befalls you.
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- Don't forget your ISO-certified solar eclipse viewing glasses. It's too late to order them online, but certain stores still carry them for just a couple bucks (check King Soopers!), and you can check with your local library, too.
- Above all, relax. Remember this is an epic, once-in-a-lifetime event, and the memorable journey to your viewing spot is a part of the overall experience. Even if you don't make it to your destination of choice and end up in a parking lot on I-25, the eclipse will still happen, and you'll still get a great show -- even if it's not at 100 percent totality. If you do find yourself stuck on the road as the eclipse time approaches, just make sure to heed CDOT's important advice. Someday you can tell your grandkids all about where you were on "the day the sun went dark" -- wherever that ends up being.
What would YOU add to our survival guide? Where are you planning to view the solar eclipse? Tell us in the comments below!
