Hey shmoogie people, I am going to BMan for the first time this year.. (hope that you'll all be nice to me.... no powder puffing...) I am concerned about the rain as i have built my tent out of material i had around the house and i am afraid it is not waterproof.... Although the Parachute i purchased will be above it.... How has the previous years been... is there much rain in the past few years?
Wildeone
Rain on the plain (or playa)
I've only been out there once, but it was a light year for rain....Given this year's weird weather, it can't hurt to be prepared. Have you had your parachute out in the rain before? They aren't inherently waterproof, and unless you make vents it'll develop "potbellies", big 'ol pools of water that bend the crap outa yer structure's frame, and then drench you and your dry goods.....
Howdy From Kalamazoo
Does it rain there? On occasion. Will it rain this year? Who the hell knows... Do yourself a huge favor and prepare for the worst. That way, etc. etc. The weather last year is completely irrelevent to what will happen this year. Folks 'round those parts have the same saying we (I see your from Vancouver. Yay!) use in Seattle, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes". BRING THE GORE-TEX. That way, it will be sure not to rain.
You should prepare for the ugliest weather scenario you can think of. That way when it doesn't happen you have the luxury of being in a sturdy, solid structure.Although the Parachute i purchased will be above it.... How has the previous years been... is there much rain in the past few years?
The weather has been bad in the past. Hasn't rained in a good while but don't be checking for last year's weather to try to figure what this year's will bring.
If you can, prepare for every type of situation. I say this because I've seen every type of weather situation on the playa.
Hell, I'll go ahead and say it...
It will rain at least two days during the event this year. It will cause havoc. Many will try to leave and make a bad situation worse. Stay put, stay dry.
Desert dogs drink deep.
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dragonfly Jafe
- Posts: 1877
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:08 am
- Location: the Oregon Trail
Hurricane? Blizzard? Sub-Zero temperatures?Badger wrote: I say this because I've seen every type of weather situation on the playa.
Seriously though, if you bring a structure that is not waterproof, it WILL rain, and it WILL be your fault (and we know who you are now!) So be prepared and then enjoy the sun. Or not.
A Mighty Wind is Blowing
The worse mistake you can make is thinking you got the weather figured out at BM. This will be my 8th year and I've seen 110 degree days for a week to the mighty winds of 2000. In 2000 the sun came out on Tuesday and only peaked down on us a few times through out the rest of the week. Dust storms all day long, people's structures blowing down the streets. Our 15'X30' dome caved in, Couldn't get the balloon top down in time.
It sucked! But that's also what makes BM great too, it's an adventure on many levels.
Anyway should this be as windy as people are predicting and anything like 2000 have a great plan on keeping your structure secure. If using balloon material think about what the function of that material is and what it will do in 50mph winds. Make sure you have a fail safe plan, i.e. how fast can you get it down before the wind takes your structure away from you. Or how fast you can take a knife to it. Best plan is to cut vents in the balloon material, Half moon flaps work great. If not for the rebar we had staking down our dome, I have no doubt in my mind that it would have blown down the street and probably killed someone.
As to rain, be prepared. I've been in a couple of hour+ rainstorms on the playa.
The rule is prepare for life in Antarctica to death valley. If you can survive in both place you should be ok.
Should you need shelter come visit us at the SmoochDome. That is
if our shelter doesn't come visiting you first.
NoFlash
It sucked! But that's also what makes BM great too, it's an adventure on many levels.
Anyway should this be as windy as people are predicting and anything like 2000 have a great plan on keeping your structure secure. If using balloon material think about what the function of that material is and what it will do in 50mph winds. Make sure you have a fail safe plan, i.e. how fast can you get it down before the wind takes your structure away from you. Or how fast you can take a knife to it. Best plan is to cut vents in the balloon material, Half moon flaps work great. If not for the rebar we had staking down our dome, I have no doubt in my mind that it would have blown down the street and probably killed someone.
As to rain, be prepared. I've been in a couple of hour+ rainstorms on the playa.
The rule is prepare for life in Antarctica to death valley. If you can survive in both place you should be ok.
Should you need shelter come visit us at the SmoochDome. That is
if our shelter doesn't come visiting you first.
NoFlash
A Mighty Wind is Blowing
The worse mistake you can make is thinking you got the weather figured out at BM. This will be my 8th year and I've seen 110 degree days for a week to the mighty winds of 2000. In 2000 the sun came out on Tuesday and only peaked down on us a few times through out the rest of the week. Dust storms all day long, people's structures blowing down the streets. Our 15'X30' dome caved in, Couldn't get the balloon top down in time.
It sucked! But that's also what makes BM great too, it's an adventure on many levels.
Anyway should this be as windy as people are predicting and anything like 2000 have a great plan on keeping your structure secure. If using balloon material think about what the function of that material is and what it will do in 50mph winds. Make sure you have a fail safe plan, i.e. how fast can you get it down before the wind takes your structure away from you. Or how fast you can take a knife to it. Best plan is to cut vents in the balloon material, Half moon flaps work great. If not for the rebar we had staking down our dome, I have no doubt in my mind that it would have blown down the street and probably killed someone.
As to rain, be prepared. I've been in a couple of hour+ rainstorms on the playa.
The rule is prepare for life in Antarctica to death valley. If you can survive in both place you should be ok.
Should you need shelter come visit us at the SmoochDome. That is
if our shelter doesn't come visiting you first.
NoFlash
It sucked! But that's also what makes BM great too, it's an adventure on many levels.
Anyway should this be as windy as people are predicting and anything like 2000 have a great plan on keeping your structure secure. If using balloon material think about what the function of that material is and what it will do in 50mph winds. Make sure you have a fail safe plan, i.e. how fast can you get it down before the wind takes your structure away from you. Or how fast you can take a knife to it. Best plan is to cut vents in the balloon material, Half moon flaps work great. If not for the rebar we had staking down our dome, I have no doubt in my mind that it would have blown down the street and probably killed someone.
As to rain, be prepared. I've been in a couple of hour+ rainstorms on the playa.
The rule is prepare for life in Antarctica to death valley. If you can survive in both place you should be ok.
Should you need shelter come visit us at the SmoochDome. That is
if our shelter doesn't come visiting you first.
NoFlash
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Captain Goddammit
- Posts: 8589
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:34 am
- Burning Since: 2000
- Camp Name: First Camp
- Location: Seattle, WA
Re: A Mighty Wind is Blowing
That both is and isn't the funniest thing I've read on eplaya!Burp! wrote:Should you need shelter come visit us at the SmoochDome. That is
if our shelter doesn't come visiting you first.
NoFlash
GreyCoyote: "At this rate it wont be long before he is Admiral Fukkit."
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Guest
Thank you all
I hope that your tents and domes don't come to visit us.... but you all are always welcome (of course)......But i will prepare for the worst.... I suppose my "home made tent" will either need waterproofing or i will just pick up some Nylon to sew onto the creation...... I would feel bad cutting half moon slices in the parachute that i got but with the description of it in 50mph winds (and realizing the real purpose it was created) seems like the only thing to do..
Thanks for all the insight.... I have seen the light and have been healed..
Allan
Thanks for all the insight.... I have seen the light and have been healed..
Allan