Playa Conditions 2014

[FIGJAM]

Yup, couldn't see for all the rain, but a little tap on the wiper motor got us moving again.

Then as soon as we pulled off the pavement the rain stopped.

[maladroit]

The fluffy crust will generally get stirred up by traffic, and then blow away in spectacular dust storms. I think prevailing winds might control whether 3:00 or 9:00 has more drifts of dust.

The city streets will be the same as usual. We pack them down with trucks and cars and bikes, and spray water on them all week, you'll get plenty of use out of a bike.

On the playa itself you will mainly see hardpack, with scattered drifts and soft spots. I think dry or wet winters only really affect the number of those spots rather than the surface conditions everywhere. You'll get plenty of use out of a bike if you dodge the dust drifts, or if you have a fat tire bike you can ignore them

[1durphul]

On the playa itself you will mainly see hardpack, with scattered drifts and soft spots. I think dry or wet winters only really affect the number of those spots rather than the surface conditions everywhere. You'll get plenty of use out of a bike if you dodge the dust drifts, or if you have a fat tire bike you can ignore them

When is the borg investing in that vacuum?

[Eric]

The city streets will be the same as usual. We pack them down with trucks and cars and bikes, and spray water on them all week, you'll get plenty of use out of a bike.

On the playa itself you will mainly see hardpack, with scattered drifts and soft spots. I think dry or wet winters only really affect the number of those spots rather than the surface conditions everywhere. You'll get plenty of use out of a bike if you dodge the dust drifts, or if you have a fat tire bike you can ignore them

Going to have to disagree - in 2010 the 3:00 side was so bad it was hard to ride a bike down the streets - Fandango had to set the bar back about 20' - 30' from the Esplanade because the dunes were so thick they were difficult to walk through. I had to dismount my bike pulling into camp, otherwise I'd take a spill upon hitting the dunes - and the corner of 3:30 had dunes so bad you had to push out into the open playa before you could get on your bike. There were huge dunes all across the playa, and while you could ride your bike, you had to watch carefully to make sure you didn't hit one.

In 2012 I only visited a friends camp at E & 3something a couple times, because the dunes were so thick on E it was almost impossible to get a bike through them (I had two friends take a spill right after each-other that year).

Don't take the horror stories of bad playa conditions lightly - if it's a year for a soft playa, you're legs will get a work-out trying to move your bike.

[LowePro]

Reporting rain today and forecast for the next few days.
Anyone on-site dry enough to elaborate?

[Ano]

In 2012 I had some friends living off of 3:00 and I. Between the Esplanade and their camp was many blocks of dunes. It was awful to ride through... I feel bad for the 3:00 side this year if reports are true.

Last I heard was that it "smelled like rain" near Gerlach. Also, am I the only one here that is oddly excited by the fact that fence is up? There's a barrier now! A BARRIER! Between the default and the dust!.... okay, I'll stop being excited. Excuse me.

[remi]

Perhaps I'll bring some snow shoes to navigate the monstrous dunes

[BoyScoutGirl]

Reporting rain today and forecast for the next few days.
Anyone on-site dry enough to elaborate?

http://blog.burningman.com/2014/08/buil ... -the-muck/

[trilobyte]

For updates from the crew, follow John Curley's awesome posts on the Burning Blog. He's a great storyteller and photographer, his updates on building the city rock.

[Rice]

So, there was a little weather on the playa last night... The wind blew several trailers onto their sides!

2014-08-09_22-00.jpg

I have not heard of any injuries.

[sadie]

So, there was a little weather on the playa last night... The wind blew several trailers onto their sides!

2014-08-09_22-00.jpg

I have not heard of any injuries.

Oh No!! Holy Crap!! That had to be some intense wind...I hope everyone is ok.

Thanks for sharing the pic.

[Maizie]

Whoa.

[FIGJAM]

See what happens when you don't use lag bolts!!!

[Jackass]

Are you sure that it wasn't just DPW on a bender w/ heavy equipment?

I could see the trailer laying on its side, but wheels in the air? That took two steps, I smell prank...

[FIGJAM]

[media]

[jneilvindy]

Are you sure that it wasn't just DPW on a bender w/ heavy equipment?

I could see the trailer laying on its side, but wheels in the air? That took two steps, I smell prank...

Windows look pretty intact as well. 180 degree flip and not a pane of glass broken!

Playa magic is real!

[bigbluedoggy]

Some settling of contents may occur.

[Sunbeam56]

Rice - you are outed, dude... Fess up or validate!

[Just_Joe]

Just back from 5 miles N of BRC
50's to 90's (like normal)
Light winds from the south in the AM (like normal).
We had our RV awning out in util 11am on Friday and 5 pm last night.
Cells passed over late on both afternoons. Friday, winds shifted to from north@ ~20-25 mph.
Last night, we had lots of lightning and a little rain. Winds were pretty stiff from the east- ~40 sustained and a gust of ~50 that took out a 1' EMT shade structure that was set with thru-nuts onto rebar. A few nuts failed and one side of the structure lifted/flipped onto the other side. It was not guyed.
BRC looked to be going through a white-out.

I played with some 3/8 x 14" lag screws. Where we were (an area typical of mid playa), there was a 2-3" inch crust with another 2-3" of crumble below it. I was able to push my lag screws 4-6" deep with the palm of my hand. Lag screwers may want to bring a hand trowel to move some fluff aside and set them a little below grade.

[Rice]

I am just relaying what I hear and what I am shown. I will be on-playa in a few days myself, but will not have the inclination to go online.

There was a thundershower with lots of wind last night on-playa. I do not have to prove what I know. It probably would not take much to verify.

Oh, by the way - the pictures are of the LE compound, taken this morning.

[melodiousdirge]

http://blog.burningman.com/2014/08/buil ... rock-city/

[geospyder]

On this mornings update...

[melodiousdirge]

Well 1" hail would be something I've never seen out there. I think my setup could take it, but the vehicular damage might suck balls.

[Sunbeam56]

All you EAs - be safe. Hail isn't just a thing that dents car hoods. You can get seriously hurt.

Sorry to have doubted you, Rice.
Thanks for the info about lag screwing into this years' playa, Joe.

[bigbluedoggy]

Lots more photos surfacing of the flipped trailers in the BLM encampment. It really happened. Look for some in John Curley's blog before long I bet.

[lucky420]

On this mornings update...

Saw this too and am kind of looking forward to it. Of course I'll be watching it from the safety of my living room...

[zorro sings]

While no fun for those out there now this current weather is probably good news for the rest of us.Have lived in Reno area 26 years and have never seen 3 straight weeks of thunderstorms and grey clouds this time of year.When this pattern breaks I would be willing to bet we get a 2 or 3 week calm and sunny period.Just have to hope it breaks before next week.If not no fun for anyone.

[FossaFerox]

While no fun for those out there now this current weather is probably good news for the rest of us.Have lived in Reno area 26 years and have never seen 3 straight weeks of thunderstorms and grey clouds this time of year.When this pattern breaks I would be willing to bet we get a 2 or 3 week calm and sunny period.Just have to hope it breaks before next week.If not no fun for anyone.

I think that's pretty much the common "gamblers' fallacy." Good weather is never "due."

[melodiousdirge]

While no fun for those out there now this current weather is probably good news for the rest of us.Have lived in Reno area 26 years and have never seen 3 straight weeks of thunderstorms and grey clouds this time of year.When this pattern breaks I would be willing to bet we get a 2 or 3 week calm and sunny period.Just have to hope it breaks before next week.If not no fun for anyone.

I think that's pretty much the common "gamblers' fallacy." Good weather is never "due."

Mmmmmmmm, while mathematically you have an argument I'd suggest that weather is not actually a random event and as such the gamblers fallacy does not actually apply here. Feel free to discuss, I have chemically obliterated most of my statistics education.

[lucky420]

While no fun for those out there now this current weather is probably good news for the rest of us.Have lived in Reno area 26 years and have never seen 3 straight weeks of thunderstorms and grey clouds this time of year.When this pattern breaks I would be willing to bet we get a 2 or 3 week calm and sunny period.Just have to hope it breaks before next week.If not no fun for anyone.

Last summer was crazy too. In May, June, July and Aug we had great monsoonal moisture. Resulting in the big boomers with gushing down pours that completely over ran the gutters...

Global warming fuckers.