Playa Climate Prediction Center

[BoyScoutGirl]

I may have to rethink my normal heavy suits (with back-up options, of course)...

Damn! I was holding out hope for a sighting of the SDRIKFTI* in full attire.

*Snazziest-Dressed Redhead I (sort-of) Know from the Internet

[Just_Joe]

Click on animate...
http://blackrockdesert.org/friends/playacam

Fuck you're good.... Though I was referring more to the ground conditions (eg. the video of the guy swishing his foot thru 3 inches of playa powder). Doubt that'll change in the next 5 weeks unless they get a lot of rain.
Thx tho -- this is really cool too.

That was my foot. I'll be heading back out in two weeks and will post more swishing when I return.

[maladroit]

Please note that graph shows Gerlach weather, which is probably less extreme than playa weather. Hotter and colder, and windier.

[Eric]

I may have to rethink my normal heavy suits (with back-up options, of course)...

Damn! I was holding out hope for a sighting of the SDRIKFTI* in full attire.

*Snazziest-Dressed Redhead I (sort-of) Know from the Internet

I'll be in suits, don't worry. I'm just going to rethink the heaviest ones (two years ago I was super late to the MnG because I had to wait for it to get cool enough for me not to melt in my vest, cravat & formal penguin-tails)

(yes Yggy, still looking! I haven't even found any large enough for me yet!)

[MacGlenver]

Click on animate...
http://blackrockdesert.org/friends/playacam

Fuck you're good.... Though I was referring more to the ground conditions (eg. the video of the guy swishing his foot thru 3 inches of playa powder). Doubt that'll change in the next 5 weeks unless they get a lot of rain.
Thx tho -- this is really cool too.

That was my foot. I'll be heading back out in two weeks and will post more swishing when I return.

Woot! Swishing incoming. Thx! I look forward to (dread) the video. I think the ideal demonstration would be to write my name in the dust .

Gimme an inch and ill take your wife.

[ygmir]

I may have to rethink my normal heavy suits (with back-up options, of course)...

Damn! I was holding out hope for a sighting of the SDRIKFTI* in full attire.

*Snazziest-Dressed Redhead I (sort-of) Know from the Internet

I'll be in suits, don't worry. I'm just going to rethink the heaviest ones (two years ago I was super late to the MnG because I had to wait for it to get cool enough for me not to melt in my vest, cravat & formal penguin-tails)

(yes Yggy, still looking! I haven't even found any large enough for me yet!)

you are my hero!! but dang, does no one my size give stuff to goodwill or sell it?

[RedHeaven]

Dang, you guys are keen. Buddy says its dune city up there. I think I'll actually get to use my brand new goggles this year! Woopie doopie

[mener]

Anyone have an inside scoop on this? Is it dry and hard (please) or light and fluffy like 2008 where a bike was useless?

[lemur]

its hard packed playa and nobody expects any dust.. plus, the weather is gonna be in the 70s all week..

[MikeGyver]

its hard packed playa and nobody expects any dust.. plus, the weather is gonna be in the 70s all week..

That's what I heard.

[robbidobbs]

lemur you're so bad.

The playa will be a fucking dust bowl, riding a bike will be like going thru snow! There's going to be a rain of toads and a chance of earthquakes halfway thru the event. We're talking crevasses! Fire and brimstone upon request.
Oh, and it's going to be fucking hot.

[Sundial]

[Gonzo Frothwood]

Sparkle pony jerky will be the new bacon.

[mener]

One thing I love about Burning Man, is you cant trust anyone. One year I convinced several hundred people Daft Punk was playing at some random inner city camp and there were a ton of people there. I also convinced an entire camp of virgins they weren't burning the man that year due to wind conditions. hahaha... I have heard its gonna be a hot, hellish dustbowl akin to 2008 as well. Hoping someone who has been out there lately can either confirm or deny these accusations. I guess I could just drive out there this weekend and find out myself...

[Canoe]

Does this mean that once the initial arrival is over, they'll shoot or lynch the idiots throwing tons of dust into the air by speeding (anything above 10 mph) across the playa to get to gate?

[Gonzo Frothwood]

One thing I love about Burning Man, is you cant trust anyone. One year I convinced several hundred people Daft Punk was playing at some random inner city camp and there were a ton of people there. I also convinced an entire camp of virgins they weren't burning the man that year due to wind conditions. hahaha... I have heard its gonna be a hot, hellish dustbowl akin to 2008 as well. Hoping someone who has been out there lately can either confirm or deny these accusations. I guess I could just drive out there this weekend and find out myself...

2008 was nuthin compared to this year!

[Theres Always One]

Came to this thread hoping for some honest answers....

...I should have known better.

[Sham]

All indications are a 2008 type dust bowl. It was an extremely dry winter, and the surface is turning to powder as soon as it's touched. Any wind will kick up a dust storm that will linger for quite some time.
No one will really know for sure what it will actually be until we all arrive, but this year appears to be an epic event shaping up.

[Gonzo Frothwood]

Epic DIRT!
Epic WIND!
Epic dehydration. Count on it. Prepare for it.

No, really.

[mener]

Some real answers!

Its gonna be one of the dustiest years ever and bikes will be rendered nearly pointless.

Its gonna be record breaking hot.

Theres over 40% virgins, so prepare for a long line getting in and look out if you need med services.

[FIGJAM]

I check this link a couple of times a day and most of the time it looks dusty out there.

http://blackrockdesert.org/friends/playacam

[Canoe]

Came to this thread hoping for some honest answers....
...I should have known better.

People have been watching the developing conditions, along with having fun, including reports from people who've visited on-playa.
then someone starts another thread...
what do you expect?

[trilobyte]

Merging this with the other thread.

[yurtgirl]

Well, looks like the beau and I can save a couple hundred bucks and not buy bikes in Reno. From the looks of things near our camp we might be better off just staying close. I would hate to stumble home in a dark and dusty storm to end up in the wrong sleeping bag with the wrong beau after a night of drinking. Oh, wait,I've done that and it wasn't even dusty. Never mind.

[RedHeaven]

Its the grand return of SANDPAPER TOOTH and CRUST FACE!!! and my cozy bed buddy DUUNIE. Awwwwww....snuggles

Outer Ring is totally the new trash fence.

[RedHeaven]

Shnark aside, I think bikes are very useful even during bad playa years. Sure, cant bike with ease out to the deep playa to mingle with the art, which is IMO the biggest disappointment with Super Dusty years. However a bike still gets you down to the local dive bar in a flash, which is my only true concern. Remember kiddos, BYOFT. Bring Your Own Fat Tire

[Foxfur]

Espressodude, Caffeinegirl, and I did an overnight recon campout 2 weeks ago. Drove all over, hit Jungo Road, camped near the 34 dunes. The surface near the dunes was crispy on top with 2 inches fluffy dust beneath. Open playa had a firm overlayer but broke up easy to show about 3/4 inch of loose dust. Last year I was able to do 300 foot radius donuts at 55 MPH. This year only about 45 - 50 MPH.
Flat out straight driving up to 88 MPH before it felt a bit unstable. Absolutely no hands free straight line driving was possible.

[FIGJAM]

Sounds ridable if you don't have to peddle.

[Foxfur]

Sounds ridable if you don't have to peddle.

I'm rideable but you'll hafta paddle pretty hard...

[fritz]

I check this link a couple of times a day and most of the time it looks dusty out there.

http://blackrockdesert.org/friends/playacam

Figjam, I have been watching too and it looks like it is getting dustier, maybe it's just smoke though. Only about a week ago you could see the mountains in the distance in the center of the camera, but they are now obscured.