Maybe colder than expected

ScoutDG · Post by **ScoutDG** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:57 pm

This will be my 2nd year. I've spent a fair amount of time during the last year thinking of heat coping strategies.

I just noticed on the 15 day weather forecast (accuweather.com) for Gerlach that Friday, 9/1, shows a low of 37°F. Yeah, yeah, I know this isn't particularly reliable that far away, and I already knew the nights could be chilly -- just not that chilly. So now I'll bring along some warmer clothing (in addition to my heat coping stuff), and I'm hereby passing this along for what it's worth.

As others have pointed out, the desert is variable, so it's best to be prepared for a wide variety of possibilities. Somehow, nearly freezing temperatures just wasn't a possibility that had made it onto my radar.

Of course, now that I've disclosed this, there's less possibility that some lovely woman will say to me "I never imagined it would be so cold at night. Please sleep with me tonight to keep me warm." I'd estimate this went from a 0.0001% chance to a .00001% chance, so I didn't lose much.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:01 pm

(insert 3 dog night joke here)

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:01 pm

(followed by coyote ugly joke)

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:01 pm

(followed by rant for sexism)

ScoutDG · Post by **ScoutDG** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:20 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:(followed by rant for sexism)

Sexism?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:25 pm

Don't mind me, ScoutDG.

I was trying to rapidly go through the inevitable next wise ass posts with eplaya short hand.

translation

Lusty Bastard wrote:Oh well, I'm sure you can snuggle up with some plainer women to keep you warm. You could have a 3 dog night

Ribald Rake wrote:I'd be careful with that; Imagine a triple coyote ugly situation

Screeching Goddess wrote:That is so disrespectful you sexist slimeballs. (ongoing rant)

I was in no way shape or form intending to impune you.

I'm sorry that I implied you were sexist.

eta: and that should have been a rant against sexism.

ScoutDG · Post by **ScoutDG** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:33 pm

theCryptofishist:

Now that you explained it to me -- I think your posts were delightful and am reassured that no impunement (?) was intended.

.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:36 pm

*fishy skips around bowl*

I've been called delightful!!!!

Maybe you should go to the bar thread (year round community/general discussion) for a drink.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:17 pm

Very nice reminder, Scout. One of those little space blankets in your tent can be nice if you find your bag isn't warm enough and there aren't enough dogs. :->

Louise and I always bring a separate bag with sweaters, insulated underwear, warm jackets, and knit caps in case of cold weather, and we have used them some years. If they aren't needed, they stay clean in the bag. The weather being too cold is less fun for me than being too hot, since I'm prepared to cope with the heat.

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:54 pm

Yeppers, it can get wicked cold at night, and most newbies don't prepare appropriately (thinking desert = heat).
So thank you for your post.
I'm bringing thermals and a long sleeve shirt to wear while on Poop Patrol, since it could be as well chilly in the morn.

RobbiDobbs
Chief Poopervisor of the Pottie Project

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:57 pm

Nipples get bigger and penises get smaller. What a world.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:05 pm

I used to be in the air force in North Dakata. I water ski'ed on Garrison Reservoir once, and when I got out of the water, it was so cold I had an innie.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:15 pm

ScoutDG wrote:the desert is variable, so it's best to be prepared for a wide variety of possibilities.

BM will vaccinate you for any possible weather related issues during the rest of the year!

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:12 pm

Keep in mind that the Playa version of "cold" isn't so much chilly, as the inability to get and stay warm. I remember people bundled up like Eskimos in 2000, and were still blue-nosed and shivering.

If you get a shiver, it's too late. So anticipation is good.

I saw on Yahoo!Weather that there would be a cooling trend in Gerlach during Burn Week, so I'm not surprised. I'm packing three sets of warm clothes, mostly silk, ponchos and longjohns. I REMEMBER '99, I do...

Maybe we can get my buddy here to help with the cold situation...

Abraham Lincoln · Post by **Abraham Lincoln** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 1:24 pm

A few family friends will be traveling up there to deliver some crap later today I think. While it will be nice to get a playa weather report, I'm more interested in the condition of the playa floor itself. Hopefully it will be nice and packed.

As for the cold I've found that old wool Soviet surplus clothing works well. Sometimes a bit too well. That and it's dirt cheap and in good supply. Nothing keeps in heat like a solid inch of wool :)

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:48 pm

An INCH?!?

Ay yi yi.

As for the cold...Weather.com and NOAA forecasts lows in the mid-fifties. That's about the going rate. With the windchill, that probably means 40. I'm bringin' my comforter...

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:51 pm

ScoutDG wrote:... for Gerlach that Friday, 9/1, shows a low of 37°F. Yeah, yeah, I know this isn't particularly reliable that far away..

if by far away you mean location, yeah, gerlach is not the best gague which was recently pointed out by tiara.

Abraham Lincoln · Post by **Abraham Lincoln** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:02 pm

diane o'thirst wrote:An INCH?!?

Ay yi yi.

As for the cold...Weather.com and NOAA forecasts lows in the mid-fifties. That's about the going rate. With the windchill, that probably means 40. I'm bringin' my comforter...

In Soviet Russia, you do not catch a cold, the cold catch you!

thejohnstamos · Post by **thejohnstamos** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:38 pm

what is the difference generally speaking between gerlach and the playa?

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:57 pm

About ten degrees.

thejohnstamos · Post by **thejohnstamos** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:58 pm

sweet.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:04 pm

Higher and lower.

NancyBen · Post by **NancyBen** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:39 am

Judging from NOAA reports, it looks like it's going to be a bit hotter and dryer than usual, at least in the beginning of the week. It may cool off later though, and there may be thunderstorms.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/ ... ev&pil=afd

Overall, it actually sounds pretty nice!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:01 am

Chance decides.

ScoutDG · Post by **ScoutDG** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:57 pm

Sunday 8/27 -- Plenty of sunshine
High 91 ° F / Low 50 ° F

Monday 8/28 -- Sunny to partly cloudy
High 96 ° F / Low 54 ° F

Tuesday 8/29 -- Sunny to partly cloudy and very warm
High 93 ° F / Low 52 ° F

Wednesday 8/30 -- Several hours of sunshine
High 90 ° F / Low 50 ° F

Thursday 8/31 -- Sunny
High 87 ° F / Low 48 ° F

Friday 9/1 -- Plenty of sunshine
High 87 ° F / Low 51 ° F

Saturday 9/2 -- Very warm with plenty of sunshine
High 91 ° F / Low 51 ° F

Sunday 9/3 -- Very warm with plenty of sunshine
High 91 ° F / Low 50 ° F

Monday 9/4 -- Very warm with plenty of sunshine
High 92 ° F / Low 46 ° F

These are from Accuweather, which does also use the Lovelock station as a base, but evidently has some algorithm to adjust for localities (i.e. their Lovelock predictions aren't the same as for Gerlach). Anyway, looks like they've moved away from those nearly freezing at night predictions (although 48° is certainly chilly).

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:16 pm

And no mention of a frickin' cyclone anywhere...

On my packlist from last year, it says:

X X O Set warm clothes
X X O Set warm clothes
X X O Set cool clothes
X X O Set cool clothes
X X O Set cool clothes
X X O Set cool clothes
X X O Set cool clothes
X X O Set cool clothes
X X O Set cool clothes
X X O Set average clothes
X X O Set average clothes

This has worked fine for the past five years, but you never know when we'll get a 1998 or a 1999...or even a 2001...or 2006...

Anyway, I've trimmed back the list and I'm just bringing twelve interchangeable items of various weights of silk next year. Silk packs down small, can be layered and works GREAT, whatever the weather. Leaving the t-shirts mostly at home, didn't wear half of them. I'm leaving the t-shirts for my Open Me Last bag.

Maybe colder than expected

Maybe colder than expected

Re: Maybe colder than expected

Re: Maybe colder than expected