Alan Brown's Home Page

From July 17^th to August 24^th the earth will be passing through the centuries old path of the Swift-Tuttle Comet which only passes earth every 134 years. The debris in this trail causes a spectacular meteor display that is particularly visible outside of the lights of a city particularly when there is no moon. The peak of these celestial phenomena, called the Perseids, will be on August 12^th this year. The Dark of the moon is on August 8^th. The weekend of August 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th should be perfect for viewing the 'shooting stars' created by the comet's debris hitting the atmosphere. Some of us are staying into the week.

That is why the Outdoor Club Kamp-OUT is set for Friday and Saturday night, August 9^th and 10^th. We will be camping at the French Pete Campground just past the Cougar Reservoir Hot Springs. I will be going up as soon as I can leave work to grab one of the 'multiple person' campsites. The multiple sites can have up to 12 people and 4 vehicles, I will be paying for this site for Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. If we fill the campsite we will need to snag another site. Multiple sites are $20 a night and single sites are $12. There is also a $6 addition vehicle fee. The site we are hoping to get is right next to the well kept bathrooms, a fresh water pump, and a garbage dumpster. A rainbow banner will denote the campground.

Please let me know you are coming no later than Thursday morning, August 8^th so I can get enough camping spaces for everyone. Phone 688-1601 or email alanb@efn.org or Kim Smith kims@efn.org 484-2147.

For car pooling purposes if people could meet at Allan Bros. (5^th & Olive) at 6:30 PM and depart at 7pm that should give everyone time to arrive and set up their tents etc. before it gets too dark.

Directions: Take Hwy. 126 at the edge of Springfield and go 38 miles out past milepost 45. Turn right at the Cougar Reservoir turnoff. Go 11 miles on this side road, staying right at the Cougar Lake fork, and stay right as you pass the Cougar Reservoir Dam. Go past the Terwilliger Hot Springs as well. On down the road there is a third 'fork like' entrance to a camp ground but stay to the left on the main road. Keep going until you reach the French Pete Sign and turn right into the campground loop (French Pete is 11 miles from the Hwy. 126 Turn off).

Bring a tent, sleeping bag, flashlight, food, drinking water, and other beverages of choice. There will be a cook a communal dinner on Saturday night. If you have board games or cards that are 'outdoor friendly' to share please bring them as well. There is a beautiful creek that runs along the back side of the camp sites that's perfect for dipping toes so you may want to bring swim trunks. There will be soaks in the Hot Springs on Saturday and Sunday ($3 fee).