Sand bags

lebarondescarteun · Post by **lebarondescarteun** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:46 pm

can you use the dirt from the playa to fill sand bags?

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:48 pm

I don't think you are supposed to poke the durt at all except for tent stakes.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:55 pm

Not supposed to stir up the dirt any more than necessary. What do you need sand bags for? If it's to hold something down, pounding a stake down is easier and more effective.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:27 am

See http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... nment.html

Do not excavate holes in the playa. Small potholes (6 inches or less in diameter & less that 2 feet deep) used for structural support are the sole exception. When digging such a hole it is best to use an auger or a pothole digger, NOT a shovel. Bag the dirt you are removing so that it does not blow away in the wind. Refill the hole by carefully tamping the soil back into place. Repeat this process every few inches while dampening the soil. An inverted sledgehammer works well for this. Experience has shown that the larger holes easily erode within a year's time, even when carefully backfilled. They leave a visible mark and create a serious safety hazard to drivers throughout the rest of the year.

Bad splelchecking -- they mean "post holes", not potholes.

In addition, the BLM prohibits foreign material on the playa -- note that although a layer of sand is used to prevent burn scars at the Man and other bonfires, it's all scooped up immediately after the event. But if sandbags are an integral part of your camp or art thing, phone the Burning Man office in SF and ask. You'd still have to find sand somewhere other than the playa.

lebarondescarteun · Post by **lebarondescarteun** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:32 pm

I was just tossing the idea around.When I was in the Army,bunkers made out of sand bags and steel drums made for some pretty sound shelter but in the long run I'm sure it would be a pain.

Archantael · Post by **Archantael** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:56 pm

I like how Bob skimmed the post and missed the obvious question and instead gave us ORG speak.

The question was asked about filling empty sandbags with materials (dirt)from the playa. I'm sitting here looking at a Nalgene jar filled with loose playa and remembering what it took to fill that up without breaking the surface. It doesn't seem that practical to use loose playa to fill up the bags, and IMHO it wouldn't have the weight needed to be of much use. Also the surface can vary from year to year, about the time you make playa filled sandbags a critical part of your camp plan you'll get out there to find a hardpack playa that won't offer much to work with.

Despite the ORG speak Bob has a good site on playa structures and how to secure them...you may already have the link but if not here's the main site. http://www.geocities.com/potatotrap/

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:43 pm

I like the bunker theme.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:06 pm

Use water for weight.

How about a tank decoy set off in the playa with antennae and exhaust smoke?
A friend has a real one.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue May 01, 2007 12:31 am

lebarondescarteun wrote:I was just tossing the idea around.When I was in the Army,bunkers made out of sand bags and steel drums made for some pretty sound shelter but in the long run I'm sure it would be a pain.

Knock yourself out. I trucked almost a ton of sand in from [undisclosed location] a few years ago and made a small beach in front of my tent.