Going solo.

cirka09 · Post by **cirka09** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:23 pm

I'm trying to make arrangements to go to my first burn this year. Is it a bad idea to go solo your first time out?

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:56 pm

Nope, you'll be fine. Read the stuff on the Burning Man Website and ask questions here.

http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/

My suggestion is not to worry about participating, giving things away, and all that folderol your first year - just go and be blown away. You'll do better every year after that. :->

mereth · Post by **mereth** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:03 pm

The more important point (tell me if I'm wrong, Phil) is are you prepared to go by yourself and do everything including cooking, set up, clean up, wandering throughout the playa by yourself... Yeah, once you get there, you could ask for help, but radical self-reliance means you, yourself and you are responsible for all of the above.

If you're up for the challenge (and you've read the Survival Guide 5 times or more to prove that you DO understand what you're getting yourself into), the next appropriate question is do you want to camp by yourself or join up with a theme camp (i.e.: Stag Camp).

Read the entire Survival Guide and everything under the First Timers section on the main website first so you understand what you'd be asking of yourself.

StevenGoodman · Post by **StevenGoodman** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:20 pm

mereth wrote:Read the entire Survival Guide and everything under the First Timers section on the main website first so you understand what you'd be asking of yourself.

And to quote a great line from the Stag Camp forum:

"Read the survival guide until you can randomly recite parts of it at will. It will help you in all manner of preparation. "

Martini Steve

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:26 pm

> tell me if I'm wrong, Phil

I'm not authorized to tell anyone they're wrong. :-> Everyone has good points to make that contribute to the discussion.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:14 pm

I am authorized to spread misinformation.

dr.placebo · Post by **dr.placebo** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:25 pm

I went solo my first year (1999) and had a great time. Three things worked in my favor:

1. I'm a Sierra backpacker and desert camper. I could have been out there alone and I would have been reasonably comfortable.

2. I read the materials. Over and over.

3. I was determined to make as many new friends as I could (and the opportunities were vast). I was solo, but not really alone.

#2 and #3 are things that everybody should do. A for #1, if you are not already a camper you might try a simple car camping expedition to help you get oriented to doing that kind of prep.

Good luck!

mereth · Post by **mereth** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:49 pm

phil wrote:> tell me if I'm wrong, Phil

I'm not authorized to tell anyone they're wrong. :-> Everyone has good points to make that contribute to the discussion.

Sorry, Phil. I should have phrased that as "tell me if you disagree". A subtle semantic....
BTW, I wrote the post before I saw your response, so when I was typing it I thought I'd be the first to reply.
On this thread, I agree with everyone's idea that cirka09 should read the First Timer's section and the Survival Guide until it imprints itself in words of indelible fire onto his brain cells such that even his grandchildren are born with it memorized.
Take that!

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:57 pm

Along with all of the other good advice that's been offered I'd like to suggest one more thing to look over.... Bob Stahl's Desert Structures guide which can be found here:
http://www.geocities.com/potatotrap/tech/bluetarp.htm

His advice on staking tents and building shade structures to handle the winds was invaluable to me the first time out there.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:17 pm

Hi. I am a Stagger. Theme camps are supposed to be interactive places for all of BRC to participate. Our camp if it is considered a theme camp is on the very outer edge of what can be considered a theme camp. Our camp thread is in the theme camp section though. We did not know where else to put it.
We are a group of people who are individually self reliant who camp together for the company and shared experience. Many theme camps have a large amount of organization and obligation revolving around meals and the functioning of the camp as a place to live and as an interactive environment. We have no time constrained organization during the event beyond an introduce yourself camp meeting and for the group portrait. Many of our camp members skipped one or both of them because this is BRC and you can do whatever you want(within reason). If you are curious about Stag Camp you can find our discussion in the Theme Camps 2008 area.

I went by myself my first year and was horribly apprehensive. I arrived in the early morning hours when it was still dark. I saw the city lights from the turn off just outside of Gerlach which is about 10 miles from the event and was totally blown away. I have gone to the event every year since for the entire event. I really recommend getting there as early as possible because the first few days have an amazing atmosphere of community and positiveness. As a virgin I put numerous miles on my bike and saw people, art and city life that was so great that it broke my heart. My most vivid memories are from my first year but each year since has been better than the last. No expectations and be prepared to be blown away. The people in BRC are the best!

mereth · Post by **mereth** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:20 pm

I wonder if the mods should go ahead and make a sticky out of:
Now that you've read the Survival Guide...read this!

and should be a thread delineating all the various BM guides out there on the web.

Yay for homework for n00bs!

cirka09 · Post by **cirka09** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:00 pm

WOW! Thank you for all of the input! You guys are awesome.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:02 pm

They were better last year....

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:39 am

Bring lots of beer and you will always have friends.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:05 pm

I went for the first time last year, and I went by myself. I couldn't convince anybody I knew to come with. I just decided that if I was going to go, I had just better go. I had a fantastic time. I brought a tent, a kelty shade shelter, and a lot of water. I didn't have any camp affiliations, and I just set up in the first open place I passed. I met some amazing people, and saw many amazing things. All the cheap solar lights and blinky things I began to accumulate a few years ago in anticipation were finally put to use. My favorite meal was a can of chicken noodle soup, I will bring more next year. I found that preparing food was something I didn't really want to do. I made a big bowl of gorp with dry fruit and nuts and put it in many small baggies before I left home. I'd fill up my nalgene, put a few bags of gorp in my bag, get on the bike and head out. This year, I have some people I'm looking forward to seeing again. I'm also thinking of ways to bring less stuff that isn't used, and use the stuff I do bring... a camping lament. I figure I'll stop trying to engineer, and construct an evap system and just bring a funnel and an extra five gallon container. I did have success with some microfiber towels and a small clothes line taking care of about a quart a day , but the dust dust dust ANYTHING will accumulate most likely will come back in your car. The total surface area of things you have outside of your car is something I hadn't really considered. I also learned that something that stops the wind, also makes a really great place for a huge drift of dirt to grow. And I learned about how the inside of a tent is a nice settling area for hard blowing dust. I will tip my cot on it's side this year before I shut the tent flap on my way out.

from my experience:

1. going by yourself should not be a barrier at all. You cannot be alone with so many interesting and engaging people around you. The spirit of fun and can do is infectious. In the morning, ask anybody what they saw last night and you'll be on your way to making another friend.

2. Read the survival guide.

3. Try not to get too obsessed with your gear. It is there to support you, keep you comfortable, healthy, and make you happy. (note to self) It is not a snare, or a hurculean feat.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:14 am

I go "solo" every year, although I've always ended up camping with friends ...the drive out and back is part of the fun, and I hope you plan to enjoy that aspect of the Solo Adventure as well. (Unless you're coming from, like, Empire.) Regardless of whether you're coming from the Bay Area or Great Lakes (like me) remember to take breaks while driving and bring a spare car key. Also check your battery midweek- I bring a portable jumper to use as a supplemental power source for light toys, but have needed it to start the Honda these past two years running after forgetting to give 'er a test now and again. (Note to self- If you MUST fall asleep listening to BMIR, be sure to use the portable radio and NOT the car system.)
Back to the drive- I don't know if you take many long road trips, but I find being the ONLY person that decides when to stop the car an almost intoxicating amount of power...Buffalo Bill's birthplace? Pull it on over! Scenic overlook? Yeah, buddy! With practice, your bladder will get full at about the same rate that your gas tank gets empty. (But resist the temptation to empty YOUR tank on the pump offering the four-dollar regular.)
If you're lucky enough to be coming in on I-80, I'd be glad to share my favorite spots and stops with you...Happy Motoring!

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:28 am

This is one of the most common thread topics, but this time there are really great responses. It never occurred to me that replies from people who'd just gone for their own first time might be even more helpful than those from vets.
All I can add is reassurance that even if you arrive alone, when you get there you won't be! And by that I mean something different than going to a concert or other large event... all burners immediately have something in common, and generally anyone you see is your friend. Walk into almost any camp and they'll be glad to see you. Ugly Dougly is right about the beer, too... bring lots of party supplies! Canned beer is especially smart because it's in a sealed container that someone can be confident hasn't had anything psychedelic added. I know people who won't accept gifts of drinks unless it's an unopened can. I've heard less about that in recent years, but it's been known to happen... "dosing" they call it.
About the car getting trashed from all the dirt and dust: Unless you have a pickup truck or your car is already a beater I'd say try to get your hands on a small trailer (maybe rent one). Elorrum is very right about how it'll suck packing all that extremely dusty and dirty stuff back into your car!

Very definitely read Bob Stahl's pages. That's the best info I've ever seen.
The windstorms are stronger than most people expect... make everything hurricane-proof.

It's gonna be great!

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:49 am

Going Solo seems to be such a great adventure

Going solo.

Going solo.

Stag Camp 2.0