Wyoming's Total Solar Eclipse

Various Phases of a Solar Eclipse

It was predictable. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was awe-inspiring. It was a spectacular thing to see. A total eclipse of the sun, and the shadow of the moon passed right through the state of Wyoming leaving Martin's Cove in its wake.  A total solar eclipse is when the moon’s shadow touches the Earth and blankets portions of it in total darkness for a few moments. In essence, the sun, moon and Earth align. A person in the dark part of that shadow, known as the umbra, will see a total eclipse. A person in the light part, called the penumbra, will see a partial eclipse.

Here at Martin's Cove we had a front row seat right out our back door.  Which is good considering hotel rooms in Casper were completely sold out and last minute rooms going for $1500 per night.  We had never seen a traffic jam out in the middle of Wyoming until now... It took our missionaries 1 1/2 hours to travel 10 miles back to Missionary Village from the Visitors' Center!  We had to take a dirt two-track road to avoid traffic to get to Family Home Evening, where we were in charge of our Solar Eclipse party.  We sang Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, played a solar eclipse trivia game, watched a replay of the eclipse, had a moon walk competition and ate eclipse cookies, milky way candy bars and starbursts candy. It was a lot of fun!

Solar Eclipse Path through Wyoming

Sun shining bright at Martin's Cove

Martin's Cove Missionaries enjoying the Eclipse

The beginning of the Eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse "Diamond Ring"

The last total solar eclipse to cross the continental United States occurred Feb. 26, 1979 — more than 37 years ago.  The next total solar eclipse over the continental U.S. is scheduled to occur April 8, 2024.  Until then, Fair Winds
Elder and Sister Bowden

Rattlesnakes, Rainbows and Rolling on

With 21,000 trekkers coming to Martin's Cove this summer, the majority came in July 2017.  We had

Youth Group Trekking Through Martin's Cove

trek groups almost every day except Sundays, and many of those days we saw as many as five to eight groups out trekking at once. There were family groups as small as 25 people and stake groups as large as 800 people. They all had one thing in common: a love of the Savior and an appreciation for these early pioneer saints.  Peggy and I were privileged to be able to trek with some of these youth.  It was amazing how much we came to love them in such a short amount of time.  Rarely did we hear them complain as they hiked 6,7, 8 miles on hot, dusty days.  On many of these days the temperatures reached 95-100 degrees.  They all spoke of the special feelings they experienced as they walked reverently through Martin's Cove.

Youth Group in Dan W Jones Amphitheater

With the hot weather we experienced late afternoon thunderstorms which brought rain, cooler temperatures, and beautiful rainbows.

An Afternoon Rainbow overlooking Martin's Cove

The hot weather also brought out snakes, lots of snakes.  Snakes of all kind! Prairie Rattlesnakes, Bull Snakes, Garter Snakes ...

Elder Bowden on Snake Patrol

With the trekking season coming to a close, the Missionary Presidency was reorganized with President Pace extending a call to two new Counselors.

Members of the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission Presidency
and their Wives: Elder & Sister Bowden, President and Sister Pace, Sister & Elder Paul

Soon the treks will come to an end.  We will miss the youth and the enthusiasm they bring to Martin's Cove.  It has been a wonderful trekking season!

Martin's Cove Trekkers Hiking Into The Setting Sun

We send our love to all of you!  Fair Winds...
Elder and Sister Bowden