Burning Man Virgin

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:33 pm

I am determined to go and I think my friend flaked on me....Im a 37 year old woman driving from Seattle and It will be my first time at Burning Man.. Any Tips other than telling me to read the Burning Man site and board? Ive already done that... I guess I am asking if you think I am crazy to drive that far alone.. into the desert... first time at burning man.. alone??

Words of caution, advise from the all knowledgable Burning Man Family would be appreciated!

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:03 pm

hello Flea,

Welcome to e-playa!

I went to Burning man for the first time last year and by Monday afternoon I had been surrounded and absorbed into a camp of great people. I was sort of loosely connected with then and was able to have all the time I wanted to experience the event on my own as well as with my new friends.

There is a large group of people in Seattle who go and it sounds like the regional is pretty active too. A number of them that used to frequent these threads used to get together at a Bar called The Lower Level on Monday nights I think. It could be a good way to make informal connections.

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:13 pm

Ahhh.. Thank You! Just the drive is what I am worried about! I know Ill have a goodtime once there.. Im pretty social :wink:

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:14 pm

Oh by the way posting the same message in more than one place is considered cross posting and is frowned upon.

The Preparation section is where most threads like this are.

"Q & A tips and tricks" has a lot of good discussions and information that help a lot in helping people to prepare for the experience you should check it out.

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:16 pm

yeah, that was an accident! Then I couldnt find a way to delete it, only edit... Sorry!! Won't happen again :)

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:38 pm

here are a couple of old threads that be of interest to you.

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ight=alone

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ight=alone

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:54 pm

Awsome! I should be fine then...I already figured unfortunitely that I would not be able to drink like I do since I am alone but its cool.. Burning Man will be amazing... Ill just make friends during the day and go from there to figure out my night time adventures.. I love night time!! Who know's maybe my friend will not be a flake and I wont be going alone...either way I am going and it will be something I long for each and every year after I am sure of...Thanks for the help! :D

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sat May 28, 2005 8:09 am

I guess I am asking if you think I am crazy to drive that far alone.. into the desert... first time at burning man.. alone??

I know of a couple that came over from Ethiopia. They made the choice. they did it.

You'll probably be OK. Just prep and read

Steven bradford · Post by **Steven bradford** » Mon May 30, 2005 10:58 am

I did it in 97. Didn't know a soul going from Seattle.

You're not driving through trackless desert for hours, most of the time you're on regular highways. The last 80 miles through the hills is desolate of people, but at the time you're going there are gioing to be many burners going the same way. Nice friendly NW burners are coming along every few minutes.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon May 30, 2005 1:56 pm

Flea wrote:Words of caution, advise from the all knowledgable Burning Man Family would be appreciated!

1. Get your vehicle checked out before your trip (edit: if your vehicle is unreliable, rent a car). Find someone else who is going who you can trust and let them ride with you (e.g., from a referral from someone you know or someone in the local Burning Man organization). It's not really necessary to have a co-driver/passenger, but, it makes the trip easier. Don't drive tired. Fill up on gas as late as you can before heading off the road and into the desert. Yes, people do run out of gas before they get back to Gerlach because they didn't plan ahead.

2. Be careful where you camp based on your tolerance for noise. If you find yourself camped next to more noise than you want to deal with, you can always move.

3. If you're just camping in a tent and you're near a road, put the tent as close to your car as possible and mark your tent with something bright so you don't get run over. It happens. Some moron hit our RV last year. Don't forget where you camped (note the intersection you're closest to).

4. Shade is critical and a tent, alone, is not sufficient (it will get super hot inside the tent). See if you can rig some kind of shade over your tent (perhaps tied from the car to the ground). Lacking shade you make yourself, you can always go hang out in the shade at center camp or at someone else's camp.

5. Meet and get to know your neighbors. Some will be more friendly than others. Offer to help them with their camp however you can (e.g., bartending at bar camps, helping them setup/tear down). This isn't necessary, but, having good neighbors is great and they might be able to help you if you need it. Since you're a single woman camping alone, though, be careful who you trust because not everyone is trustworthy and some people are downright pricks. Before the event, see if you can meet people in your local area who are going; maybe you could collaborate with and/or camp with them. Short of that, find out what the Seattle people are doing (here on the ePlaya or at Playa Info) and go find their camps and introduce yourself. That way, next time, you'll know some people who you can go with.

6. Go explore and meet people. If you think someone has a cool camp or whatever, tell them. If you want to participate in whatever it is their camp is doing, ask them. Don't be disappointed if not everyone is as friendly as you or as friendly as you want them to be. Not everyone is on the same page all the time out there.

7. Drink lots of water -- but not too much.

8. Bring your own toilet paper. :D

9. The following are mandatory: YOUR TICKET, hat (with brim to protect your face and neck), backup hat, sunglasses, backup sunglasses, day googles (shaded with wind/sand resistant type as opposed to sunglasses), night goggles (un-shaded), flashlight, paper dust masks, lip balm, sun screen, layered clothing, clothing for the cold nights. I HIGHLY recommend a cot to put your sleeping bag on if you can get one -- a few years in the military taught me that there's a world of difference between sleeping on the ground and sleeping on a cot. Bring a few extra blankets in case your sleeping bag isn't warm enough.

10. Bring something to gift. This isn't critical, but, it is a nice icebreaker. I ususally have a big bag of starbursts and gum to give away (and this year, necklaces!).

11. Don't wear sandals, ever; you want to keep your feet free of playa dust. It will screw up your feet and you'll be miserable. So bring some kind of small wash basin or wash basin-like thing to use to wash your feet (and your hands, face and hair whenever you feel like doing so).

12. Bring an open and flexible mind but if someone is doing something that bugs you, don't be afraid to say something.

13. Test your camp setup. Go somewhere and setup your tent, get in it, decide if it'll work for you, figure out how you're going to get cleaned, sleep, eat, etc.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon May 30, 2005 4:29 pm

Pretty good general advice Dallas.

11. Don't wear sandals, ever; you want to keep your feet free of playa dust. It will screw up your feet and you'll be miserable. So bring some kind of small wash basin or wash basin-like thing to use to wash your feet (and your hands, face and hair whenever you feel like doing so).

I think there are two schools on this one. I see the logic in both actually. Totally agree with the wash basin fr the feet. mild vinegar soultion to soak or was as one of the last things you do befor sleeping. Wear socks while sleeping BTW.

Bob Stahl's long stated advice of using bag balm for the feet remains one of the best pieces of playa survial advice that I know of.

8. Bring your own toilet paper. :D

Please make every effort to bring single-ply, port-o-let compilant TP. All others make it VERY problematic for the vendors.

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Tue May 31, 2005 10:31 am

Everyone has been extremely helpful on this board, Thanks so much! I already planned on setting my tent up several times to be sure I can do it on my own.. I purchased one with that in mind and it is a 5-6 man so I should have plenty of room for dressing. I hate one ply TP but I will do it! ha...I have a reliable camery (white I am sure I will regret the dirt from burning man) and will have everything checked including the water pump before I go.. I guess I will also have to practice changing my own tire since I never have and AAA will most likely be a 5 hour wait to come do it for me! ha

Gifts, I have a ton of glow braceltes and some really cool hand fans to bring, will that work?? Thanks for the cot idea, I can get that!! Shade.. I planned on camp hoping and am more than willing to help out but will bring a tarp to connect to my car & tent leaving me open space to sit and read just incase! I actually like the idea of roughing it as well as the diverse amount of people...

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue May 31, 2005 12:11 pm

This will also be a particularly dark event at nighttime, so bring blinky lights or EL wire or something to announce your location to cyclists (or fast-moving pedestrians).

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Tue May 31, 2005 7:47 pm

Gifts, I have a ton of glow braceltes and some really cool hand fans to bring, will that work??

hand fans: cool

*glow bracelets: not so cool

My opinion only.

Remember sometimes the less tangible things like offering shade and water to someone passing by your humble camp make for more memorable impresssions. *Schwag seems to be frowned on more and more.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:11 pm

Except...

In a new moon situation, I think that the trend may reverse and blinky and light-ups may be the oe gift that is not only appreciated as much as water bottles, but may end up saving people's butts in the dark, dark, dark that the nighttime playa will become.

New moon in the desert is frigging *dark*, BTW... Better make sure you got some kinda light on in your camp. And on your bod.

Bring whatever you want to give, and people will be happy that you thought enough to give it to them. Even glow stuff. Esp. after the first time they damn near get run over by a bicycle, or even worse, an art car pilot that didn't see them.

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:29 pm

Well, I have 150 glow bracelets, 10 small spray bottles and only 10 fan's which I happen to love since they are made of straw and put out very well ;) ha... I am sure any gift will be appriciated, I know anything someone may give me I will love because they thought to give it to me! I really am excited to go!! Sure as hell hope I don't get ran over though... what should I put around my tend so I don't get ran over in my sleep???? Any Idea's???

dr.placebo · Post by **dr.placebo** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:42 pm

I find that some kind of shade structure is pretty important. The middle of the day is the time to be a shaded lizard. The trouble is bringing a decent shade structure if you are travelling solo (can be done, but hard to get right the first time).

What to do? Connect! Go through your regional lists and get connected. You might even find a camp to join.

If that fails, just say howdy to your neighbors and you will be welcome to hang in the shade.

Welcome home!

cowboyangel · Post by **cowboyangel** » Tue May 31, 2005 11:31 pm

"I am determined to go and I think my friend flaked on me....Im a 37 year old woman driving from Seattle and It will be my first time at Burning Man.. Any Tips other than telling me to read the Burning Man site and board? Ive already done that... I guess I am asking if you think I am crazy to drive that far alone.. into the desert... first time at burning man.. alone?? "

be bold be brave be resolute....great adventure and awakening await you!

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:32 am

Im definitely bold! Know how to survive and GOING, alone or not! I can't wait for the experiance!!!

swampdog · Post by **swampdog** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 6:05 pm

Seattle regional is very strong. Try http://www.burningmanseattle.com There's a "newbie picnic" on July 10 - I went last year (my virgin year) and found it a great source of info. I started out solo last year but met some folks online who needed some help with gear hauling, we ended up camping together and had a great time. There are a lot of big theme camps based out of seattle.

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:40 pm

I now have a camp!!! :D Pit of Hell, my friend hooked me up so I am now content and ready to really have the time of my life!!!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:52 pm

Hola again, Flea!!

I had mentioned in another thread about how I’d started out alone, but wound up traveling with someone. This was merely a chance thing and I had made up my mind to go alone before.

You live in a place thick with burners, so you stand a good chance to finding someone to share the ride with. I think you’ll be just fine if you go alone, too. I'm a hermit and am perfectly ok with alone time. And speaking strictly about the traveling, and nothing else. Take lots of good music, drink lots of water, and if you get tired find a place to rest. We’d rather you get there a bit late than not at all, ok?

And when you arrive, find a place to camp that feels good to you. Just watch for the places marked off for the theme camps. Don’t be afraid to ask for help... and don’t be afraid to ask if help is needed. And see if you can locate folks you’ve met hanging around here, too. That might be a good way to get a foothold. But you’ll meet cool people, regardless.

How could you not? I mean, hey... you're home!!!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:52 pm

Bah!!! silly double posting, clicky button thing...

(double post removed)

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:58 pm

Flea wrote:I now have a camp!!! Pit of Hell, my friend hooked me up so I am now content and ready to really have the time of my life!!!

And I see you’ve already found a camp while I was writing. Everything is falling right in place...

Flea · Post by **Flea** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 9:02 pm

Yes it is all falling into place isnt it? Now I must finnish my shopping list and put together what I have in mind to be at night! ;)

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