After our amazing 3 days exploring Yellowstone from our base in Big Sky, Montana we had a very early start to get to the Airport at Jackson Hole where we had two critical events to make: our flights out to San Francisco, and the total Solar Eclipse that would happen at 11.35, that’s 1 hour before take-off. We had a nominally 3.5 hour drive but were hearing predictions of traffic chaos so left at 3.15 am!

A very smooth drive in the Buick auto and we made it without any hold-ups so stopped for a very nice breakfast in Jackson. We had a slight panick when heading for the last 6 miles to the airport as traffic had started to build into a road blockage but was being well managed by Police and we arrived with plenty of time to drop the car off and check-in.

A couple of hours wait and the excitement started to build as Sun viewing glasses were being handed out by airport staff and tripods were being arranged. Encouraged to go through security checks to avoid a rush after the event we all assembled on the tarmac airside and waited. Small groups of strangers formed and started exchanging experience and advice, checking each other’s camera set-ups etc. The airport staff were very accommodating. Have to say it’s a great airport if your ever heading that way.

So as ‘totality’ arrived the small crowd cheered and there were shouts of “Diamond Ring”, cameras clicking, the area turned cool and dark and we gazed up without glasses this time to view the amazing spectacle of the dark disk and beautiful corona of the Sun, with the backdrop of the Teton mountains. We could also see planets and stars. Quite incredible!!

Here is a short video edited from original material captured and kindly shared by one of the other enthusiasts!.. we’re on the left.

Checking out the other photographer’s kit and swapping notes.

Kate’s getting excited too!

Hold it gently Mike!

It’s up there somewhere…

… There! We enjoyed watching the partial phases with our safety goggles on.

Difficult to capture the full wonder of it in a photo, the sky was actually dark blue, but here it is!.. it lasted for around 2.5 minutes before the final diamond ring feature image above.