Don't know if this has been answered but what the heck

StarWind · Post by **StarWind** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:36 pm

Hi all. I'm a virgin that's been reading up as much as he can on BM and what all it entails. So far, nothing's deterred me from wanting to go and I wanted to get some input. I've been reading up on the survival guide and other people experiences and methods of preparation.

I'm in Birmingham, AL where not many Burners lie and was thinking of flying to Nevada. I need to know if it's good to pack everything beforehand and fly, which would be a pretty hefty load even on a plane, or to pack what I can reasonably fit, fly, then buy what all else I need when I get there?

I've read a few times it's better to go with friends but one's anti-scocial bordering on xenophobia and the other three would think me crazy for going to such an event. I want to attend my first time this year but employment problems may be on the rise so to speak but I wanted to get some feedback from people who've been around.

Comments, questions, death threats?

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:58 pm

Going by yourself is not the end of the world. It's fun to share the event with a good friend, but on the other hand if that friend discovers that they don't want to be there and they're going to hold it against you for the rest of their life, it ain't worth it. Never, ever talk someone into going--if they don't catch fire with excitement on their own, they really shouldn't be going out there.

I can't comment too much on what you need to do to prepare yourself for the flight. You might have a hard time renting a car that'll let you take the vehicle out to the desert, but you might not and you've got a long-ass drive ahead of you if you don't fly--especially if you're doing a solo mission.

Food, water shelter are your priorities and right now it sounds like you're in problem solving mode on how to get all that and yourself to the playa in a way that doesn't drive you insane or broke.

I'd recommend trying to join up with a camp, but there are a number of trade-offs to that. In a way, it's like buying an old used car--don't be in a hurry, ask a ton of questions to get a feel of the people involved. (If they're party people and you're not [or vice versa], they're vegans and you're almost a pure carnivore, those can be very bad matches.) Above all, make sure, particularly if money is involved, that you're comfortable with the arrangements.

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:11 pm

As a suggestion, you may want to fly into Sacramento, rent a van from there, get your supplies, and then drive to Black Rock City. Sacramento to Gerlach is about 4 hours. The problem is that the major rental agencies are adding, as is the case with AVIS, an additional $250 cleaning "surcharge" to the rental price. However, the dealership in downtown Sacto is burner-friendly and the owner is a good friend of mine. He is waiving the charge. Also, if you're a CostCo member, AVIS offers a discount. If you're at all interested, send me a private message and I'll fill you in on the details offline.

Doc

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:13 pm

> where not many Burners lie

Burners lie where ever they are. :->

If you decide to fly and buy in Reno, you'll have plenty of company. Many people do that; drop by
http://civilizedexplorer.pbwiki.com/CivExReno
and you'll find lots of links to shopping for everything you need.

I do suggest that you figure out whether you can rent a car in Reno before you make your decision. Check the section for Reno Rentals in the link above, as well as considering Sacramento, as Dr. Pyro mentioned.

I have lots of friends who go by themselves. At one time there was a solo group that was put together for people who went alone but wanted some affinity with other soloers. I'm not sure it's still active.

Read up on the BM Web site, and drop by
http://www.cieux.com/bm/bmtoc.html
for additional information for first timers, 2d timers, and more.

You'll have a ball. See you there. (We give away free clothes on Friday at 2:00 PM. Drop me a private message in August; I'll know by then where we're camping - drop by.)

emotion_sickness · Post by **emotion_sickness** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:54 pm

[quote="phil"]At one time there was a solo group that was put together for people who went alone but wanted some affinity with other soloers. I'm not sure it's still active.[quote]

Im working on reviving the Solo Collective, apperently it disbanded as members joined other theme camps. i havent decided if we'll steal the name or not...that just doesn't seem very nice... but i think the theory behind our group will be along the same lines. i'll have more info ready in a while if anyone is interested.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:25 pm

the Web site is still there:
http://www.solocollective.org/
but that's all that's on the page.

Can you do a look up on that domain name and track down the owner? Might be worth it. Maybe not. Up to you.

See also
http://solocollective.tribe.net/

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:32 am

There's a regional in nc
transformus.com
Only one set of tickets left to be sold.
Drive if you can so you can carry what you want.
There is a regional in texas too.
And florida.

StarWind · Post by **StarWind** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:29 am

Thanks for the advice, I'll look over the sites. I was considering joining a camp since I know I'm going to need help out there. Hell, I've never even been camping before. Another question is on average, what would y'all say a person spends on this kinda trip?

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:39 am

StarWind wrote:I was considering joining a camp since I know I'm going to need help out there. Hell, I've never even been camping before.

Not trying to bust your chops too much, but you really want to find out if camping is your thing before you plunk down on a BM ticket, plane fare, hotel fare, rent car money, food, tent, etc.

Go camping. Take a long weekend and find out if you're okay spending more than one night out of a house and not having a flush toilet or running water in easy access.

Part of the idea of going to Burning Man (at least when I started going) was to be self-reliant so you could add to the community instead of relying on it to bail your ass out of a jam. Being a noob and challanged with the logistics of flying there and then gearing up, well, a helping hand can be a good thing--but there is a difference in someone lending a hand with awkward logistics so you stand on your own feet once you're there and expecting a camp to do all the work for you.

Now if someone, or some camp, wants to handle all of your essentials for you so all you need to do is show up, well, that's their business.

BTW, I spend about $600 on my ticket, driving from Denver, and my supplies. Add another $200 for camping gear.

ETA--Don't forget about a bike--you'll want one of those--/ETA

Archantael · Post by **Archantael** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:45 am

IMHO there's camping almost anywhere else, and then there's "camping" at Burning Man. You'll use some of the same gear but that's where things start diverging fast. I don't know of too many other places where you need rebar for tent stakes, your tent can be blasted by Category 1 Hurricane force winds, and you also have to protect your stuff from people who might be impaired from tripping over or getting hurt by your gear, ie: no exposed rebar tent stakes or unflagged ropes to hold things down.

Since you've never went camping before and this is your first BM from the looks of your posts you may be taking on too much. For the first year I would just go and take in the event, volunteer with various groups (like the lamplighters!) and then come back next year with camp plans based on experience. What you read online is like the minimalist prep guide to the event...you won't fully comprehend it until you get out there.

But no matter what you decide to do at least you're going and you want to be involved. Good luck to you!

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:48 am

StarWind wrote:Another question is on average, what would y'all say a person spends on this kinda trip?

Nobody at Burning Man is average, so that's hard to answer. Take a look at this page:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/things.html
and scroll down to the list of things people take. You'll have to figure out what appeals to you and then get prices off the Web or from your local discount stores to work up a budget. If you get items that have uses at home, it makes the cost more affordable. You may find you camp more, after you've been at Burning Man.

Not having camped before is either an opportunity or a problem. Buy your camp gear and practice putting it up every weekend and using it. Sleep in your tent, bag, and air mattress. Just get used to it before you come, you'll be okay.

I have problems with talking about Burning Man and camping. If I tell friends about it and they think it's camping, I chalk them off as a lost cause. It's not campling, in my view. You're in for a very pleasant surprise when you see what "camping" is like a Burning Man. You really can rely on the kindness of strangers at BM, so don't hesitate to ask for or offer help. When you find a place you want to pitch your tent, ask around and make sure they're not waiting for two dozen friends that you'll be interrupting - some people are touchy about that. If they invite you in, go for it, make friends, ask for help, offer help, be a guy. You'll learn a tremendous amount your first year, and your second year will be even better.

Louise and I camped among the unwashed masses our first few years, and we made friends that have lasted ever since - people we see only at the Burns, people we see all year round. We've sinced camped in theme camps that more or less match our interests, so I expect you'll follow a similar pattern.

You'll be totally blown away by Burning Man. You'll share it with people; they'll share it with you.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:35 am

Or you can stay at the time-share condo I have in the middle of the playa. It's very nice. Air conditioning and everything.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 1:19 pm

If you are early camp under the tree.
Easy to spend $1000 going, can be less, can be much more.
Harder the first time getting all the stuff you need and will reuse.

There is a thread somewhere that suggests moving all you stuff into your yard, move it back in, set up fans and heaters and then empty flour sacks in front of the fans.
Enjoy!

Anyone remember where that is?

A good four season tent is worth it, but not cheap.
I still need to replace mine if anyone is upgrading?

A back packing tent is easy to carry on a plane.
You still need shade.
Buy real tent stakes.
Forget rebar.

StarWind · Post by **StarWind** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:32 pm

[quote]Being a noob and challanged with the logistics of flying there and then gearing up, well, a helping hand can be a good thing--but there is a difference in someone lending a hand with awkward logistics so you stand on your own feet once you're there and expecting a camp to do all the work for you.[/quote]

I didn't mean it to say I wouldn't put in my fair share of the workload. I'm certainly no sponge. Just that I might need a hand here and there. Thanks for all the helpful advice all. And the condo sounds nice. I can store all the dead bod... I mean all the ice cream there.

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:48 pm

gyre wrote:There is a thread somewhere that suggests moving all you stuff into your yard, move it back in, set up fans and heaters and then empty flour sacks in front of the fans.
Enjoy!

Anyone remember where that is?

It's been posted here a few times, in a few variations, but this was the first one that came up when I searched on the title I remembered:

How to Enjoy the Burning Man Experience from the Comfort of Your Own Home

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:06 pm

That's it.
But I remember something about a game of going or inventing a game.

Be sure to adjust your driving time accordingly.
Two days from here if you don't sleep.
Ten hours! Ha!

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:21 pm

Two days is about right from here, too. Two days if the driver and passenger switch off, a bit more if a least a little sleep is caught at some point.

B.

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:14 am

StarWind wrote:I didn't mean it to say I wouldn't put in my fair share of the workload. I'm certainly no sponge. Just that I might need a hand here and there.

Wasn't trying to say you were a sponge, but over the years a lot of parasites have approached camps with the same "I'll pitch in!" promise and they end just sitting on their respective asses, like bloated ticks dug into a dog's neck, so some people around here are a tad jaded and cynical. Don't let that deter you--just take it for what it is: a head's up that people have been burned both ways.

Finding someone to camp with is probably your best and cheapest solution--but a note of caution: if you agree to be picked up and returned to the airport by a group of people, you are putting yourself at their mercy. IOW, if things were to go to shit during the week and they abandoned your ass out there, finding an alternative means of transportation can be done--but it can be a lonely-ass feeling.

StarWind · Post by **StarWind** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:20 am

I think I'm definitely going to go this year but I've read one really needs a bike at the event. Anyone know any spots one could rent an adult tricycle? If not, I'm probably better off walking.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:46 am

If a bicycle is hard to use, you may want to look at something powered.
A three wheeler isn't common unless you bring it.

Hot Wheelz camp helps with loaners for those that need it, but there is never enough to go around.
Many people use no transport.
There is a lot of distance out there though.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Fri May 04, 2007 11:31 am

someone posted recentrly that there is now a regional Burn in Georgia. Easy 2.5 hour drive from Birmingham. Go to Georgia's regional burn and hook up with some happy campers who already know the ropes a bit and whose personalities seem to match yours. It would be a helluvah a drive from B'ham or Atlanta, but if you went with someone fun who had a trailer to haul all your crap, that may be the way to go. Make a fun 2 day road trip out of it, hooking up with Burners at the mid-way point.

Have fun my fellow Southerner!

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:26 pm

StarWind wrote:Anyone know any spots one could rent an adult tricycle?

Check here
http://civilizedexplorer.pbwiki.com/CivExReno
and see if you can find what you need.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sat May 05, 2007 5:40 am

On several occassions I've told people that I was going to Burning Man and they've said, "Birmingham?".

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat May 05, 2007 6:06 am

Closer to Leeds really.