Heads up from the playa: might be dusty

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:15 pm

here's a post to twitter from a guy who's there now:

To those packing/prepping/procrastipacking for Burning Man... be warned that it will most likely be VERY dusty. Plan/pack accordingly.

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:14 pm

The word on bikes is bring your fattest, knobbiest tires, cuz it's dune central.

Angel Ben · Post by **Angel Ben** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:23 pm

MIGHT be dusty? Bahahahahahahahahahahahah! Seriously though, prepare for the worst, always.[/i]

fenwick · Post by **fenwick** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:36 pm

Nothing wrong with a little bit of dust - I just consider it a reminder for the next 11 months and 3 weeks after burningman - of the fun it was getting that dust.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:46 pm

Well screw that, I ain't comin' if that's how it's gonna be. I don't wanna get all my stuff dirty. Count me out!

JezebelinHell · Post by **JezebelinHell** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:48 am

Not to self: Bring several pairs of back-up goggles; do not leave tent without dust masks.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:07 am

Hot Diggity Damn!

i hope you're not just teasing me...

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:20 am

Nope, he confirmed it today -

All snark aside, it does look like it is going to be a doozy of a year for dust. I wish I was kidding & hope I am wrong

Naturally, it's the weather. I recall a year when people on the playa were sending desperate messages about devastating winds (one guy poured soda out of a can, and said the stream never it the ground the wind was so strong), but by the time we got there, all was normal. So who can predict?

Weather station in Gerlach:
http://206.158.7.4/weather/pro.htm

Friends of Black Rock at
http://blackrockdesert.org/current/conditions.php
say

August 8: Black Rock playa conditions: The playa is EXTREMELY DRY. Roads are very dusty. The area north of Trego mountain is soft and relatively deep, the Quinn river-Black Rock area is slightly soft but passable. The southern arm is hard and flat.

Gerlach Web cam:
http://206.158.7.4/webcam/gerlach.jpg

It's Burning Man. Be prepared. Have a backup. Heck, have two backups.

Our alerts page at
http://www.cieux.com/bm/alerts.html
has links to road closings and construction, weather, playa reports, and such.

Good luck and have fun.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:33 am

not to mention.. Eye Drops, Nose moisturizer, and Throat Lozenges.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:41 am

Boijoy wrote:not to mention.. Eye Drops, Nose moisturizer, and Throat Lozenges.

Saline nasal spray is a thorsend.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:45 am

Another playa report:

IMPORTANT: Rollover Accident on Playa

On Monday there was an accident on playa. One of ours was driving.
There were four people in the SUV that flipped over.
One person was life-flighted out of Black Rock City to a hospital in
Reno. EVERYONE IS OK.
It could have been so much worse. The paramedic on scene told one of
the passengers that had he not been wearing his seat belt,
he would have lost one of his arms and possibly been killed.
This year, the playa is not the playa that we are used to. Conditions
are rough.
Be careful if you are driving on playa. Hell, just be careful all of
the time. The desert is not yer friend.

The lessons:
.
1. Wear your seat belt!
The driver of the vehicle in the accident had insisted that everyone
put on their seat belts before he would move the car.
Watch out for each other.

2. Slow the f*ck down!
We are dealing with a different playa than normal.
Cars can become extremely unsafe at 40 miles per hour.

We like you better when yer not broken. Have fun and be safe.

Ya know, if you lose an arm on the playa, it's gonna be awfully hard to find in all that dust.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:51 am

[/quote]
Saline nasal spray is a thorsend.[/quote]

Thor send, is that what you meant?

My pagan self saw that.........

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:54 am

I know y'all see those cars commercials (if U watch TV) where it looks like it was shot on the playa, and the cars are zooming along and skidding out of control (how does that make a car look good, I wonder?).

Be warned! The alkali dust of the Black Rock Desert grabs your tires and instead of skidding, you flip. I'm not saying that this is how this accident happened, but it's likely and/or possible.

They probably do the skidding act on salt flats maybe near LA.

Yes, the desert hates you and wants to kill you. Be a smart little survivor and we'll all have fun.

MarkM3 · Post by **MarkM3** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:09 am

Also keep a cloth rag/hankercheif with you for wiping the dust off of your googles!

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:14 am

> Thor send, is that what you meant?

:-> It's one word.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:19 am

yes, and a good word....just wondering if you refer to the "God of Thunder"?

chiefdanfox · Post by **chiefdanfox** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:23 am

Naw, I'm good. I've got one of those 12V dustbusters that plug into the cigar lighter. I'll be fine.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:23 am

Ugly Dougly wrote:...The alkali dust of the Black Rock Desert grabs your tires...

...They probably do the skidding act on salt flats...

Make up your minds...

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:25 am

ygmir wrote:yes, and a good word....just wondering if you refer to the "God of Thunder"?

Of COURSE!

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:26 am

chiefdanfox wrote:Naw, I'm good. I've got one of those 12V dustbusters that pulg into the cigar lighter. I'll be fine.

I think you refer to the Ronco DustBooger? Sucks 'em right out. Don't use saline spray if you use the DustBooger. Clogs the filters.

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:05 pm

>>>>...The alkali dust of the Black Rock Desert grabs your tires...
...They probably do the skidding act on salt flats...<<<<

BRC is a salt flat.... careful of the dunes and soft sand flats while in your car, biking and walking....of course common sense will keep you from injuring me....

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:14 pm

misfit wrote:...salt flat...

...sand flats...

Neither, really. Mostly silt & clay, very little sand or salts.

Furrfu.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:12 pm

Bob wrote: Furrfu.

Bob, you're a maniac!

In 2006, a pickup full of people rolled over.
No one hurt, I'm told and they were going in circles.
I was supposed to be in the group, but nobody woke me up.

You can easily set up a car to drift out there with the right suspension tune.
It helps to actually know how to drive too.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:02 pm

misfit wrote:>>>>...The alkali dust of the Black Rock Desert grabs your tires...
...They probably do the skidding act on salt flats...<<<<

BRC is a salt flat.... careful of the dunes and soft sand flats while in your car, biking and walking....of course common sense will keep you from injuring me....

Taste it when you get there pilgrim. Tell me how it tastes.

chiefdanfox · Post by **chiefdanfox** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:09 pm

Licking the playa. It is not just for breakfast anymore.

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:18 pm

UD,,,, agreed. anyone notice that mound of unprocessed salt on the way into the city.?...

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:20 pm

THAT'S why I never bring salt.. I just pick it up when I get there..

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:21 pm

My youngest daughter went with me when she was just a year old. It was a constant job keeping her from trying to eat the playa. I guess she liked the salty taste!

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:27 pm

kids like the taste of chaulk also,, that could be it.
I ate chaulk as a child.. and play doh.. and LOOK nothings wrong with me!! :shock:

goneguy · Post by **goneguy** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:57 pm

JezebelinHell, as a burner-virgin I gotta ask about your quote:
"Bring several pairs of back-up goggles"
What happens to goggles on the playa? :|