True story. In 2017 I knew the center of the path of totality would go right over a little known/visited small bald in western NC with a cliff side view out over the valley and nearby ridges. I had backpacked there 3 times and had never seen another person there or on the trails near by.
It is in the middle of a 25 mile loop, so three of us started at the beginning of the loop late one afternoon and the second day we reached the bald and there were a few people already camped, not really a surprise. The next day, eclipse day, people started pouring in. There is a rough and steep trail that comes up the side of the mountain from a Forest Service road, 2000 plus feet in 3 miles. The road had been closed for years due to a wash out but they had just reopened it a few weeks before.
In the end there were probably 100 of my closest friends in a tiny opening that some proceeded to make larger with hand saws. Some idiot brought a drone, etc, etc. They were from all over the country Maine to Florida. I asked how the hell they knew to come to this remote place and most just guessed or used Google maps.
The clouds parted and it was a great full view of the eclipse and I saw the shadow race across the valley below but the entire experience was marred by the crowd. As soon as the eclipse was over they all turned and marched back down the mountain. I won’t be chasing any more eclipses. Be careful of where you go and what you might expect.
.
