MSSF 2010

[Dark Helmet]

Mark,

Thanks for bringing the availability of Yurts at Nickerson. I never realized they had Yurts until I went back onto the Mass DCR website.

I have no preference as to where we camp Nickerson or Burlingame in RI. I think we should decide by the next ASSNE meeting in February and vote to get the funds allocated.

I would prefer May 7th, 8th, and 9th as I might have a conflict the following weekend of May 15th.

Matt

[Rotorhead]

I can't get the folks at Burlingame to return my calls, and there is no email address.

I'm looking at Nickerson on Google Earth and comparing that to the park campsite map, and I will say that the park is beautifully wooded. It appears there would be no observing near the campsites. There are some open fields, but fairly far from the campsites. This type of thing requires a lot of questions and answers from the park, or we will wind up with a nice camping weekend but no observing. Simple things like 'Can we set up in this field?' and 'Is it okay if we drive back to our tents at 3am?' are fairly critical. That is why MSSF worked so well the first two times we went there. We had carte blanche to do what we needed to do. Only the Reserve America fiasco last year kept us from having a third good year (ignoring the weather, of course...).

Since Burlingame is not answering their phone, should I shift my attention to Nickerson? Or has anyone talked to them already?

[ASSNEman1]

NSP would seem to be the route to go with as they are able to be contacted.

FWIW here is a little blurb about NSP from the DCR website.

Travel the road to the upper campgrounds in Nickerson State Park and you may think for a moment that you have been magically transported to the Berkshire Hills or the piney woods of the Carolinas. Nowhere in sight are the sand dunes and salt marshes usually associated with Cape Cod. Instead, you are surrounded by woods that slope down to the banks of eight crystal clear fresh water ponds. Yet, if you walk or bicycle through the woods, you will find no rivers or streams feeding the ponds. These are “kettle ponds,” among more than 300 formed as glaciers retreated from the Cape over 10,000 years ago. Completely dependent on groundwater and precipitation, the water level in the ponds fluctuates from season to season and year to year.

Nickerson's 1900 acres offers more than 420 campsites, including yurt camping, an amphitheater, eight miles of roads, hiking trails, an eight mile bike path that connects to the 22 mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, and ponds stocked year-round with trout. Cape Cod Bay is within walking or bicycling distance. You can swim and canoe at Flax Pond; birdwatch or catch-and-release fish at Higgins Pond, or participate in the many seasonal interpretive and recreational programs offered by park staff

About reservations

Reservations may be made as early as six months prior to the date of arrival, and as late as one day prior to arrival. Customers may make camping reservations for several dates at one time. However, reservations are limited to 14 cumulative days in any one park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. There is a 2 day minimum on most reservations. Customers must be 18 years or older to make a reservation. ID is required upon registration at the campground.

The call center is open Monday through Sunday 8 am to 8 pm between April and Labor Day. Between September and March, the call center is open Mon through Friday 9 am to 7 pm and 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Credit card payments are accepted. With personal check or money order transactions, full payment is required within ten (10) days of making the reservation. The reservation transaction charge is $9.25 per reservation.

We look forward to serving you in a MA State Park!

Again that pesky memorial day to Labor day statement. And not showing Nickerson being open before Memorial Day. But ReserveAmerica shows it being booked before memorial day. And we know how that went last year at MSSF. So I'd recomend we not use RA to make reservations.

2009/2010 DCR Off-Season Camping Schedule

Southeastern Massachusetts

Scusset Beach State Reservation, Sagamore Beach
508-888-0859

October 15, 2009 through May 1, 2010
Thursday, Friday and Saturday night stays only; open also the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 25, 2009) and New Year’s Eve (Dec 31, 2009 ); open also Nov 10 and Nov 11 to accomodate Veteran's Day; open also Sunday Jan 18, 2010 to accomodate Martin Luther King Jr. Day; open also Sunday Feb 14 , 2010 to accomodate President's Day.
Self-contained campers only; no bathroom facility available off-season
No dumping station available off-season
Electric hookups included at each site during off-season; no water hookups available off-season
Reservations accepted
Walk-ins available first come, first serve
Shawme Crowell State Forest, Sandwich, 508-888-0351

October 1 5 , 200 9 through May 1 , 20 10
Thursday, Friday and Saturday night stays only; open also the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 25, 2009) and New Year’s Eve (Dec 31, 2009 ); open also Nov 10 and Nov 11 to accomodate Veteran's Day; open also Sunday Jan 18, 2010 to accomodate Martin Luther King Jr. Day; open also Sunday Feb 14 , 2010 to accomodate President's Day.
Heated bathroom facility available off-season
No dumping station available off-season
No hookups
Reservations accepted
Walk-ins available first come, first serve

The Yurts are in Area 4 Sites 1 - 29, 21a - 21d
But RA shows the yurts sites are being reserved already and look to be filling up.

A very important note on firewood at all DCR Parks

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
IN 2010 OUTSIDE FIREWOOD PROHIBITED
In years past, bringing firewood along to a camping weekend was tradition. However, forestry officials now understand that this practice contributed to the spread of invasive species such as the Asian Longhorned Beetle or the Emerald Ash Borer. Invasive species have devastated forests in the US Midwest, and have recently been found in the Worcester, Massachusetts area. Once a forest is infested, eradication of an invasive pest involves devastating measures such as the removal of entire stands of trees or forested areas. Beginning in the 2010 camping season, transportation of firewood into or out of MA State Park campground facilities is prohibited. Firewood will be available at the campground for a $5 donation per bundle. Transportation of firewood into or out of MA State Park Campground facilities may result in eviction, or substantial fine, or both.
Don't Transport Firewood. Burn All Firewood At Your Campsite. Don't Bring Firewood Home.

Thank you for your compliance, for more information visit http://www.mass.gov/dcr (search word firewood).
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation maintains nearly 300,000 acres of the state's forests, beaches, mountains, ponds, riverbanks, trails, and parks across the Commonwealth. The department protects land and resources on privately and municipally held land through technical assistance, grant and planning programs, policy development, and other services.

I hope this helps...

[gnhuftalen]

I like the location of Nickerson as regards dark skies. I also love the whole concept of Yurt camping! Reserve America cares only for Reserve America. I wouldn't trust them and I wonder if we can confirm the dates with Nickerson. The off-season camping info sounds like the camping is strictly controlled on specific adates, so why the confusion about early dates with RA? Sounds like problems again this year. We really should avoid dealing with Reserve America.

Thanks Mark, Matt and Bob M for all of you really proactive work on this year's spring trip.

[bruce d]

Thanks for looking into NSP in more detail Mark. Do we have any idea whether they have a field we could use for observing?
I agree with George, the sky there should be pretty dark given it's proximity to Chatham

[rose]

Do ya have to yurt? lol

[bruce d]

You'll yurt and you'll like it

[rose]

Does the yurt come furnished? Cable or satellite?

[bruce d]

hot tub

[gnhuftalen]

Does the yurt come furnished? Cable or satellite?

hot tub

Where do I sign up?

[ASSNEman1]

Has this camping trip died a quite death

[Rotorhead]

Certainly, I have not been able to pursue it any further. While Nickerson looks dark, there is no convenient observing field near the camping sites, so logistics MUST be discussed with the folks who run the place. As I've said, quiet hours and moving vehicles at 2am will not be compatible at many campsites. I have called Burlingame about 15 times and left several messages which have not been returned. Whether they aren't interested in a group of astronomers or they simply don't answer calls at this time of year, I have no idea. I've had a full plate with family issues and in-law medical problems up north, and simply don't have the time/energy to come up with any better info.

Maybe Lou's efforts will result in an early summer trip, or perhaps some single-night trips to Chatham, Frosty Drew, or some other local site will satisfy the urge to observe as a club. A Messier Marathon is feasible this year, if anyone can come up with a good site for that. Matt, am I correct that Arunah does a MM? If so, do they want visitors?

[Dark Helmet]

Mark,

I don't think the yearly ASSNE camping trip is quite dead yet By the way, thanks for posting the Nickson info. I have been real busy last couple of weeks so I am just catching up on the board stuff. I think if we wait until late March to make some more phone calls we may be lucky. Staff at the DCR has been drastically reduced. So getting a real person on the phone or in person is going to be tricky. If I have time at the end of this month I will take a ride down to Nickerson to check the place out.

Bob,

As for a Messier Marathon, Arunah does several throughout the winter observing session January - March. Vistors, ASSNE members etc. are welcome as long as I am up there with the folks. Email me privately and I can get some dates to you for the upcoming marathons at the hill. I think in or around March 16th is the best weekend of this year for the Messier Marathon, but with DST kicking back in, the early M objects are really going to be tough.

Matt

Matt

[Rotorhead]

UT won't change, so we could do the marathon in UT instead of DST...

If folks want to stay local, I think Frosty Drew would also be a reasonable location for a marathon. It is flat, has a good southern horizon, and is dark east and west.

[bruce d]

I recieved this email today:

The Astronomical Society of New Haven cordially invites all astronomers to participate in a Messier Marathon on March 12th in Ashford , CT. It will be held at the June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation on Route 44 (The site of the Connecticut Star Party). Please arrive after 5:00 pm on Friday March 12th. Saturday the 13th is the fallback date. Please check http://www.asnh.org for updates and weather cancellations.

The event is free and open to all astronomers. This is not an open public viewing event .

Electrical power for clock drives (not heaters) will be available. The Dining Hall will be open for complementary coffee and as a warm room. You may spend the night and sleep over but must leave the camp by 11:00 am the following morning.

The members of ASNH hope you can attend.

[gnhuftalen]

We were discussing this at CSP. I am glad they decided to do this one. Sounds like a lot of fun and a great event. I hope we can get an ASSNE group to go as it is not too far away...

[Rotorhead]

That does sound interesting. March 13 is the club meeting, though...

[gnhuftalen]

That does sound interesting. March 13 is the club meeting, though...

Bummer. Well, there is precedent with Stellafane...discussion at this weekend's meeting?