Playa weather conditions / playa "floor"?

thedrunkenmonkey · Post by **thedrunkenmonkey** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 1:41 am

This may be an interesting question, but...

I have heard a rumor (unconfirmed, as much may well be before arriving at the playa) that the playa is not "conditioned" the way it normally is this year.

In other words, Nevada has been in drought. Therefore the playa is up to six inches of "soft" in some places, without the hardpack normally wrought by the rains.

Has anyone been to the site? Can anyone confirm? Am I being a BM virgin wussy who's still trying to think of what he's supposed to bring and keeps thinking, "Tarpies tarpies tarpies tarpies REBAR REBAR tarpies tarpies tarpies tarpies REBAR REBAR" in the vain hopes that this will make all the nasty icky stuff maybe go away?

<- wants very much not to uncake six inches of gooey cornstarch playa from his boots, car, bike, etc.

TheJudge · Post by **TheJudge** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 8:30 am

The playa may be soft is spots, but the area where the city is built should be fine. With the amount of water trucks spraying the road several times a day and the cars and trucks rolling over it, the roads should be pretty packed by the time the city opens up on the 30th.

I've always taken those PLAYA CONDITION reports with a grain of salt.

Six inches of soft playa seems a little extreme, but you never know.

waltsnipe · Post by **waltsnipe** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:53 am

Supposedly, the surface is like it was in '01......which is about 2 inches of loose dust attributable to dry conditions earlier in the year. That year, crossing open playa on a bike was tougher but certainly doable. I wouldn't count on watering to make too much difference at this point, other that keeping some of that dust airborne.

waltsnipe

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:07 am

'01 really sucked. I stopped even trying to ride my bike because of the effort required in the loose playa. And in one of the whiteouts I tripped on an tire rut and sprained my knee (word to the wise). Oh and I got playa foot. Not looking forward to a repeat, but wouldn't miss it either.

Taniwha · Post by **Taniwha** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 7:27 pm

I was there over the past weekend - the BM site is pretty hard - there's a really soft patch maybe 5 miles north of it though

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:05 pm

Today I had a chance to walk around on the site. Based on my years of experience out there before the burn, my best estimate is that this year will be a lot like 1995. It will be slightly softer, but it could also be a little harder in places. The dust could really kick up, or it could be one of those years where there's not so much dust.

Drink lots of water. And make sure you piss clear. Obey the rules, and report any offenders. Remember - LEAVE NO TRACE!

That's the spirit! Now you're catching on!!

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:45 pm

bronco wrote: It will be slightly softer, but it could also be a little harder in places. The dust could really kick up, or it could be one of those years where there's not so much dust.

Bronco, that left me just as confused about playa conditions as ever. How would it compare with last year's conditions?

_tears_ · Post by **_tears_** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:47 pm

Tancorix wrote:
bronco wrote: It will be slightly softer, but it could also be a little harder in places. The dust could really kick up, or it could be one of those years where there's not so much dust.
Bronco, that left me just as confused about playa conditions as ever. How would it compare with last year's conditions?

i am glad i am not the only one a little confused!

Taniwha · Post by **Taniwha** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:52 pm

Tancorix wrote:How would it compare with last year's conditions?

I think it wont be much different unless the wind really comes up. There is one difference - the surface at BRC really wasn't as 'wiped clean' this year as previous years - lots of old tire tracks - the playa really needs a few really good wet winters at this point

cg_in_lv · Post by **cg_in_lv** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:22 pm

I was on the Playa at the site of this year's BRC the weekend before last. Everywhere I drove was solid but the top crust was more 'crumbly' than I remember it last year before the event.

Some pix here, including a couple of close-ups of the surface.

http://www.burningmanlv.net/pages/pix-04.htm

Lysergic · Post by **Lysergic** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 1:40 am

cg_in_lv wrote:Some pix here, including a couple of close-ups of the surface. http://www.burningmanlv.net/pages/pix-04.htm

THX YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE RECENT PICTURES OF THE PLAYA CONDITIONS!!!

I'm a n00b burner this year but I was trying to figure out how thick/soft the dirt is gonna be. I dont' want to be riding a BMX bike through straight sand.

Like I said, never been there b4 but it looks soooooooo sweet!

I can't wait!

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 5:10 am

It ain't sand, it ain't sand, it ain't sand.

Imagine a giant CoverGirl compact of face powder, packed nice and hard when you purchase it, but a few swipes of the powderpuff, and voila, poofy dust.

Okay, so I'm not good at analogy.

Angel Ben · Post by **Angel Ben** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 6:03 am

AntiM wrote:It ain't sand, it ain't sand, it ain't sand.

Imagine a giant CoverGirl compact of face powder, packed nice and hard when you purchase it, but a few swipes of the powderpuff, and voila, poofy dust.

Okay, so I'm not good at analogy.

If there's a massive epidemic of fashion conscious newbies with "playa face" this year, it's totally your fault.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 4:53 pm

i'd say the conditions are exactly like 1995 with a hint of 1994 and a dash of 2001. when the wind kicks up, it almost feels like 1994 flowing into a 1997. at noonish, when the wind is low... mmmm... it's just like 2000 (straight up dog).

dusk definately has a taste of 1993 - but only for about 20 minutes... then it fades into a soft, dark 2002. oh... 2002.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 2:31 pm

I have consumed many of great vintages of Dom Plyadust, but I do not remember any as impressive as the 1996. Even richer than the brilliant 1995, the 1996 is still tightly wound, but reveals tremendous aromatic intensity, offering hints of Cheese Whiz, Wheat Thins, match sticks, and roasted Chapstick. Medium to full-bodied, with crisp acidity buttressing the dust wealth of Cheetos and the intensity of a red glow stick. The 2004 comes across as extraordinarly zesty, well-delineated, and incredibly long on the palate. I understand the new 2004 is reminisant of the extrordinary playa dust of 1996 and thus Maestro Harvey deserves considerable accolades for this prodigious example of Dom Playadust. Anticipated maturity: now-2020+. :wink:

Burp! · Post by **Burp!** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 11:39 pm

Ha! That's friggin funny!!!!

But seriously, the Playa dust of 1996 by far exceeds all other years since. though 2000 was pretty nice. IMO

NF

waltsnipe · Post by **waltsnipe** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:36 am

And (paraphrasing Eric Idle), it has a bouquet like Larry Harvey's armpit.

Playa weather conditions / playa "floor"?

Playa weather conditions / playa "floor"?

like '01

Re: Playa weather conditions / playa "floor"?

Playa Conditiona

Re: Playa Conditiona

Playa Dust

this year's vintage