What if it RAINS!

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:41 pm

How to prepare for if it rains this year:
- bring extra shoes and socks -- twice as many as you think you'll need.
- bring tarps and garbage bags for those things that really can't get wet.
- assume cold could happen as well, so bring a good waterproof jacket.
- water...and playa dirt = glue (don't freak out)

Thoughts on this subject?
Vets of 1998 in the audience?

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:54 pm

Consider bringing along a 5 gallon bucket with trash bag liners for personal defecation needs. A small trowel to scoop playa dust (great for odor abatement) to cover it with.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:59 pm

If it rains — forget about using the bike. I hear you can keep from getting Playa platforms from walking by spraying your shoes with pan spray, but that's leaving a trace.

Overhead tarps will collect water. I know that from Saturday Market. You can make use of this and collect the rainwater for camp, or you can just push up on it from the inside and let it splash off. If you have an annoying neighbour going by at the moment this can work as a kind of vengeful Playa prank

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:15 am

I'm still wondering if I should or if I should even bother making drainage ditches along the sides of my shade structure. I'm thinking that if the rain flows down the tarp, it needs somewhere to go or it's going to just flood my camp area.

Speaking of cleaning, I'm not sure if this is common knowledge, but, you cannot beat brushes for cleaning. It's a lot easier to wash playa off your hands and body with a brush than with just soap and water alone. I have a small nail brush for the hands (great for cleaning under the nails) and a larger one for the feets and body.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:46 am

I'm still wondering if I should or if I should even bother making drainage ditches along the sides of my shade structure.

Absolutely not! Digging up the playa is expressly forbidden:

Do not excavate holes in the playa. Small postholes (6 inches or less in diameter & less than 2 feet deep) used for structural support are the sole exception.

See
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... nment.html
and scroll down to the bottom where it says "Digging Holes," and gives very explicit instructions on how to save your dirt and backfill the posthole.

you cannot beat brushes for cleaning.

Hmph! I used to clean my brushes by beating them.

(It's a joke!)

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:47 pm

I'm still wondering if I should or if I should even bother making drainage ditches along the sides of my shade structure.

Depending how how large your structure is and any packing space restricitions you have you might consider wood pallets. Get enough to place close together to define the floor of your sehlter and then toss some old rugs or astroturf over them. Doing it elevates your whole living space 4-5" off of the ground and I've yet to see standing water on the playa that deep during the event.

Doint it worked very well for me one year.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:07 pm

I use angled tarps to direct wind up and away on the shade structure. This should carry any rain down and away. It rained in 03 for about 45 seconds. If you have a floor tarp down, just rolling up the edges will stop water from coming in.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:14 pm

This will only be my 4th year at the event and the little bit of rain I've seen has given me an idea that it can be pretty messy. But I'd like to hear from some of the veteran burners as to how bad it can get, and get more ideas on how to prepare. I like the pallet idea but I can't haul pallets out there to elevate my tent this year. I'm looking for other approaches. Is there anyone else who could share their experiences? Or Badger could you go more in depth on what else you did? And being a Ranger you had to get out in some of the rough stuff. What works, what doesn't?

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:14 am

Firstly, make certain that your rainfly is attached properly. Check throughout the week to make sure that the wind has not moved the rainfly. When placing your tent on the playa, use a tarp under the tent.

I have an open top tent (screened) and neglected to check the rainfly back in 2000 (I think it was 2000; it might have been 1999) when it rained like crazy on Thursday night. I was awakened by rain falling on my face, stepped out of my bed onto about 1/2" of water in my tent. Luckily, my campmates had a motorhome and let me spend the rest of the night in it. Cleanup the next day was not pleasant.

Janka · Post by **Janka** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:07 pm

This and other tent discussions make me so, so, so happy that we have our good hiking tent made for crossing mountains and stuff like that. Sometimes it feels like overkill to most situations we use it these days, but then again, sometimes not.

Question, though: the inner (closed) tent has a water-proof floor that extends up to the walls to about 25-30 centimeters (little less than a foot). Is that enough? How much does water gather on the playa if it really, really rains? Or will the tent sink into the mud if we're in it? :)

If my questions make you chuckle, the reason is I have never seen rain in a desert. Hell, I had never seen a real desert before last year...:) The evening wind took me completely by surprise the first evening we got it - in a motel somewhere on the way - I thought it was a horrible storm. My more travelled lifemate was stunned when he realized I had never seen the phenomenon before. ;)

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:11 pm

On tarps under the tent: I remember reading years ago a post to diox or somewhere about people having a tarp under their tent that stuck out beyond the walls of the tent. When it rained, the tarp collected all the rain and run-off from the tent and puddled it under the tent. This not only flooded the interior of the tent but prevented it from drying out.

YMMV.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:15 pm

If it rains a bunch, We are all going to be in a world of shit.
.
Just bring a little extra rations and we will all sit it out a have fun doing it. This and other threads like it have mentioned what extra you will need. Any kind of weather can pop up on the desert.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:33 pm

Question, though: the inner (closed) tent has a water-proof floor that extends up to the walls to about 25-30 centimeters (little less than a foot). Is that enough? How much does water gather on the playa if it really, really rains? Or will the tent sink into the mud if we're in it? :)

It's a good idea to get yourself a tarp to place under your tent. Also, remember to get some seam sealer and put several applications around the floor seam area - along with all of your other seams.

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:37 pm

So, does it rain for a long time normally or not? Is there standing water when it's done?

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm

When it rains on Playa, it is usually not for a very long time. It has, however rained more/longer some years than other years. The rain accumulates, but not at any great depth and absorbes into the ground rather quickly.

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:30 pm

Thank you, Miss Nev! Much appreciated info.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:39 pm

MissNev wrote:When it rains on Playa, it is usually not for a very long time. It has, however rained more/longer some years than other years. The rain accumulates, but not at any great depth and absorbes into the ground rather quickly.

~
Wittness what happens when a water ruck stops with it's pump sill on. The water will stay on the surface. If you touch it in any way it becomes a mess. The dust becomes a sealent to hold the water on the surface Most of the water must evaperate into the air. If it cools down to rain very much the water will be there that much longer. The playa is a lake bed filled with water in the winter. It takes all winter and sping to sink 18 inch. Then dry out for the late summer. Below that the dust is dence as a rock. While driving a fence post out there. At first it's not to hard. At about a foot it gets harder and more by the inch. Water has ahard time passing through that.

EvilDustBooger · Post by **EvilDustBooger** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:36 am

Quite often on my outdoor exploits I will fold up a couple extra
trash bags in my gear. They make an excellent emergency
raincoat/blanket. Just pinch out 3 holes in the bottom - 1 each for
head and arms and pull it on if you get caught needing some extra warmth.
...When it stops raining,
you can take it off, turn it around and wear it as a
slick and whispy pair of crotchless panties.

just a thought

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:47 am

EvilDustBooger wrote: ...When it stops raining,
you can take it off, turn it around and wear it as a
slick and whispy pair of crotchless panties.

just a thought

ROTFLMAO!!!

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 1:30 pm

It's official, it is going to rain this year. So if you have problems with that, better start making alternative plans.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 1:36 pm

geekster wrote:It's official, it is going to rain this year.

Cites?

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:03 pm

Northwestern Nevada forecast for the period 28 August - 03 September 2005.

Variable winds gusty at times. Daytime highs 85-100, lows 35-50. Periods of light rain and thundershowers are likely. Winds possibly strong in and around thunderstorm cells. Expect periods of low visibility due to blowing dust and sand. Storm clouds may produce frequent lightning strikes. Residents of Black Rock City should be prepared to evacuate with little or no notice. Desert and mountain weather conditions can change quickly. Individuals engaged in outdoor activities should stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for current updates. Burners, abandon all hope.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:55 pm

Well, I'm not going but it's not on account of the weather.

Frankly, it sounds like the rain is the least of worries and the stargazers trying to take advantage of the new moon will be disappointed. Remember Thursday last year? They said savage storms that night, and people went out and whooped it up anyway. It actually sounds kinda fun...I'll bet the sunsets will be spectacular if/when they can be seen.

I wouldn't abandon hope, just get a better shelter and don't have anything conductive sticking out of the top. Think ceramic and plastic and remember what happened back in Virginia a week or so ago.

BTW, what's the source?

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:00 pm

BTW, what's the source?

Apokalyptica Weather Underground but there is a greater than 50% chance it is all bullshit.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:47 pm

That's what I thought. It's getting around to that time of year, the advance Playa Pranks and vicious rumours.

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 8:23 pm

http://www.mindstation.com/burn/burn98/drowning.htm

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:41 am

BTW: the above missive was written by Ranger Rigged.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:09 am

And just as I opened this thread, it started to rain in San Jose. Just a few drops ... but man, what an omen.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:59 pm

robbidobbs wrote:BTW: the above missive was written by Ranger Rigged.

Absolutely a beautiful statement about what it's like at Burning Man.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:03 pm

Absolutely a beautiful statement about what it's like at Burning Man.

You should meet the writer. As big in heart as he is in his words. A GREAT guy.

What if it RAINS!

What if it RAINS!

A glimpse of BM '98