Two minutes of darkness: Ten Sleep plans for eclipse

TEN SLEEP – Just how does a northern Wyoming town of 260 prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime event, which could potentially draw thousands of visitors to the area? Will there be enough ice? Should the city supply restrooms and emergency medical care? What do you do with travelers that get lost or break down?

For a town with only one Automatic Teller Machine, no in-town police force and an all-volunteer fire department, it’s a lot to think about.

On Wednesday, a dozen residents and business owners gathered at the town’s senior center to brainstorm the many possibilities, from running out of gasoline at Ten Sleep’s only convenience store, to sheltering people on the way to and from the prime eclipse viewing spots, less than a hundred miles south of town along the ecliptic path.

Hosted by town council members Connie Sweeney and Amy Truman, along with input from Ten Sleep-Worland Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jenn Rasmussen and Washakie County Emergency Management Director Jeff Schweighart, the meeting focused on preparedness, first, with ideas for expanded business and tourism eventually joining the conversation.

“Ten Sleep is simply not ready for this type of thing,” began Sweeney, “and we need to be prepared.”

The Aug. 21 solar eclipse is expected to draw as many as 500,000 visitors to the state, doubling the population for a two-week period, and effectively clogging air traffic in and out of the major hubs in Casper and Cody.

“While we are not expecting fly-in traffic in Ten Sleep, we will see an increase in traffic,” warned Sweeney. “Imagine when all those motorcycles come through for Sturgis, and multiply it by a few thousand.”

In addition to the eclipse, Sweeney announced that the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis was making plans to extend the celebration, to innclude the influx of visitors.

“We might end up having a grocery problem,” said Sweeney.

During what is traditionally a busy month for the area, with a music festival in Ten Sleep and a BBQ festival in neighboring Worland, plus the usual motorcycle traffic and tourists, fear remains that there could be a run on basic necessities, and an increased danger of wildland fires.

“Ten Sleep is basically land-locked when it comes to supplies,” remarked Truman. “We are essentially a ‘land island,’ so I would suggest stocking up ahead of time.”

Truman also suggested stocking up on personal gasoline, and for businesses to stock up on inventory in advance.

“Some things, like making sure our elderly population is prepared and stocking up on regular medicine, need to be considered,” said Truman.

Rasmussen reminded those in attendance to stock up on cash, as ATMs would be exhausted quickly, and to prepare for helping visitors with common ailments like heat exhaustion and elevation sickness.

“Stocking up on water is probably most important,” said Rasmussen.

The chamber will be adding lists of events to the online calendar, along with public safety information and lists of places to stay.

Sweeney noted that the town had plans to provide additional portable toilets and suggested an emergency medical technician be on call, although the logistics would still have to be worked out.

The Ten Sleep Brewery announced that activities, music and food have been planned for the eclipse window, and extra camping, showers, and restrooms would be available on brewery property.

Schweighart warned of the increase of traffic accidents or breakdowns due to inexperienced mountain drivers coming through Ten Sleep Canyon, and warned against people relying solely on GPS to navigate the Big Horn Basin.

At one point, it was suggested that signs be installed at the entry to more desolate local routes like Dry Farm and Rome Hill roads, advising that there are no services. Ultimately, it was agreed, those remedies would fall under state or county jurisdiction.

Schweighart noted that local hospitals had stocked up on rattlesnake antidote, and that the Wyoming 2-1-1 phone system was a good reference for visitors needing local assistance with vehicle problems.

While Sweeney warned that state motels and hotels were already booked to capacity, an audience member remarked that it would be helpful if the local motels cleared their voicemail boxes and returned phone calls.

Sweeney also advised that it would be helpful to download telephone apps that help translate foreign languages, and that the sale of paper “eclipse glasses” (available in bulk online) would make a good fundraiser for local groups or eclipse-related product for local businesses.

“A week before [the eclipse] and a week after we are going to see an increase in traffic,” said Sweeney. “It would be a good opportunity to make some money that we don’t usually see come to town.”

According to the National Weather Service in Riverton, the eclipse will track from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic. The shadow of the moon will begin over Oregon and move east to Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. This is the first eclipse to cross the country since 1918, and event of this magnitude will not occur again until 2045.

The southern part of Grand Teton National Park will be one of the best places in the entire country to view the eclipse, according to the website Eclipse2017.org. On the centerline, the park will experience 2:20 of totality at about 11:35 a.m.

The shadow will then cross Pavillion (at 11:38 a.m.), and Shoshoni and Riverton (at 11:39 a.m.) for about 2:23 before landing squarely on the city of Casper. The centerline will pass right over the intersection of Highway 220 and South Poplar Street in Casper at 11:42 a.m., and provides viewers there with 2:26 in totality.

Douglas, Glendo, Thermopolis (11:40 a.m. for about 53 seconds), Lusk and Torrington are other larger Wyoming towns that will experience a total eclipse.

Worland and Ten Sleep are outside the path of total eclipse but will experience partial eclipse.