Playa Climate Prediction Center

[Simon of the Playa]

call me an old fart, but i've always preferred walking to riding.

[theCryptofishist]

I'm so fucking doomed...

[catinthefunnyhat]

We need to get you tank treads. They'd fit with the Apok theme, too.

[brcprincess]

2008 and 2009 were both hard going bike wise. We hung in there trying to ride across the Playa and early in the week, there were some "slipstreams" (hard packed surfaces) which you could ride on. But by the end of the week, they were chewed up and it was terrible pretty much everywhere. We wound up walking rather than riding, it was faster.

It was kinda quiet traffic wise on the Playa those years with people sticking to the inner circle and camps. Last year the Playa had a firm surface and people were out in force, it was great to see so many people riding around again. I remember in 2008-2009, there was some rain but not much? If reports are correct, this year may be the worst yet as there has been no rain at all.

[Simon of the Playa]

best.year.ever.

[dragonpilot]

The area within the BRC hexagon is 6.1 sq miles. From the 2011 outer ring road at 9:00 to the outer road at 3:00 is about 2.5 miles...

Leave your bike at home!

Hexagon?

Quite right...pentagon!

[ygmir]

The area within the BRC hexagon is 6.1 sq miles. From the 2011 outer ring road at 9:00 to the outer road at 3:00 is about 2.5 miles...

Leave your bike at home!

Hexagon?

Quite right...pentagon!

I was hoping you'd catch that.

[catinthefunnyhat]

If you ever mention the super-secret sixth side again, you'll be sent to "re-education" camp. *shudder*

[Elliot]

If you ever mention the super-secret sixth side again, you'll be sent to "re-education" camp. *shudder*

Is that where the blood sacrifices are held, to initiate all birgins?

[Canoe]

a little warm.jpg

[BBadger]

The normal construction of BRC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuEpwuREoQ

This year, however, BRC has moved to the prison-plane of Carceri:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ricd5SOegDA

[Bob]

The area within the BRC hexagon is 6.1 sq miles. From the 2011 outer ring road at 9:00 to the outer road at 3:00 is about 2.5 miles...

Leave your bike at home!

Hexagon?

Quite right...pentagon!

Whew. Thought I was going to have to change my tattoo.

[pink]

In 2008 I gave up on riding my bike. I even tried to stay in tire tread marks, but kept biffing it in dust drifts. The expanded city didn't help either.

Dust, drifts, who cares? Either ya see a lot of the city & art or ya don't. Either way, it's the best week of the year.

[Foxfur]

I put on close to 50 miles with my bicycle last year. If unable to ride this year I will not be heartbroken. It will give me more time to spend in my own neighborhood. Besides, I will be busy enough working on splodey stuff to preclude much riding.
I look forward to spending more time at ePlayan's camps.

[Sail Man]

I put on close to 50 miles with my bicycle last year. If unable to ride this year I will not be heartbroken. It will give me more time to spend in my own neighborhood. Besides, I will be busy enough working on splodey stuff to preclude much riding.
I look forward to spending more time at ePlayan's camps.

Mine will be in Michigan (or maybe Illinois). Either way I suggest you plan on riding the bike. You just might make it back to BRC in time to see the trash fence come down.

[brcprincess]

I put on close to 50 miles with my bicycle last year. If unable to ride this year I will not be heartbroken. It will give me more time to spend in my own neighborhood. Besides, I will be busy enough working on splodey stuff to preclude much riding.
I look forward to spending more time at ePlayan's camps.

I'm also looking forward to spending more time locally this year if I can't ride much. It's a great thing getting to know your neighbors! We camp in the sound camp area because we spend a fair amount of time there. In 2008-2009 we camped around 7 and G and it was a looong ride to the sound stages. This year, we'll be able to walk

[Simon of the Playa]

the most played song of BM 2012...


Darude Rides Again...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0iM_WBduyg

[Ugly Dougly]

It may not be walkable this year, but it will once again be swimmable.

[ygmir]

It may not be walkable this year, but it will once again be swimmable.

ok Dougly, go ahead and say "breast stroke"............

[Simon of the Playa]

...

[Canoe]

dont-drink-and-drive.jpg

[Clar-i-ty]

Was up the weekend before Juplaya. Very windy, but, minus 50K peeps shuffling back to camp after that insane rave, not too dusty.

Its gonna be a dusty one kids.

[Bob]

50,000?

[MacGlenver]

What factors can one look at prior to getting out on the playa to figure out how the ground will be (hardpacked, ultra dusty, sand dunes, etc)? Last year was my first burn, and I know the playa conditions were nearly ideal (hardpacked earth, minimal wind, etc.). Obviously there probably isnt much you can do to predict the wind conditions beyond checking weather.com, but how can one tell ahead of time what the ground will be like? How far out can you make a realistic prediction? What are the different forms the ground can take?

Edit:
I know rain patterns seem to matter, but how soon prior to BM does it need to rain to firm up the ground?

Thx! See you at Camp Toga!

[Sham]

In 2011, the surface of the playa was flooded and dried to a hard surface. 2012 was nearly no rain, and therefore it's very dry and powdery. It will be very dusty and windy this year.

[MacGlenver]

Good

[MacGlenver]

Snowshoes, perhaps?

Alternative: Pave the playa!

[Canoe]

Snowshoes, perhaps?...

Strap on tennis rackets.

[Sail Man]

Y'all may need to take cross country ski's.

[MacGlenver]

Y'all may need to take cross country ski's.

Brilliant!