Is 110 degree dry desert heat very different from..

[nebulachic]

... 110 degree humid suck-ass heat?

[mk-ultra]

*Absolutely*

Dry-heat is a heck of a lot more bearable than "wet" heat. The higher the humidity, the higher the chances are of heat exhaustion and heat stroke at the same temperature.

For "equivalent" temperatures at various relative humidities:

http://www.weather.gov/os/heat/index.shtml

That said, it's still damn hot on the playa. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate -- and get some shade now and then.

[TomServo]

and you will not find many places..dryer...than Black Rock Desert!

[fenwick]

.... there is nothing like spraying the hood of your car with Pam cooking spray and then preparing bacon and fried eggs for breakfast by ten in the morning.....

The dry heat can suck your body's moisture from you so fast you never know what hit you. If your used to a climate where you sweat in the heat, but the sweat remains on your body and clothing - the desert will be very different. As fast as you sweat - the sweat evaporates, so you think your body is cool and comfy.

Then you take that first pit stop at a port-a-potty and notice that your pee is greener then Irish Beer on St. Patrick's day - your first warning sign of dehydration. Followed by dizziness, chills and passing out - ussually far from anyplace that offers first aid.

[Captain Goddammit]

Never let your pee get below 80 proof.
Oh wait, maybe that's bad advice for a new burner...

[gyre]

It's only a dry heat.

You know, like sitting on a stove.

[ScrogFather]

"Then you take that first pit stop at a port-a-potty and notice that your pee is greener then Irish Beer on St. Patrick's day - your first warning sign of dehydration."

When one becomes dehydrated one's urine becomes more concentrated. Urine will turn to a darker yellow(not green), to an amber color, to tea colored, then to a brown/black color. If your urine is green then you have other problems besides dehydration. If your urine is green something maybe growing in your bladder or maybe you should lay off the Asparagus.

[fenwick]

"Then you take that first pit stop at a port-a-potty and notice that your pee is greener then Irish Beer on St. Patrick's day - your first warning sign of dehydration."

When one becomes dehydrated one's urine becomes more concentrated. Urine will turn to a darker yellow(not green), to an amber color, to tea colored, then to a brown/black color. If your urine is green then you have other problems besides dehydration. If your urine is green something maybe growing in your bladder or maybe you should lay off the Asparagus.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To those whom are colorblind - green yellow gold orange - they all "look alike". Not every male - has perfect vision and the ability to distinguish green / yellow AND/OR blue / red spectrum of visible colors.

The important thing is that if pee is not clear - something is wrong.

[robotland]

To those whom are colorblind - green yellow gold orange - they all "look alike". Not every male - has perfect vision and the ability to distinguish green / yellow AND/OR blue / red spectrum of visible colors.

...which is why the good folks at AsparaCo add their proprietary odor compound to asparagus at NO extra cost to the consumer!
AsparaCo....Making Your Life Smell A Little More- Even If You're Colorblind.

Just as a comparison, I live in southwest Michigan and find our (sometimes) hot-and-humid July and August days miserable...people think I'm a lunatic to get so excited by the prospect of a desert campout, but I find BRC's climate to be VERY pleasant as long as I keep hydrated and watch the sun exposure.

[Ugly Dougly]

You can actually cool off by soaking your hair - if you have any.

[somekind]

It's still so hot that you don't want to do anything.

[mojo]

You can stay cool by misting yourself with a squirt bottle. It evaporates quickly and feels great. Or soak a bandanna and tie it around your neck.

[nebulachic]

Or maybe one of these to keep cool... but with the head above?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/gallery/m ... pa_405.jpg

I know, I know... I'm sure someone has already thought of it if not done it. SHUT UP NEWBIE!!!!

[AntiM]

Anyone have a pic of Water Boy?

[phil]

http://images.burningman.com/index.cgi?image=9792

Talk about brown water. Ugh.

[Kenny Z]

Standing under shade is a heck of a lot more effective in dry climate too!

[supernovaky]

Im from the humid swamps of south Louisiana. Im used to a kind of heat that can kill you.

What can I expect in terms of adapting to the desert heat? Anyone else coming from a low-lying (-5 foot elevation, no lie, protected by levees), hot, humid area to go to BM?

[phil]

> Im from the humid swamps of south Louisiana.

I used to live in Merryville, LA. West of DeRidder.

There's no humidity on the desert, so you'll feel much more comfortable in 90 and hundred degree heat. The problem is that your sweat will evaporate before you know you sweated, so you may forget to drink water. If your saliva starts being pasty, it's too late. Start drinking fruit juices and water and take a break for a half hour or so. Sip as you go along, don't wait till you're thirsty to drink.

The dry heat is _much_ more comfortable for me than humid heat. Your mileage will vary.

[supernovaky]

Merryville?

HAHA!

I've been there a few times. I'm sorry, its just funny to think that there are burners in such a place. God, DeRidder.. don't even get me started.

But yeah, I can take sucky ass humid heat, so I guess I can take Playa heat.

What are the typical day/night time temperatures?

[ZaphodBurner]

Im from the humid swamps of south Louisiana. Im used to a kind of heat that can kill you.

What can I expect in terms of adapting to the desert heat?

LOL! Bring a sweater. (Seriously, bring a coat for after dark.)

It doesn't compare. 105 degrees on the playa where you can wear whatever you want and seek shade if it bothers you isn't nearly as exhausting as the average summer afternoons I remember in Gulfport, MS.

The air is so thin and dry that one problem some people have are nosebleeds that don't seem to stop. Other than that possibility, you swamp people should find it downright comfortable.

Phil is Wise. Dehydration on the playa seems to hit instantaneously and with little warning.

-cx

[phil]

> What are the typical day/night time temperatures?

Typical highs are in the mid to high 90s, sometimes a hundred. Lows range from the 40s and 50s to maybe the 70s some year or other.

[Ugly Dougly]

It's not that hot 24/7. Most people take a nap in the shade in the middle of the day.

[skygod]

It's like when you go to Hell they say "At least it's dry heat".

[fuz]

i live in gross south-east texas, where it is like 90% humidity and 105 degrees right now (every summer).

going to burningman is like a mild-weather vacation for us, in terms of the heat.

BUT, a major point to take into account is that you don't really have places you can "cool down" all the time, so if you don't spray yourself with water, stay in the shade if possible, and hold a rag with ice/water on you, you very well could get heat-headaches and/or exhaustion.

oh, and you don't feel the sweat much (comparatively), so don't forget to drink water just as much as at home.

[unjonharley]

here in the northwest, The temp is 70-80' some times 90.. Humid 30%..

I drink a half gallon of water from my sipper, 1-2 16oz. tea/coffee and most of my food is steamed each day..

On the playa I tank up in the morning,carry a sipper with me an bum water from other camps.. Then a couple of sippers full during the day and tank up before bed.. That'll teach you to invite me to sit and chat.. No wounder I pee on tiers like a big dog.

[gyre]

No one else lives below sea level between here and Holland.
You'll sweat less actually.
115 feels like 100-105 where you are.
Humidity varies out there a lot.
You do have to drink water.

[joemomma]

Remember it is at 4400 ft elevation.. that is a big difference for sea level folks... hydrate on the way and dont' stop...take it easy the first day, beer/drink a bottle of water.... You won't believe how little you pee for the amount of water you drink. Don't be surprised if you have a headache the first day, and didn't drink....but hydrate hydrate hydrate.....
And yes there can be a 20 degree difference between sunshine and shade out here.....
I live in reno.....

[gyre]

When I measure it, it's much more than 20 degrees here.
They always measure temperature out of direct sunlight.
And there's no shade on the playa unless someone builds it.

[Ugly Dougly]

It's hotter than the hinges of HELL!!

In fact the Hinges of Hell are just down the road. Used to be there was a bus where folks could go there and cool off.

Is that on for this year?

Flick lives!

[Boijoy]

I brought a thermometer last year,, stuck it in the sun and let everyone know the temp. every hour. It got to be over 120. yup.. everyone LOVED me.. it's was my "gift" :-)