Hermit or One Man Army?

[oliv897]

So I was wandering.. being English and never have leaving England my entire life would I be able to come with nothing more than a bag full of food and water?

I've read a few places that some people turn up looking to live off of others and this is strictly not want I want.. I'm a minimalist in RL and used to get a lot of Anxiety problems and I think if I came I'd rather have no tent at all then be worry who's in it and if my stuff will be there when I get back, what I'm wandering is it truly possible to live out of a bagpack and nothing else? I'm accustomed to sleeping on the floor or in a hedge.. I woke up in some stinging nettles once at Download Festival... not to comfortable but neither was I to upset..

Anyway I'm mumbling..

I have a messenger bag and I'd like to just have that and nothing else.. is that possible?

Is there stuff there to build a shelter should the need arise? like sticks and rocks and things.. (I've never been to a desert before in my life)

[Eddaytona]

Dear Oliv

The answers to your questions are all contained in the survival guide. Read it and take it seriously.

[Captain Goddammit]

There is absolutely nothing out there to build with.
Just flat ground and hot scorching sun, white-out dust storms, and sometimes cold nights.
Burning Man is no place for trying to be that minimalist.
Yes, you need to read the Survival Guide. You apparently need to read it more than anyone I've ever heard of.

[Ratty]

There aren't even bugs or birds. Keep up this kind of talk and we'll start a pool on your survival. Seriously, go to the bm site and start reading. The drop-down list on the upper right has plenty of info for you. Then please come back and we'll help you.

[danibel]

So I was wandering.. being English and never have leaving England my entire life would I be able to come with nothing more than a bag full of food and water?
I have a messenger bag and I'd like to just have that and nothing else.. is that possible?

No. It's not possible. Read the first timers guide and the survival guide and then read them again.

[oliv897]

I checked it out and think I'm going to pack light but all military extreme survival gear... one thing I do have to ask for a tent what would be better all enclosed or open? I've seen these 1 man military tents that are basically triangles.. no floor and no entrance ways you sort of just scuffle yourself into it.. would that be suitable or not? I was thinking that way it'd be more a shade cover than a tent, I could have a warm sleeping bag for if it got ice cold at night and for day it would just act as a shade area and because it has both ends open it would not heat up? I remember at Download one year it was only about 45F - 50F and I wen't into the tent aand it felt about 130F..

[danibel]

I checked it out and think I'm going to pack light but all military extreme survival gear... one thing I do have to ask for a tent what would be better all enclosed or open? I've seen these 1 man military tents that are basically triangles.. no floor and no entrance ways you sort of just scuffle yourself into it.. would that be suitable or not? I was thinking that way it'd be more a shade cover than a tent, I could have a warm sleeping bag for if it got ice cold at night and for day it would just act as a shade area and because it has both ends open it would not heat up? I remember at Download one year it was only about 45F - 50F and I wen't into the tent aand it felt about 130F..

I don't do tents. But if you have to, get a tent with the least amount of mesh as possible. I don't think you really understand what elements you are facing out in the black rock desert. Wind gusts of 80 MPH. Highs in 90's and lows can dip to into the 30's. It can be very cold and very dusty, as well as very hot and very dusty.

You could consider renting a cargo van and sleeping in that. Without shade you won't be able to sleep much past sunrise - in a tent or van.

[caffeineslinger]

You'll also need to bring enough water. Plan for 5L a day.

[oliv897]

ok cool and what do you do if you don't do tents? also any kind of vehicle is out of the question lol I can't drive.. I'm really tall and can not fit in the cars they use here to teach you so I never learned!

[danibel]

ok cool and what do you do if you don't do tents? also any kind of vehicle is out of the question lol I can't drive.. I'm really tall and can not fit in the cars they use here to teach you so I never learned!

I sleep in a cargo van. It's a good thing you are planning for more than a year away. You are in for some serious planning.

[oliv897]

O.o Is it a big cargo van? you could make a killing letting others rent space in that you know hahaa

but yeah i may stick with the triangle tent idea thing I had it looks to be the best option.. I think if I joined a camp and positioned it out of winds way it'd be all I need as I do think with that wind is my only major concern..

[pink]

No, there's also the dust that comes in on the wind. Think of talcum powder. You want to be able to breathe and if it rains like last year, your stuff will be soaked and caked with mud that has more in common with glue mixed with cement than any mud you've ever seen.

[GreyCoyote]

Suggest you find some fellow travellers for your first year, and make arrangements for mutual help and support. There is safety in numbers, and in the desert this is a good thing.

The desert doesnt tolerate poor choices, and just reading the survival guide isnt enough to really give you a feel about what you are up against. Its designed to even-up the odds a bit, but its far from adequate preparation. Maybe your second year you could try it alone, but I seriously wouldnt try it alone as a first timer who is used to a comparatively gentle climate.

Finally: do you really want to keep your entire world in your pack, on your back, and with you at all times? Think hard on this. BM is all about participation and immediacy. How can you do all the wonderful things if you are hauling 40 lbs around with you? Imagine trying to do Disneyland, (without benches, concessions, water fountains, or shade), altered, while exhausted and over-stimulated. In the desert. Alone. Carrying a weeks worth of food and supplies on your back. Sounds like a sure way to become a statistic, or have a really bad burn if you ask me.

[oliv897]

ok thanks for all your advice guys.. am taking it all in.. just hope am not a burden.. I hate being a noob!

[Dr. Pyro]

just hope am not a burden..

Probably a little late for that.

[dragonpilot]

just hope am not a burden..

Probably a little late for that.

Doc = Funny....

[CyanEssence]

O.o Is it a big cargo van? you could make a killing letting others rent space in that you know hahaa

FYI, this kind of thinking is frowned upon in our little culture.

Also, I camp really minimalist, but even I think your plan is reckless.

You say the reason you want to camp minimalist is because of your fears that others will interfere with your belongings, perhaps even stealing it. I hope that this basic distrust of others is one of the first things that you burn off in that barren wasteland we call home.

[theCryptofishist]

I'm really tall and can not fit in the cars they use here to teach you so I never learned!

My living-outside-Manchester sister says a lot of things about the british surliness in customer service, but I refuse to believe that, in large cities at least, there isn't some sort of specialty driver's ed available. I learned hand controls in the states, and there could (by which I mean, by all means should) be higher density of that service, but it does exist. You might have to commute to and from someplace else, in order to access it, and sadly, it will almost certainly be stick (got, I miss stick, it was kinda fun--thanks Yggy, I got it) which means you'll have to put up with whatever inconvenience it is for longer, but take a week to London and do six hour days... Or something. Because your name aint Charles Byrne.

[oliv897]

Where I live Drivers Ed is all privately owned companies and they all use the little ford things.. look kinda like smart cars but a little bigger.. I did speak to one guy there's a place that uses Land Rovers which is ideal but alas it's more than I can afford.. anyway it does not seem to be a problem now.. there seems to be transport to and from the airport.. I might have a friend coming who says he'll drive a camper if I rent it.. hahaa

As for my living arrangements I am looking at going bigger than I once planned since the area does look sort of unforgiving haha as for the stealing stuff. yeah it's a huge fear.. the festivals here have a stance if it's not guarded by the owner or tied down its yours.. hell seems to be like that everywhere here..

I've decided if I do come then I'm coming with a fresh open mind and will not let anything like that get in my way!

[pink]

Since you've got time, read the First Timer's guide. Way more depth than the survival guide which is only the bare minimum you need to know.

GB has great public transportation. No need to learn how to drive. You could always take the Burner Express bus. There's a great thread on how one virgin burner brought everything he needed on the bus, including shade. Step by step packing. Someone else will probably link to it; I'm typing on my phone or I would.