Solo, no ride from Reno, no desert experience - doable?

[RedAndBlack]

So, my *original* plan was to come to the Burning Man with a bunch of friends, one of whom went to school in the Reno area and has been to the BM before. However, due to various circumstances and scheduling conflicts, it turned out I am the only one of the group who can make it. This will be my first time.

Current situation is:

- I am travelling alone
- I have no transportation arrangements past Reno airport (I'm flying from Northeast)
- Not only have I never been to the Burning Man and have zero desert camping experience, but I have never been in a desert at all. Most of my wilderness camping experience comes from canoeing, where you usually deal with having too much water, as opposed to none at all.
- I hope to do some art, but I have no idea how my art supplies will be affected by playa dust - I may end up being just a spectator.

My question is - is it doable for me at all? I've read the Survival Guide, but I don't really trust myself not to screw up at any point, which can be problematic in such hostile environment. And I do not want to be a burden on strangers, at least not without being able to give back.

What would be more difficult, finding a ride to share (using rideshare.burningman.com, I would assume) , or trying to rent a car at the airport? Would it make sense trying to set up my own one-person camp?

Thanks a lot, any advice is much appreciated!

[theCryptofishist]

There is rideshare, and there is a desk at the airport that will help you find a ride.
Shade is the most important thing beyond food, water and tent. There are various threads about it in this subforum.
In the theme camp sub-forum there are threads by camps looking for campers.
Alone is doable, depending on your preparation and ability to improvise. You will almost certainly have nice neighbors, and if you treat them with respect, you will probably be able to hang out with them. Wait for them to invite you, and give them some time alone, though.

[AntiM]

Welcome and Go For It.

There is a sort of greeter station at the Reno airport where you can meet up with other incoming burners. You can also rent a car, and then find other riders there. Sounds like you have the resources to do so.

You won't truly be alone after ten minutes of being neighborly. There's a thread on that here.

It isn't really a desert, it is more like a dust covered parking lot with unexpected soft spots. Think talcum powder, not sand. Bring a tarp to shade your tent, plenty of water, sunblock, a Big Ass Shade Hat (or substitute) and you will be fine. (aka probably not die)

When you get to the Greeter Station past the Gate, (on the playa, not the airport) they will hand you a map and a where what when guide. That will help you find plenty of things to participate in. You can also find the volunteer sign up at info (?) at Center Camp.

Your art supplies will be thrashed. I bring some now and then, but never use them. I've done a little reference sketching, but that's all. I do have a project where you can adopt art, or put your own up to go to a new home. Do come by and find a piece to love. Or Love/Hate, it is wayward art after all.

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 89&t=37659

[waxpraxis]

Well, this is my first year, so take this all with a mote of playa dust...

When it comes to planning out there I tackled it in three steps - survival, comfort and fun.

First I nailed down the survival aspects (which started with buying my ticket, thank goodness!). Figured out food, water, transportation and shelter.

Then comfort. Planned out and built a shade structure, got a camping fan, hammock, etc.

Finally fun. Costumes, gifts, etc.

This proved to be a great way to break things down and helped me keep on top of everything I needed to plan and buy.

The other big thing I would recommend is to read the living shit of this board. Just work your way through any thread you find even mildly applies. There gold in them thar threads!

I honestly think rideshare is the way to go and then yeah, set up your camp wherever you want. If the regional I attended back in June is any indication, your neighbors will become your camp!

[theCryptofishist]

Forgot to add, don't stress about doing art your first year. just go, have fun, if you really get the jones, there's a figure drawing camp, and about 100 other ways to do arty things. It's a sensory overload, and it take most of us a year or two to find our legs.

um

um

Some of us never find them...

[Savannah]

People camp alone all the time, and have no responsibility to a camp. You'll always have immediate neighbors though. Watch out for purple theme camp areas on the map you get handed when you come in, talk to your neighbors before you set up, and you should be fine. I'm a big fan of camping small.

However, if you want to see if a camp has space for you, visit the 2011 Theme Camps forum. http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewforum.php?f=188

There are still a few camps that might be accepting members. The best thing to do is look for one that sounds like fun, and write them a detailed email or Private Message (PM symbol under the nickname of the poster) emphasizing why their theme appeals, what you have to contribute, and being ready to work or contribute a fee (or both). Here is a mere sampling of recent camps seeking members (I would encourage you to look at the forum itself, though):

If you have a nomadic spirit:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 88&t=43659

If you are a vegan:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 88&t=41103

If you support the creation and distribution of Crepes:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 88&t=41310

If you're an anti-RV swinger:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 88&t=44634

There is also a camp called Orphan Camp III; try looking them up on Facebook. They're filling up fast (if they're not already closed).

[theCryptofishist]

Here's a place where you can do art with someone else's supplies:

Art Pirates Studio and the Bad Idea Bar
The Art Pirates Studio provides space for creating on the playa with activities ranging from: drawing, painting, sculpting (welding), and various (non-moopy) crafts. In this studio, you don’t have to worry about how your work turns out, as your bad ideas can be immortalized at the Bad Idea Bar with daily specials!

(Maybe I'll drop by and try welding...Will they let me make a burn barrel first thing?)

[Elderberry]

All of the advice given previously is great! But, if it were me, I would opt for renting a car for a variety of reasons. Most important, you are in control of your situation and you can leave whenever you want to--assuming you absolutely hate it and need to escape! (Though I doubt this will be the case for you, I have seen this happen.) You can then offer to give someone else a ride to the playa.

Just to reiterate, read the survival guide, first timer's guide, all the information located here http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/ several times.

[Savannah]

Good point, Kisha!

And if you rent a cargo van, you can even sleep in it, and extend shade off of it.

[Token]

If you read the back of the ticket it says you will die if you don't know what your doing.

I personally wouldn't risk it.

Now sell me your ticket please!

[Just_Joe]

Now sell me your ticket please!

How could anyone say no to a face like that?

[RedAndBlack]

Thanks for all the advice!

In case I do fine a ride to share (honestly, all other things being equal, that's what I would rather do - it is a large unforeseen expense, after all, plus I'm not too good at driving), does it mean I also need to find a camp? Is it much more difficult to camp solo without having a vehicle? Especially for someone who is *not* a punctual, practical, detail-oriented person?

[Savannah]

No, you do not need to find a camp even if you lack a vehicle. However, if you have no camp, you might be more comfortable with a vehicle simply because you can extend a little shade off of it with a tarp, sleep in the back (if it's a cargo van or SUV) until it gets too warm at about 9am, and use it as a windbreak for a tent--although if you have a van, you don't necessarily need a tent.

Wind tends to come from the South (Center Camp) and travel up through the top of the "clock" so you'll see a lot of people camping just north of their vehicles.

The trip from Reno to the playa is short (about 2 hours) and if you travel at peak times, traffic won't be fast enough to be scary.

Another reason you might want a vehicle: if you're not practical or punctual, you might want to be able to leave on your own schedule, not someone else's.

[Galax]

Definitely doable!

My first year I came by myself, not knowing anybody else who would be going or had even gone before. Wanting to contribute as much as I could without being able to bring much of my own to share with others, I signed up for a volunteer shift at the bus depot, and the fellow who runs it was kind enough to invite me to camp with them. (In fact, this is my third burn and I am still camping with them. I love it!) We shared our dinners occasionally and some campmates let me use their camp shower once or twice, but other than that I relied on what I brought down for myself.

As others have stated, though, if you're a friendly sort you'll make friends in nothing flat out on the playa. In fact, when I compare my experience camping by myself in '07 to camping with friends in '10, I'm certain I made more new friends and had more interesting interactions with burners from around the world when I was on my own.

I did bring my car down, but I didn't rely on it as part of my camp. It sat off to the side of my tent. I gave a rideshare to somebody who flew into Reno. He had a bare minimum of supplies with him and he did just fine as well.

I remember how freaked out I was before my first burn. I read all the required and recommended reading material, along with packing checklists I found online, and I felt so overwhelmed and underprepared. In the end, I was just fine and I had the most amazing week of my entire life.

This has all been longer than I planned, but let me sum it up with this: GO FOR IT!