Arrival question.

Phil G · Post by **Phil G** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:20 am

Hey all,
Last year was my first year and I was part of a large camp that was allowed early entrance. Not this time:(

This year its me, some friends and my RV coming in with regular tickets. I have no idea what to expect for entrance. What is it like at midnight sunday? Where can I park to get in line? How early? If I roll into Gerlach mid day sunday what is my best course of action? I have some friends who plan on leaving Reno around 3 AM, what is their world going to be like?

Lots of questions there, sorry. I'm just not sure how things go down. I really appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Phil

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:40 am

Hey Phil!

Never been their at 12:01 Monday morning..but I imagine might be a few people. Think if that's your goal..go for it! Just make sure you have EVERYTHING you need and won't need to stop at the store in Empire!

Phil G · Post by **Phil G** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:46 am

Turkey Volume Guessing Man!

Yeah, midnight may be a grand adventure. Actually I'll be coming in from the north.

Thanks for the encouragement Tom!

Phil

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:03 am

Ill be on playa when you arrive...just never did the first minute thing. Stop by the Black Rock Roller Disco!

JezebelinHell · Post by **JezebelinHell** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 5:57 am

I've done the midnight (or damn close to it) arrival in the past. It's a long process, but there are porta potties outside the gate and if you're not the driver you can get out and socialize with other people waiting in line. I think the longest I've ever waited in line was around two hours, but it was really crazy that year. The population is growing though, so you might be out there a while.

Chentelle · Post by **Chentelle** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:02 am

The BM guide says that after dark arrivals should wait until morning to find and set-up a camp location. How does this work for 12:01 arrival?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:18 am

well......12:01 is morning..........isn't it?

also,
If your setting up in the dark:
as you pull into your prospective camp spot, if you feel a bump,or, thump, and maybe muffled screams, back out and find another spot.......
I had to do that several times until I found an opening last year....

good luck

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:58 am

Last year I got in about 10am opening day. About a 5-10 mintue wait at the greeters station.

Badger

Phil G · Post by **Phil G** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:46 am

Thanks everybody!

So midnight does not sound as crazy as I thought. When can I get in line? Do they not want people driving out until Midnight? Or can I drive out to the gate sunday evening and hop in line?

Would I be smart to just when til the sun was coming up?

Thanks again!!!!!

gaminwench · Post by **gaminwench** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:39 am

My camp has worked the opening greeters shift twice...the lines aren't too bad, but I don't know how long the folks were parked before the opening. By 2 AM it gets more spaced out - arriving after 2, you'll probably just 'sail' through. If you don't have pre-planned camp space, it is best to wait until sunup to cruise for a spot - it's hard to tell at 3 AM what your neighbor situation looks like...

Phil G · Post by **Phil G** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:42 am

Thats great info Gaminwench! I'll have an RV and a Car and a handful of burners. If all goes as planned I'll have a spot reserved, however if that falls through I'll wait til sun up.

Peace!

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:53 am

>>>>dark arrivals should wait until morning to find and set-up a camp location<<<<

correct,,, it would suck to set up camp only to find your camping on a spot that has been reserved...

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:15 pm

> it would suck to set up camp only to find your camping on a
> spot that has been reserved...

It sucks for more than just the recent arrivees. I was awakened at dark:thirty one year by a car load of new arrivals rejoicing at finally getting there and finding a great spot to camp. Unfortunately, it was a theme camp, and they weren't members. Fortunately, we got them to leave before they'd pitched their tents or done more than just wake everybody up.

If you're going to arrive in the dark, feel free. But _please_ read your map so that you don't find a great spot real close to the esplanade that's magically available only to discover it's a theme camp you're not a member of, and _please_ don't slam your car doors, hammer in stakes, and in general wake everybody up in a 100 mile radius when its four o'clock in the morning.

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:44 pm

phil wrote: and _please_ don't slam your car doors, hammer in stakes, and in general wake everybody up in a 100 mile radius when its four o'clock in the morning.

Ummmm isn't this Burning Man?

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:07 pm

Fire_Moose wrote:
phil wrote: and _please_ don't slam your car doors, hammer in stakes, and in general wake everybody up in a 100 mile radius when its four o'clock in the morning.

Ummmm isn't this Burning Man?

Yes, it's burning man, not "be an asshole" man.

Badger

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:14 pm

Phil G wrote:Turkey Volume Guessing Man!

Yeah, midnight may be a grand adventure. Actually I'll be coming in from the north.

Thanks for the encouragement Tom!

Phil

you'll be fine compared to everyone else. last year from the north as we got to the playa road turn before gerlach we could see the endless string of lights past gerlach to empire and all the way down. it was almost midnight on sunday and we we had our site and first drinks by 2am on the roof while watching the endless string that followed us. us northies have way less of a line to wait in. at least until the playa road.

*i do recall there being police lights in the front of the light string as if to be governing the speed of traffic. no police from the north road less travelled.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:19 pm

Last year gate and greeter's were overwhelmed at 12:01 and it stayed that way for hours. If you have virgins in the car, wait until a little later so you get the full experience of being "greeted" to the city - the greeters can't take the time to do a full and proper fun welcome with the line going all the way back to Empire.

Lord Of Ruin · Post by **Lord Of Ruin** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:09 pm

I'm not sure what entrance people used that said they sailed through on opening night, but here are some tips from a Gate (NOT GREETERS) staffer.

You arrive at the Gate first. Once you are searched, then tickets taken you proceed slowly to greeters about a mile down the road.

On opening night, Gate is usually backed up almost to the highway. Why is this? Because up until then, Theme Camps are arriving early to get in and set up. Yep, right up until "public" opening time.

Even Theme Camp vehicles need to be searched, so it can take a bit as they usually haul lots of crap.

For some people, the wait in the Gate line at opening is part of BM ritual. Once the line is no longer moving, they turn off their cars to cut down exhaust but start interacting with their neighbors.

It's hard, but generally you should NOT get out of your car unless the Gate is closed. It very rarely closes at all, so....you guessed it...you shouldn't get out of the car. Why? Because you'll get hit. Yes, every year at Gate, people are hit. They aren't focused, they get excited, their drunk/high, whatever. And Gate staff are watching for that and STILL get hit. I was two feet away from the person getting hit last year. Person came up to a full stop. We asked them to put the car in park. They said they did and started talking to us. When they got out to help us search, low and behold it's not in park, but rather just had their foot on the brake. Ooops! Gate staffer hit!

So, there's that.

Depending on the makeup of the vehicles ahead of you, you might have a wait of 1-2 hours on opening night around that time.

If you didn't have a need to be in there right then, I'd personally find a place to hole up in Reno until about 4-5am, then make the trek. You'll come in with a nice sunrise, you'll have fresh people coming on Gate AND Greeters with fresh energy, and you'll spend a little time at each to get the experience, but not so much that you feel like you've been sitting in a traffic jam.

This tactic also helps in placing yourself into a campsite! Nothing sucks more than thinking you've got a good place and having to move because you are inadvertantly in a theme camps space. D'oh!

Finally, once you are approaching the turnoff to BM, take a chill pill and relax. All of us at Gate and Greeters are volunteers. We WANT to get you all safely and efficiently into the city so we can party with you later. Getting all wound up because you *think* you see a traffic jam won't help your spirits. Even huge backups move quickly there, so just relax!

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:36 pm

mojo wrote:Last year gate and greeter's were overwhelmed at 12:01 and it stayed that way for hours. If you have virgins in the car, wait until a little later so you get the full experience of being "greeted" to the city - the greeters can't take the time to do a full and proper fun welcome with the line going all the way back to Empire.

Yep what Mojo said is right on. Also Many were parting while in line and some got BUSTED. The cops used the night toys and waited for them to get past greeters..... The same rules in default world still apply while on the Playa...

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:01 pm

Every year people try to park big RVs in camps on the esplanade on Friday!!!
By that time, even camp members couldn't park something that size.
I don't know why they are even looking close in that late in the week.
Unless you find a space someone didn't show up for, better start five blocks back.

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:52 am

exactly - dot be the asshat backing over everything trying to stuff that mnster into a spot for a VW bug.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:45 am

I've been one of Those People who happens to be approaching BRC as the event opens...the temptation to zoom on 447 so that you get Home "on time" HAS to be avoided, even if traffic is light. There are obstacles (both organic and inorganic) that can lay low the unwary. Witness this (fictional) overheard conversation at the Greeters:

Greeter: Welcome Home! (*big hug*) That hood ornament is AMAZING..it looks JUST like a real cow!!! And are those Jackrabbit Mudflaps?

Joe Noob: (sheepishly) Welllll......

Phil G · Post by **Phil G** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 1:06 am

Thanks for all the info!!!

I heard me a an idea that I liked. Coming from the north, chill in Cedarville for a time, then role on in. I'm thinking maybe 5 am or so Monday morning.

Yep, virgins in tow. Have an 18 footer, a small 4x8 trailer and my Subaru. Setting up in the light is sure appealing.

If I have a spot reserved with a camp (crossing my fingers) rolling in while still dark thirty should be ok yes?

Thanks (again) everybody.

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:42 am

Actually Theme Camp placement has been changed for this year. If you have a registered theme camp or village, you MUST get early arrival and set up. At midnight when the event opens, placement ends. Naturally youmust be careful not to park where a theme camp or village is just setting up, but in reality, areas reserved for theme camps lose their space at Midnight when the event opens. See the section I pulled from my Theme Camp Placement information.

Theme camp placement WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR! All camps must have
checked in with their placer and be on playa NO LATER THAN SUNDAY,
AUGUST 24th AT MIDNIGHT. Placement ends once the gates open for the
general public at 12:01 am Monday morning. THIS IS NEW!

The only way you can guarantee your placement is by entering the city
BEFORE THE EVENT OPENS. You must have requested early arrival passes
to get into the event before the event opens. If you have not done
so, please contact your placer IMMEDIATELY to arrange an appropriate
number of early arrival passes.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:01 am

Phil G wrote:Thanks for all the info!!!

I heard me a an idea that I liked. Coming from the north, chill in Cedarville for a time, then role on in. I'm thinking maybe 5 am or so Monday morning.

Yep, virgins in tow. Have an 18 footer, a small 4x8 trailer and my Subaru. Setting up in the light is sure appealing.

If I have a spot reserved with a camp (crossing my fingers) rolling in while still dark thirty should be ok yes?

Thanks (again) everybody.

Remember you are welcome at Eagle's Nest RV Park in Tionesta, Ca.. 160 miles from Black Rock City, about 70 from Cedarville. FREE CAMPING, WATER, SHOWERS..

Burners stay here free, leave when they are ready.. 3 hours at 50mph to BRC from Tionesta, Ca.

Also, for those last minute supplies or Booze, Four Corners Market and top off the gas tank the Chevron Gas Station in Alturas are staying open Sunday night for burners on their way.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 12:19 pm

Whoa!!!!

That's a might kind thing to offer.

Finnegan · Post by **Finnegan** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:49 pm

Last year gate and greeter's were overwhelmed at 12:01 and it stayed that way for hours. If you have virgins in the car, wait until a little later so you get the full experience of being "greeted" to the city - the greeters can't take the time to do a full and proper fun welcome with the line going all the way back to Empire.

Agreed here too. I was there Greeting that shift (which is great fun, btw) but the downside is that we needed to get you through the gates as fast as burnably possible, so many missed out on the whole experience.

I could see how it would be nigh impossible to wait, though.

phil · Post by **phil** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:04 pm

Fire_Moose wrote:
phil wrote: and _please_ don't slam your car doors, hammer in stakes, and in general wake everybody up in a 100 mile radius when its four o'clock in the morning.

Ummmm isn't this Burning Man?

Sure, and I get to make my request and give my point of view.

Right? Same as you.

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:03 pm

Ya. I was just making a "Why would you want to SLEEP at BM?" joke

fenwick · Post by **fenwick** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:29 pm

How bad and how long does the bad Kharma last if you accidentally run over a sleeping burner in their tent?

NEW MOON

Last year - was a full moon including total lunar eclipse so their was lots of light in the night sky.

This made setting camp easy under the light of a full moon.

This year - it is a "new moon" - very little help from the celestial nieghbor with regards to light all week long as the sun sets.

Please- please be careful when roaming the city as you arrive in the dark.

Drive within the speed limit, and if possible, have a few folks in front walking just ahead to spot tents and sleeping burners.

During the week - I will have no pity on a darkwad whom insists on walking deep playa in complete darkness. It will enhance my burning week to blind you with my bike's headlight. If your spotted, I will do my best to avoid you by a reasonable distance, but if I come across you suddenly without warning due to your desire to be a darkwad - the least you expect is some contact with my bike that might leave a bruise. Perhaps that bruise will inspire you to get lit before the next night.

Not meaning to be an ass - just realistic.