I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
- Fade Monkey
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:37 am
- Burning Since: 2003
- Camp Name: The Friend Zone
- Location: Oak Park, CA
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I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
Everyone says that if there are blue flags surrounding a campsite, then it's placed and you shouldn't set up camp there. Ok ... but this has always struck me as confusing. Image you have a placed camp surrounded by flags:
... and an unplaced camp next door:
Now imagine that next door to the unplaced camp is another placed camp. Now, there's a problem. The open area NOW looks like it's a placed camp because it's surrounded by flags! How does it work when there are two placed camps with an open area in between??
- bigbluedoggy
- Posts: 1619
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Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
Corners have double flags and there are single flags placed along edges. So if an area is not placed it will not have the single edge marking flags. Also, a placed camp will have a yellow flag in front with the camp number on it. unplaced areas will not have that flag.
A plan is what you vary from.
Destiny Lounge has been proven to cause cuteness in small kittens.
Destiny Lounge 3D - located in the 3:00 Plaza at G for 2019! Look for our art installation too: The Temple uv Enlightenment!
Destiny Lounge has been proven to cause cuteness in small kittens.
Destiny Lounge 3D - located in the 3:00 Plaza at G for 2019! Look for our art installation too: The Temple uv Enlightenment!
- Fade Monkey
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:37 am
- Burning Since: 2003
- Camp Name: The Friend Zone
- Location: Oak Park, CA
- Contact:
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
So - that helps a lot... Just to update the picture, this is the right way to look at it?
If I'm driving along a road looking for an open spot, I should be looking for a spot between double flags with NO yellow flag in between them or between a double flag and the edge of the road (this would be an open corner lot, which probably doesn't exist ... but theoretically).
Some camps have fire or access roads along a side - if open campers look to camp between double flags, we're not going to end up camped on an access/fire road (not a radial), right?
Fade
If I'm driving along a road looking for an open spot, I should be looking for a spot between double flags with NO yellow flag in between them or between a double flag and the edge of the road (this would be an open corner lot, which probably doesn't exist ... but theoretically).
Some camps have fire or access roads along a side - if open campers look to camp between double flags, we're not going to end up camped on an access/fire road (not a radial), right?
Fade
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
I always approached it under the assumption that it is solid placed camps one after another. In other words, when you finally get to a street far enough back that there are NO flags, you can set up camp. Take a look at the 2018 moop map. Only the spots with no name are open camping.
https://journal.burningman.org/2019/04/ ... ntability/
The placed camps took up every inch until H street. If it's not occupied when the gates open, (that is if nobody from that camp has shown up), it's fair game. If anyone from that camp has been formally placed on their spot you can't camp there.
https://journal.burningman.org/2019/04/ ... ntability/
The placed camps took up every inch until H street. If it's not occupied when the gates open, (that is if nobody from that camp has shown up), it's fair game. If anyone from that camp has been formally placed on their spot you can't camp there.
Those aren't buttermilk biscuits I'm lying on Savannah
Pictures or it didn't happen Greycoyote
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Pictures or it didn't happen Greycoyote
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
I think most all of the areas will be flagged, begging for a small spot will be the theme this year for us open campers. Soon it will be walk-in only unless you do a placed theme camp. If I sound like I am pissed, I am. They want only registered theme camps, us lesser people are simply out of luck. Last year it was very difficult to find anything open early Sunday, this year will be flagged all the way out.
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" I am a controlled substance". Savannah.
" I am a controlled substance". Savannah.
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
Last year we got in less than an hour after gates opened & we had a hard time finding a 20 foot wide sliver of open land to set up our small camp. As much as I worry it may result in conflict with my burn neighbors, I feel like I will have no choice but to pay no attention to the plots of land that have been marked off by random trinkets left strewn about holding land for people that are nowhere to be found. Hopefully we can make friendly with whoever shows up later.
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
This year's land acquisitions by open campers will consist of pure piracy and the certain possibility of fisticuffs between the frustrated parties.
The Us vs. Them sentiment is alive.
The Us vs. Them sentiment is alive.
Sooner or later, it will get real strange...
11th Principle: Depussyfication - Keeping Burning Man potentially lethal. Token
11th Principle: Depussyfication - Keeping Burning Man potentially lethal. Token
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
We'll be a small camp around 7 & B and have some extra space. Since we ran into the no-space problem in open camping last year, we will not hunt for campers online but instead go to the outer rings on Sunday or Monday and try to find some lost-looking awesome people to invite.
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
We've been on E, F, or G streets for the last few years. We just flag down the friendly looking folks in cars, (not RVs), and direct them in behind us or in our space now that we are a placed camp. I don't know if many people will be trolling B street.
Those aren't buttermilk biscuits I'm lying on Savannah
Pictures or it didn't happen Greycoyote
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Pictures or it didn't happen Greycoyote
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
Yeah that's why I mentioned we'd be going to the outer rings looking for campers.
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
Right after gates open, there is space on the corners next to the portos.
I did this 2 yrs and it wasn't bad on H street.
Meet lot's of people in the mornings, and restock tp for the "pottie project".
I did this 2 yrs and it wasn't bad on H street.
Meet lot's of people in the mornings, and restock tp for the "pottie project".

"Don't buy ur Burn...........Build ur Burn!"
"If I can't find an answer, I'll create one!!!"
Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
"If I can't find an answer, I'll create one!!!"
Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
Maybe I'm being posh, but I can't bring myself to camp near the portos. I've experienced too many afternoon wind gusts wafting the smell of other people's hot shit into the air to do it. They are definitely prime targets for open land... but shit.
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
H street has never been bad (maybe by 10 and 2).
Only got a wiff when they got pumped out.
Otherwise......nothing.
Only got a wiff when they got pumped out.
Otherwise......nothing.
"Don't buy ur Burn...........Build ur Burn!"
"If I can't find an answer, I'll create one!!!"
Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
"If I can't find an answer, I'll create one!!!"
Fuck Im Good Just Ask Me
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
It’s not the odor, it’s the constant slamming of the spring loaded doors that’s annoying as all hell.
- Lonesomebri
- Posts: 2636
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- Camp Name: CAMP THREAT
- Location: NorCal
Re: I still don't understand blue flags and placed vs. unplaced
At the local hardware store I believe I have found a way for myself around all the confusion.
Camp THREAT: Dominating the porta potties 4 years running.
"If this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others?"
- Voltaire, Candide
"If this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others?"
- Voltaire, Candide