JACKSON HOLE, WYO – It was a year ago almost to the day we were glued to the weather forecast for August 21 and the valley was abuzz with TSE 2017—the Total Solar Eclipse.
Sure, the event may have been a wee bit over-planned—the town and county issued a 91-page “Community Operations Manual” for the two-minute event that included a Q&A with pressing questions like “What if I have an emergency during the event?” Answer: Call 911; or “Can people have alcoholic beverages while watching the eclipse?” This is still America, right?
But TSE 2017 certainly wasn’t overhyped. It’s difficult to live up to the billing when anticipation leading up to the eclipse was all anyone heard, anywhere.
Like the Kentucky Derby, there was the party atmosphere before and after (eclipse glasses swapped in for hats) but the actual 2:15-spectacle did not fail to deliver.
Who didn’t find the experience otherworldly, mystical, even spiritual. Reports of wildlife emerging from slumber, duped into thinking it was dusk, were witnessed by some. And at 11:36am, it was cold and dark with an eerie orange horizon in all directions.
TSE 2017 was not something that reproduces well on video. Sure, Buckrail was able to dig up plenty of livestreams and cell phone imagery but they fail to take in the magnanimity of the happening. You simply had to be there.
The once-in-a-lifetime celestial event played well in Jackson Hole as it did in other “eclipse boomtowns” within the 365-mile path of totality across the state. Glendo planned for three years leading up to the event and did appear to reap a handsome tourist economy reward. Casper packed ‘em in. Torrington Telegraph was more pragmatic, reporting in the aftermath, “No surprises, no problems.”
We were all enthralled with the event. Don’t pretend you weren’t. According to Billboard, digital download sales of Bonne Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” increased 503% in the week ending August 20, 2017. The song also jumped to the No. 1 slot on iTunes. And a lucky few aboard a Royal Caribbean’s Total Eclipse cruise were treated to a live performance of the signature 80s hit by Tyler and DNCE.
Eager to begin planning for the next TSE? Love your enthusiasm but you might want to reel it in a bit. The next two total solar eclipses visible from Wyoming will be on 2106 May 03 and 2169 Jun 25.
