An anvil, you say?

Post by **trilobyte** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:18 am

Why yes, I do. Usually, the anvil gets blown up days before the gate opens. Even though I'd never seen it first hand, it can be heard (and even felt) on the other side of the city. Oddly, early in the day on Sunday I remembered thinking to myself that even though I was on playa for most of build week, I somehow missed the anvil this year. And then in that amazing way that playadipity happens... I got to see (and shoot video of) the anvil a few hours later.

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Post by **Elderberry** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 11:02 am

Nice! Wasn't aware of that tradition.

FossaFerox · Post by **FossaFerox** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:59 pm

Likewise. That's pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing!

Out of curiosity, is there any reasoning behind where they do it? It looks like that might be around the 3 o'clock road and Esplanade, though I'm not as used to seeing those landmarks from that side so I could be off a good deal. I would think it would have to be over a burn platform or something to avoid fucking the playa surface pretty hard...

Just_Joe · Post by **Just_Joe** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:09 pm

Elderberry wrote:Nice! Wasn't aware of that tradition.

The "Anvil Guy" (Jeff) explained to me during our 4th of July kinda-regional that it's actually a 4th of July tradition. Unfortunately, the property owner at our event wasn't comfortable with explosives

IIRC, he has a pretty beefy metal plate/launch pad that would buffer the playa. He also works on the Fire Art Safety Team and I'd imagine he's got the playa damage thing covered.

Post by **trilobyte** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:33 am

The location has varied from year to year, I think it's a matter of timing and availability (that is, have all the supplies on hand). The people involved have more experience with burn and burn scar cleanup than most people do in actual time at Burning Man, they've managed a pretty solid LNT record.

Ano · Post by **Ano** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:40 am

They did this at the Gate at 2013 to signify opening. I had never experienced an anvil launch prior to that - they aren't kidding when you say you can feel it! And for some reason, the sound of the anvil hitting the playa... is very... satisfying.

oscillator · Post by **oscillator** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:39 am

A closer look.... Notice the level she is using to figure the trajectory.

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theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:08 pm

Just so long as they were singing the appropriate songs...

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EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:41 pm

Do not try this at home! Also only certain anvils work. Forged, not cast harbor fright ones. They shatter.

An anvil, you say?

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