Im a new burner.. Need some input!

Mopower · Post by **Mopower** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:08 pm

Hey all. Its gunna be my first time attending the burning man this year! Me and a couple friends decided we are going to make the 3 day drive from New Hampshire. Any suggestions for us? I tried to read the Burning man website through and through but I still have questions.

I think we are bringing two 4 person tents to have enough sleeping room and a place to put all our gear. I bought some camouflage netting to provide shade between the two tents but I know Iâ€™ll need something more. I was also thinking about bringing some potted plants to dispose of our grey water, wasnâ€™t too sure if it was a good idea. It would go with the theme though! Also Iâ€™m not sure what to do about a shower. Iâ€™m driving a sedan with a small trailer, my room is limited. Bringing supplies to build a shower and evaporation pond would be real hard if not impossible.

My biggest question isâ€¦ How does everyone know where they are staying on the playa? Does it say on the tickets? If so, what if youâ€™re going with several people who all bought tickets separately? Also I know there arenâ€™t any â€œcamp sitesâ€

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:14 pm

Because of the limited space trailers and showers will not be allowed this year. Also, you must reserve your camping spot at least two years in advance from the DPW. Don't forget that you must also register your car with the DMV and be sure you don't drive it while you are at the event.

As far as beer goes, Nevada is a dry state and does not allow alcohol at the event. Some people smuggle in a shandy or two but they risk losing their tickets and their camping spot for 2009. The good thing is that cigarettes are allowed if they are filtered or Menthols. No Cigars. Food is served cafeteria style at exactly 7am and 7pm. Make sure you are not late as you will go hungry. And always tip the waiters.

Hope to see you there - it is going to be a blast.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:16 pm

Potted plants are a Bad Idea in general unless you have a large enclosed dome. The plants dry up and shred in the wind creating MOOP (Matter Out Of Place).

Showers are tricky. We use a simple garden sprayer and baby wipes. There's many options, but water for three people and daily showers, is well, a lot of water. Much discussion of showers and greywater all over this forum, keep searching and reading.

At the gate you will be given a map of the city, although by the time August rolls around, you'll likely have had a glimpse of it online. The theme camps will be marked in one color and the villages in another. You may not camp in those areas. The rest is open camping, and while some spots see a land grab, you probably will be fine if you're willing to stay a few blocks back.

Beer? Fernley or Reno. Don't count on Empire General Store, and Gerlach is quite small. There's always Discount Liquors in Wendover once you leave Utah and enter Nevada if you want to beat the rush. Whatever you do, do not buy booze in Utah.

Three days from NH? Not stopping a lot are you?

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:22 pm

Shower - Bring a blow-up kiddie pool and a pump of some sort. I have found it isn't too difficult to shower simply by holding a 2.5 gallon jug of water over my head, but having a helper is nice. Don't worry about curtains and all that. Pump out the water and put it back in the jugs. Take it home or dispose of it in a real drain off playa.

Potted plants - just say no.

AmbiguousClown · Post by **AmbiguousClown** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:26 pm

According to the Greening The Burn folks over on Tribe, the plant policy is being revised to allow greeters discretion in allowing plants that appear to have adequate plans for survival.

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:33 pm

Don't take advice from people who look like Mephistopheles.

At this time next year, Burningman will always have been better last year.

Catenary disquisitions can lead to the dread playa foot.

If camping with an odd number, greater effort must be made to assure equal gender representation.

The coffee in the Center Camp Cafe(tm) tastes like your high school wrestling coach's sock.

8 days of driving for 7 days of a fucking, camping trip(tm)? Only you can decide if it's worth it.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:11 pm

if you run into people like blyslv, dont slap him.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:14 pm

blyslv wrote: The coffee in the Center Camp Cafe(tm) tastes like your high school wrestling coach's sock.

My mind boggles at the many ways one might know what their high school wrestling coach's sock might taste like.

I am so glad I dropped out.

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:51 pm

Ignore these yahoos, they know not of what they speak. Trust me, I married one of them (to his wife in playaland). To dispose of gray water, I suggest bringing a dog; a large collie or perhaps an Irish setter works best. They have outlawed German shepherds because they keep trying to mate with the LEO canines in the drug enforcement vans and after that incident at Jiffy Lube several years back, well, you understand. Also shade structures are way overrated. Typically you won't see the sun very much because of the omnipresent cloud cover. In fact, a portable tanning booth is highly recommended. You can tap into the city's generous power supply any time you wish. And don't worry about water. The abundent streams (also teeming with fish which should solve your food problems) will give you enough to shower, drinking, and use for absurdly reckless entertainment purposes. But always carry your IDs because, even though Nevada is a dry state, several bars do exist at Burning Man but they card as if their lives depended upon it. And they do. Everyone knows what a Nazi Larry Harvey is. I still have my tattoo on my forearm from my internment, uh, I mean adventure back in 2004. I hope this helps.

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:07 pm

spectabillis wrote:if you run into people like blyslv, dont slap him.

But don't loan him five dollars, either.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:47 pm

Must we welcome all new users with such good advice?

Listen to nothing from these anarchists, read the ranger guide on the burningman website. Damn near everything you need to know about the event is in the first timers guide and ranger guide. For more check out this great site.
http://www.cieux.com/bmindex.html

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:20 am

PurpleKoosh wrote:
spectabillis wrote:if you run into people like blyslv, dont slap him.
But don't loan him five dollars, either.

I loaned myself five dollars to buy ice last year and I have yet to see a penny of it paid back.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:45 am

[quote="Mopower"] Also Iâ€™m not sure what to do about a shower. /quote]

I have refined my shower arrangements over the last 3 year's burns, and last year I managed at a couple or 3 showers daily:

1- Pour water over my head while standing in a garbage bag. Pour grey water into 5 gallon bottle.

2- Chase the water trucks while shouting ecstatically and discreetly ogling the naked beauty around me.

3- Walk down the street to the water slide camp.

Water in the desert is so refreshing!

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:29 pm

I am going to use a hydration pack and stand in my evap pond for showering, basically 1x3s used for the cube frame with a couple trash bags on the bottom. I may use the "wash cloth" as a wick on an angle to help evap the grey water wind permitting. Since basic evap ponds are so effective I figure it will be worth it to avoid hauling too much grey water out.

I was think of posting up a thread of my packing list once I am complete with it, I am currently making adjustments based on packing lists I found on the web. Maybe we all can post up our packing lists so other can learn from our various "roughing it" experiences.

I am probably going to be more of a daytime participant so camp comforts really aren't important to me other than a place to sleeping at night. I plan on trying to be fairly social with others rather than sit around under a shade structure all day baking.

The most important thing to remember is that the playa is trying to kill you. HYDRATE OR DIE! If you plan on consuming alcohol you have to drink even more water to offset the alcohol. Alot will depend on your body as well. Some folk don't require as much water as others. I personally consume around 2 gallons per day based on my body weight, genetic factors etc.

trae · Post by **trae** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:37 am

am i the only person that found showering on the playa simply led to even more playa-dirt/dust covering me? i tried it once, after that i simply soaked my head in my dish-washing 5-gallon pan (filled with pure drinking water, about 10 oz.), and it felt damn good. completely refreshing in fact. head soak = refreshing, shower = covered in playa grit. or at least that was my experience, without a completely enclosed shower area.

bring lots of baby wipes. in fact, to actually clean up. or lots and LOTS of the free ones from McDonalds. as in the hundreds or thousands. start collecting now if you want to save that five bucks.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:18 am

^ Don't shower in a dust storm...

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:50 am

We have found that water and playa don't mix. If you really wish to be clean use a commercial grade leaf blower and blow the playa off of yourself and your friends.

Fex · Post by **Fex** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:41 am

See? When a burner tells you "go soak your head" or "go blow yourself" they're actually being helpful.

"Things are not always as they seem in this place." -- Hoggle

Blackbird · Post by **Blackbird** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 10:16 am

Fex wrote: "Things are not always as they seem in this place." -- Hoggle

Hoggle! <3

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:33 am

AntiM wrote:Three days from NH? Not stopping a lot are you?

It's probably about one-third farther from The Granite State to BRC than my commute, from West Michigan. We're talkin' TEN tanks of gas, more or less. In Absolute Balls-Out Haulass Mode, I can do it in a solid 40 hours, driving solo. (It's "31 hours 17 minutes", according to Mapquest..)

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Go to the main page of the BM website, and click on each and every link in the header. I promise you that ALL of your questions will be answered.

stew · Post by **stew** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:28 am

skygod wrote:2- Chase the water trucks while shouting ecstatically and discreetly ogling the naked beauty around me.!

Nothing beats being waking up to the sound of the trunk's horn, running out of your tent, scattering your clothes behind you and taking a fresh morning shower in water of unknown origin.

I had only one shower in our evap pond in 06, the rest was all taken care of by the water truck.

SpaceCowboy · Post by **SpaceCowboy** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:30 am

Stew,

I have read several times on this discussion board that the water truck water is contaminated and should be avoided. You didn't get sick or were concerned?

Does anybody else have a comment about the condition of the water in the water truck?

Sounds like an excellent way to avoid the hassles associated with showers and gray water disposal.
[/quote]

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:14 am

[quote="SpaceCowboy"]Stew,
I have read several times on this discussion board that the water truck water is contaminated and should be avoided. [/quote][/quote]

posted on side of water truck," non potable, avoid contact.".....

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:59 am

I've never chased the water truck-I have however been in an open art car and had it blast us from the side-DRENTCHED in a moment-----at the outside ring 8:30-9:00 arcoss from the trampolines- there is a misting dome(I don't recomend this for a shower) but its very refreshing after a dance down the street at the Deep End- Our neighborhood the *outside ring 8-10* has lots of room normally... READ FIRST TIMERS GUIDE bring WARM CLOTHES AND BLANKETS carmex a bike and gogles.....See ya at Blackies Bar and Grill 9:15 and the second to last ring.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:31 pm

misfit wrote:
posted on side of water truck," non potable, avoid contact.".....

I never got sick from it, no rash either.

Where else can I run, strip and shout at the same time?

It's like Kato and the Pink Panther: Once we catch a glimpse of each other-
It's On!

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:26 pm

posted on side of water truck," non potable, avoid contact.".....

I'm sure that is for lawsuit crap. It's still reasonably clean water or people would get pissed that they are dumping smelly stagnant water on our streets. I'm guessing you're much better off in that water than So Cal beach water. Don't drink it, get it in open sores or consider yourself sanitized since there could be bacteria in it that will make you sick. It's not likely but it happens.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:05 pm

MikeVDS wrote:
posted on side of water truck," non potable, avoid contact.".....
I'm sure that is for lawsuit crap. It's still reasonably clean water or people would get pissed that they are dumping smelly stagnant water on our streets. I'm guessing you're much better off in that water than So Cal beach water. Don't drink it, get it in open sores or consider yourself sanitized since there could be bacteria in it that will make you sick. It's not likely but it happens.

From what I understand the inside of those tanks are not cleaned and could contain quite a bit of bacteria. I have only seen a handful of reports on eplaya but have heard many word of mouth reports from various participants that got sick from water getting into the mouth and some rashes. I guess alot depends on your constitution and skin. I had previously thought it would be cool to shower that way but have decided against it. I don't think they are dumping JOTS water per se but it can't be the cleanest stuff about. I find that often disclaimers are wise to follow.

stew · Post by **stew** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:56 am

MikeVDS wrote:I'm guessing you're much better off in that water than So Cal beach water.

That's what I'm thinking too - I close my mouth when surfing. Any lake or ocean you've ever been swimming in is likely to be as dirty as the water truck water.

So it's not Evian that I'm showering in, I can deal with that. Humanity survived until the 20th century without chlorine in their tap water. If the thought of showering in water that may or may not have bacteria scares you, you may also want to consider not touching any door knobs in public buildings or eating any food that you didn't sanitize yourself in the microwave.

So far, no rash and no sickness. Just don't swallow and keep open wounds out of it.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:04 am

The water comes from the local hot spring. Naturally you should not drink that water only because of surface contamination. udderwise it is just fine. In a pinch I would have no problem boiling the water for 15 minutes and then use for drinking and cooking.

SpaceCowboy wrote:Stew,

I have read several times on this discussion board that the water truck water is contaminated and should be avoided. You didn't get sick or were concerned?

Does anybody else have a comment about the condition of the water in the water truck?

Sounds like an excellent way to avoid the hassles associated with showers and gray water disposal.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:18 pm

Cabana Springs wrote:I loaned myself five dollars to buy ice last year and I have yet to see a penny of it paid back.

I'd kick the motherfuckers ass

Im a new burner.. Need some input!

Im a new burner.. Need some input!

Plant Policy being revised

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Re: Im a new burner.. Need some input!

Re: Im a new burner.. Need some input!

Re: Im a new burner.. Need some input!