Very helpful, thank you! I was gonna stake it down with steaks, before you said...stakes.

I have a Ford Windstar.
If I secure a shade tarp by closing the van door on one end, how do I stake it down at the other end?
Sounds like I need digging tools and stuff.
Thank you for the advice on covering the windows, I'm going to do that.
Still listening if there's more advice!

I didn't know I was allowed to move my van once I parked. I also imagined vehicles all around me and being unable to move my van. I've never been to BM, so I'm trying to trade pure imagination for your real information. Thank you!

I have decided absolutely not to drive to BM at night. I've decided to make it a two day trip, staying overnight at a hotel. I think I'll arrive on Tuesday, because I have a bad back and can't sit in a car in line for four or more hours. I'll never get out (of the car, in an upright position). Thank...

Thank you, Savannah.
I'll bring a covering for the cooler that won't cause death when the wind blows it away. Maybe I could duct tape one of those foil car windshield sun blockers around the cooler.

How do you figure out where the sunrises? It was suggested that I park my van perpendicular to the sunrise, so I could sleep outside in the shade of my van during the day. I don't have the talent of squinting around and then saying, "The sun sets over here, so it rises over there." Actually, I could...

I am coming in a van. That's all I got. I'm not going to learn how to secure shade structures and tents to the ground so I'm not going to have any. I looked at the directions for those things, rebar and everything, and understood that I will not learn them. I know me. So, my question is, if I leave ...

That sounds like an excellent suggestion, and thanks for the photo to drive it home!

Hi Everybody! I will be at BM for the first time this year, arriving alone (scared and excited)! I live in California. I will be driving about 8 hours to get to BM. If I arrive at 12:01am on 8/29, will I be stuck in a long line of vehicles waiting to get in at that time? By "long line" I mean 2 or m...

I love how nice you all are.

There's Apox! I didn't get that email. I'll fill out the form on this site regarding volunteering and request Arctica. Is it open 24 hours? There's so much to bring. For a never-been-camping virgin, packing for this is going to be interesting. Luckily I'm limited by the size of my van. In the past, ...

I am sold on the ice thing.
I am struggling with the excrement thing.

Are the people receptive? Because I don't think I'd be good at selling this, like being all enthusiastic and engaging in my presentation. They would need to be internally motivated, to want it.

That's good to hear, that you liked going alone and miss it.
Going alone will force me to reach out...and I want to be forced to reach out, so that's a good thing.
I will practice radical self-reliance at every moment of the day or night.

You're scaring me.

I'm the dusty, pale one in the blue keffiyeh.

Apox-I will look for you. How will I know it's you?

Are there non-wieght bearing Lamplighter jobs-because I had to crawl around my house on my hands and knees last year and I'm not a submissive-just a bad back.

First, thank you for the kindness from the strangers who helped me with my mylar-van question. I'm encouraged to ask for more feedback. I am coming this year for my first time. I've never had the desire to go, but this year I'm COMPELLED to go. I don't know why, but I'm excited. I'm coming alone and...

I am a BM virgin. I'm taking my van and thought I'd sleep in it. Someone told me to wrap it in mylar so I wouldn't bake in the morning. Does anyone have supporting details to accompany that suggestion? Where to get the mylar, wrapping details, etc.? Do you think this is a good idea? Thank you!