Setting up camp at night

[Warbaby Fox]

People arrive at BRC at all hours of the day. I'm trying to time my arrival carefully, but what if I arrive after the sun goes down, or comes up? Is it even possible to set up camp during the night time hours?

[motskyroonmatick]

If you are practiced with your equipment and have head lights. No problem. Bringing a generator? Bring a flood light. Complicated layout to camp... wait until dawn.

[Token]

Yes, you most certainly can setup camp at night.

[Sham]

My first year, I set up at night---during a massive wind/dust storm. I had several people materialize to help me.
This was also my very first time setting up a tent in the real world. I did it once at the house.
The best advice is to prepare for everything, and things will all work out.

[Warbaby Fox]

If traffic is going to be eased up at night, it might be the smarter play to get to the gate at night, no?

[Eric]

Also take into consideration how exhausted you are when you get to a campsite. If you're really tired give your body a rest & catch some shut-eye in the car. Set up when you wake up. Having a plan to make space so you can recline your seat (or clear room to lay down) isn't a bad idea.

[Captain Goddammit]

It also depends on how full the moon is. Sometimes night is so light that seeing everything is no problem.
But the answer totally depends on what you're setting up and whether you have big lights or one small glow-stick leftover from Mardi Gras.

[Warbaby Fox]

Yeah it would just be a monkey hut with a tent inside. Simple enough, hopefully.

[Ratty]

Don't feel you have to do it all immediately. I may put up a big tent, throw everything in there and head for friends. Or put up my shade structure, pile it full of gear and head for the man. You can pile enough supplies in the front passenger seat to live for several days. No need to rush the set-up.

[mdmf007]

Have a plan - if your tenting for example, set up the tent, throw bag in it and sleep, then finish in the morning.

Before I started Rving I would set up tent, throw bag and water in it then go out. From the time I found my camp until I had my first drink in hand was never more than 15-20 minutes. I am usually to giddy to NOT be out on the town, seeing what I can as early as I can.

[Jackass]

If traffic is going to be eased up at night, it might be the smarter play to get to the gate at night, no?

There is no easing up at night for the first couple of days, people are constantly arriving, and pounding rebar and stakes day and night.

If you have some juice left in you by the time you get in and find your plot of land, then set up your basics. Otherwise pass out for a few hrs., crush a redbull or three and go to town...

It's never easy, it's a grind, a very fun grind. First year a seasoned camp mate told me, "Burning ain't easy"

[caffeineslinger]

There's a full moon Saturday night before gate opens, so there will be some decent moonlight the first few nights. If you're tired just set up your tent with the monkey hut stuff around you to give you a little space. Just try not to take more than you need. You might be surprise to suddenly see who sets up near you while sleeping or away.

I prefer to just get everything done as soon as I'm there, using a headlamp if it's night. Then I don't have to worry the rest of the week and can have fun. I've known some people who never get around to setting up there shade or shower or whatever. Why'd you bring it then?

[Warbaby Fox]

Thanks jackass, it'll be my first trip to the playa, so I'm expecting some growing pains.

[AntiM]

One thing about setting up at night... be sure you are not in reserved territory or you've not wandered into someone else's camp.

But yeah, we often just nap. We try to shoot for dawn arrival.

[VultureChow]

First year I rolled into camp at 3am. Spoke to someone long enough to figure out I was in the right place and then slept in the car. I had been up for 24 hours at that point. Setting up in the morning was better.

But if you don't have a village and assigned space, it might make sense to at least set up your tent. This way you have a place to sleep and you're claiming your space. The sun will wake you up early an then you can do the rest of camp. Also if you accidentally land in a reserved spot, pulling down just the tent is much easier.

[Warbaby Fox]

Right on. This is good advice. I didn't even think about arrival times. I was very preoccupied with the cross-country trek it's gonna take to get to BRC. I'm in the position of 'just get there', then worry about everything else.

[MyDearFriend]

I'm in the position of 'just get there', then worry about everything else.

^^^ This. You will be fine at any hour. People wander up, see you working, start to help. Out of nowhere, best friends forever.

Don't forget to bring water out of the vehicle with you and drink, drink, drink it or you will feel like dead meat by morning.

[Warbaby Fox]

Will do, I'm practicing setting up my monkey hut and tent down here in the Florida heat. Good practice for the playa, prolly.

[Jackass]

I use a mason's line and a tape measure to set the stakes, that way you have a more reasonable chance of having a square structure, whatever it may be.

Square = strength

[FIGJAM]

I use a mason's line and a tape measure to set the stakes, that way you have a more reasonable chance of having a square structure, whatever it may be.

Square = strength

Can't you mark the tarp and make a fold, then use that as a square?

[Jackass]

I build my shade around my trailer, too much stuff in the way. I've seen them set up using eyeballs only, usually not a pretty sight.

[FIGJAM]

You are absolutely right.

Off I fuck!!!

[Ratty]

Off I fuck!!!

[burner von braun]

Just as a side note, I remember reading a post several years ago, before my first burn, back when the gates still opened at midnight monday morning. It suggested that at least one time in your life, you should treat yourself to arriving at BRC at night. Timing being what it was, that's what I did my first burn. I treasure that experience to this day.

As I got closer and closer and slowed down to a crawl, the cars in front me became a seemingly endless string of red tail lights in the dark, barely moving, and winding for miles around that wide sweeping curve along the mountains, and I began to see that electric glow of the city off in the distance. I reached the turnoff and gate road seemed a mystery, I couldn't really see where I was, or my destination, just a wide dusty dirt roadway with orange traffic cones leading me on. You could begin to hear music thumping, and I smelled the playa for the first time, that dusty aroma that stays in your mind for the rest of your life. People everywhere were excited. Once at a standstill in line, many jumped out of cars, frolicking in the spotlights of the dozens of cars stopped in the nearby lanes. At that point you keep inching away from everything you've known, and toward a special adventure you're about to share with those who have also been able to make the journey to Black Rock City.

Yep, there is something to be said for arriving at night..

[Eric]

Will do, I'm practicing setting up my monkey hut and tent down here in the Florida heat. Good practice for the playa, prolly.

Sort-of.
Florida is very humid, so you realize you're hot due to the sweat. The playa is absolutely not-humid, and the dust itself is a desiccant - if it's cool (like in the evening/ at night) it's easy to forget that the heat isn't the only thing trying to dehydrate you out there. You may not even realize you're dehydrating until it's too late, because the wind, heat & dust is wicking away the sweat before you notice it. It's happened to me, and I was a 5 year Burner at the time - I was just busy on a project and wasn't paying attention. It's sucks ass, and cost me a day of actually having fun while I recovered.

When you're doing labor out there make sure you're not just drinking water, but that you're getting electrolytes: either via pedialyte or gatorade, Emergen-C, coconut water, pickles, or any of the other options on the market.

[Warbaby Fox]

How often should I supplement the water? Once or twice a day should I mix myself an Emergen-C? I have a ton of those little packets at the moment.

[Aurelia]

All of it is true and all of it happens

and maybe you just cannot predict how you should do it
just be prepared
and pay attention to how you feel

and every time it could change
because of course that is one of the true playa gifts
understanding what you need to go on

xoA.

[Savannah]

Off I fuck!!!

I laughed too.

Just as a side note, I remember reading a post several years ago, before my first burn, back when the gates still opened at midnight monday morning. It suggested that at least one time in your life, you should treat yourself to arriving at BRC at night. Timing being what it was, that's what I did my first burn. I treasure that experience to this day.

As I got closer and closer and slowed down to a crawl, the cars in front me became a seemingly endless string of red tail lights in the dark, barely moving, and winding for miles around that wide sweeping curve along the mountains, and I began to see that electric glow of the city off in the distance. I reached the turnoff and gate road seemed a mystery, I couldn't really see where I was, or my destination, just a wide dusty dirt roadway with orange traffic cones leading me on. You could begin to hear music thumping, and I smelled the playa for the first time, that dusty aroma that stays in your mind for the rest of your life. People everywhere were excited. Once at a standstill in line, many jumped out of cars, frolicking in the spotlights of the dozens of cars stopped in the nearby lanes. At that point you keep inching away from everything you've known, and toward a special adventure you're about to share with those who have also been able to make the journey to Black Rock City.

Yep, there is something to be said for arriving at night..

I've arrived at night almost every time, and I agree! It's beautiful.

I have set up my tent in the dark almost every time. Flashlight, lantern or moonlight. I wasn't aiming to do so, but it's just how its worked out. I actually prefer it to working in the heat of the day.

I often wait until the morning to put up my shade though. It can be hard to manage both before I sleep.

[dragonpilot]

ALL of my arrivals over 10 years have been at night...it's the best AFAIAC...the lights, the dust, the crowds, the chaos.

First time we unknowingly parked the bus in the middle of a road and sacked out, only to be awakened at dawn by a water truck driver pounding on the bus's door advising us of our blockerage.

[Molotov]

If you pick up a ticket at Will Call, can you hang out/sleep in your car there until dawn?