Good: performing with Black Rock Philharmonic at the Folly; excellent climbable art pieces Bad: undecorated "Mercedes" golf carts passing for mutant vehicles, speeding down streets and kicking up dust Ugly: someone in the camp I tried this year (and won't go back to) spray-painting the camp name on ...

Hah, seedetails, you sound like me my first year. It may be harder than you expect, but there's definitely nothing like it. Hope you're well-prepared and excited. Welcome to the family!

Can't help you with a camp, but welcome to eplaya! Have an amazing burn! Let us know how it goes

Welcome There certainly is nothing else like Burning Man and the Black Rock Desert. Have an amazing burn! Let us know how it goes!

Welcome to eplaya! If you're aiming for saving money in 2020, you may want to find the application for low-income tickets and give that some thought. Acoustic/live instrumental music is kind of hard to find on playa, but Tangoed Up in Blues and the Jazz Club camps have been delightful places in the ...

Welcome! Sounds like you're preparing as much as you can, and frankly, not much can truly prepare you but it'll be an experience unlike anything you've done. Congrats on having the huevos to come alone, that's what kept me away for far too long. Drink water!

Whoa, this looks like a potential game-changer. For $17 I'm going to try them this year! Thanks! My hair is the super-fine/tons of it type. Purchased some no-rinse Astronaut shampoo bonnets...my theory is that if I do this once every morning before going to sleep, with a tight braid and a turban whe...

I second Savannah on the faerie hair. I made hairfalls and save them for the end of the week when I just can't stand my own hair. This year I plan on exploring wigs and making some sort of awesome hood

Gorgeous videos, Just_Joe, especially the sunset one.

Goddammit I missed the playa. So glad to be going back this year.

What was your impression? Did it influence your experience in any way? My impression was, "Well, guess we were lucky the past two years." How it influenced my burn... I spent a little more time sheltered in camp, drinking and shooting the shit with friends. The dust was surprisingly tiring, mentall...

2015 was my third burn. I'm told 2013 and 2014 (my 1st and 2nd) were very mild in terms of weather and dustiness. I'm curious: to those who have been to, say, 5+ burns, would you say 2015 was average? Dustier than usual?

DoubleOh, the Burner Express website offers tickets that include a 1-hr shopping trip. They also have a certain luggage allowance (and you can purchase a bike spot for extra). Plane+bus=less room for everything, every time. You can also look into burner-organized shipping containers. You buy cubic f...

Despite all the benefits of a cushy RV, one thing a tent has on it: alone time, whenever you want.

Blech, I was really hoping the mosquito thing was a rumor. Here's hoping those little fuckers drop dead soon.

Mmm, sunscreen AND bug spray? We're all gonna smell dee-lightful!

Be mentally prepared to strike out on your own at any given time.

Waking up on Tuesday morning to find my whole camp already out for the day was jarring. That day I learned that people won't often wait for you, and it's ok. Solo adventures are part of the experience.

Paid for my flight into BRC, and booked my Burner Express ticket to San Francisco.

1% in, 99% out.

Fuck yeah TK! I love these kinds of posts. So excited for you and the winds of change blowin' through your dusty hair.

I'm not as ready as I want to be, but if I had to leave tomorrow, I'd be totally cool. Cannot freaking wait.

Maybe because, same number of burners, more theme camps than ever?

At least, that's what Placement told us when we were not given placement. womp womp.

Nice playlist!

I'm not against taking (some) photos and videos, and I love perusing my own every so often. The rest, I can't fucking stand. But I don't know why. I'm not opposed to a little cheese (I think "Oh the Places You'll Go" is actually kinda cute). I think about TTITD all year, and love working on projects...

Initially I'm intrigued by a new layout. Challenge! Adventure! More than one big open space!

But imagine when people start stealing street signs.....

Also, agreed that entry/exit is still the biggest problem when it comes to population increase.

Protein bars! I always have one in my backpack, usually Quest.
I like protein powder in defaultia, but the mixing/rinsing of a shake bottle is too much work.

Bring fewer, more comfortable clothing. If it's not comfy, I won't wear it, no matter how sexy/cool/edgy it might look. Corsets, I'm lookin' at you.

I'm glad this discussion is happening, as I've been debating how best to get to the playa this year. My first year I was in a car, last year I took BE. I heard it went extremely smoothly in 2013, but that wasn't my experience in 2014. I took the 12:30pm bus from Reno on Sunday. Things that stand out...

Being a ginger, I bring both, and both at high SPF. I use the spray if I have to leave camp fairly quickly, or as a refresher application later in the day, I use the cream as my primary. I'm one of those who don't bother with showers on the playa ("face & hands, pits & bits" school of washing), so ...

Pharos will be (pending placement) a new camp this year, aiming for the 9:00 'hood. We are building a 20' stellated dodecahedron, using a steel frame and laser-cut panels with intricate patterns. The Wonderlamp will be illuminated at night, and include sensors to respond to people's proximity and mo...

You live in the Bay Area? I am envious for three reasons: - You can drive to the burn. No necessary messing around with planes, trains, checked luggage, shipping containers... - Thriving burner scene (naturally, being the start of it all). Searching for a camp? I don't know how you escape them out t...

Submitted my theme camp application! First time doing it and yes, it was very involved, but it was so fun to fill out and I'm very excited. It'll be a long wait to find out if we get placed!

Thanks for posting the tips, trilobyte. I'm submitting my camp's application, and it's my first time, so this was great reading.

Sounds awesome! I'm worried I won't be so lucky (this tent has been to the playa twice so far), and I'd rather not replace the tent yet. But, glad it worked for you, gold flames are badass! *ahem* Just sayin, I stenciled golden flames around the bottom of a nylon dome tent (Eureka) back in 2011, usi...