Traffic leaving brc?

djaded · Post by **djaded** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 10:55 am

Can anyone tell me what traffic is like the sunday after the burn? If I leave around noon, how long should it take to get to reno?

III · Post by **III** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:16 am

heh. sunday noon is bad. it's about 1 1/2 hour trip normally to reno. expect to spend several hours getting out of black rock, and then slow traffic once you're out. i've heard stories of it taking 6 hours from getting into the car to actually arriving at the reno airport. traffic at 5 a.m. is much more manageable.

oh, and you may want to try to leave monday, instead of sunday. just sayin...

djaded · Post by **djaded** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:21 am

I have a 8 am flight out on monday so we have to leave on sunday. So as to not offend others on the airplane were going to spend the night in reno and rid ourselves of some of our playa funk. I just wanted to make sure it wasnt going to take us like 12 hrs to get to reno and not have time to rest and shower at the hotel. Thanks.

SilkenTofu · Post by **SilkenTofu** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:23 am

There will be a steady stream of traffic going out and while you are still on the playa you can't go faster than 5mph or else you will be dusting everyone in your wake. Plan for 2 hours to get off playa onto backtop then about another 2 and a half back to Reno as you will be following a caravan of folks leaving. Also there are towns that you pass through where speed limits are strictly enforced. So I would say 4 and a half to 5 hours back. Remember that you can lighten your load at the exit gate by gifting excess water, booze, food and porn to the volunteers who make it possible for us to come back next year. This also causes slow exiting. NO LINE JUMPING or you will get smacked.

I think everyone deliberatly goes slow because no one really wants to leave.

Taniwha · Post by **Taniwha** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:24 am

It really depends - there's sort of 2 issues - getting off of the playa - basicly lots of people are trying to leave and there's a one lane road at the end of it - we've found that leaving really early that morning isn't a problem - later can be (others can speak to how much later).
Secondly it's a long long narrow road back to the freeway (100 miles or so) normally it's roughly an hour and a half with no traffic - but on that particular day you're really limited by the guy 40 cars ahead driving the art car at 30mph - or the poor sod that's broken down/punctured a tire/hit a cow/didn't get enough sleep and missed a turn/etc and has brought traffic to a stop

What I'm really saying is "if you're planning on catching a plane in reno (or some equivalent) allow yourself lots of time, get up early and leave early because you can't reall predict how long it will take"

And for heavens sake don't make the trip on 0 sleep ... the results can and have been fatal in the past

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:33 pm

Most of the years I've been, I've left Sunday at dawn (since I have a 16 hour drive ahead of me).

There is minimal traffic as most everyone is still staggering back to camp or whooping it up. Reno is close enough that if you strike and pack camp before the burn, and then do what you will that night, you can still make it before you pass out.

Usually.

Best if the one driving has some amount of sleep and limits their "altering reality" behavior.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:28 pm

Usually.

Indeed, a traffic fatality will grind your progress to a stand still for several hours while the appropriate investigation takes place. My advice would be to leave in the early, early morning on Sunday (before say 8am) or wait until much later (say late, late afternoon,when the sun is going down, but it's still light out).

While we are on the subject of the drive to Reno, it dosen't get you home any faster being the 87th SUV vs. being the 76th SUV on 447, so slow the fuck down and stop trying to pass 10 cars at a time on the wrong side of the road while pulling an overloaded trailer. It's dangerous, and stupid.

You should also consider having snacks and plenty of water available for the drive to Reno in case you do get stuck in traffic for whatever reason. I stopped in a store/gas station on the way to Reno last year that looked like it had been raided by looters. They had a single bag of chips and six pack of warm soda for sale, that was it.

Taniwha · Post by **Taniwha** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:35 pm

Chai Guy wrote:While we are on the subject of the drive to Reno, it dosen't get you home any faster being the 87th SUV vs. being the 76th SUV on 447, so slow the fuck down and stop trying to pass 10 cars at a time on the wrong side of the road while pulling an overloaded trailer. It's dangerous, and stupid.

Yes - well said - and remember even if you're driving a hummer those big gypsum/wallboard trucks going back to Empire are bigger than you and probably going faster. And there's a reason why there are signs warning drivers about cows but not the other way around .... cows are usually stupider

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:37 pm

Chai Guy wrote:slow the fuck down

That's no shit.

Just plain good advise to everyone.

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:39 pm

If I may add a suggestion that will help relieve frustration and help a little on the trip to Reno, fill up with fuel in Gerlach GOING INTO the event. The lines when you are leaving will be horrible. I know that when you are ten miles from home and all you wish to do is get, it takes a lot of will power to stop for fuel, but you will be so happy you did when you leave Sunday AM and see the line that you DON'T have to wait in. It works for me.

III · Post by **III** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:42 pm

better yet. if you've got more that a 250 mile range on your behicle (which most do) stop in fernley at the truck stop - even onn the way in the gas station is overloaded...

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 2:24 pm

I carry ten gallons of gas. Never know when you'll need it. If it takes to long to get to a town. They close up and roll up the side walks.

Booker · Post by **Booker** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 11:32 am

I left around 9am Sunday last year, and my only stop was do drop off the beer I'd brought for the clean-up crew. Things were definitely picking up then, however, so I'm guessing anyone very far behind me had some waiting to do.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 11:45 am

left at aroun 7 or so. Things were cooking along very well. Well, until the car two ahead of us hit that cow.

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 1:53 pm

Doesn't the Temple burn on Sunday? If traffic is such a mess on Sunday, is it maybe worth it to stay until Monday?

Also, does anyone know if you do leave on Sunday, is 3pm or 5pm any better than noon? Does the rush end at some point?

I'm thinking we're only going as far as Winnemucca so we can get a shower at a hotel and sleep solid before we drive the long haul home to the East coast. However, I do have to time it so we get back in time for me to be at work on whatever day I need to be back (Wednesday or Thursday I think).

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 2:02 pm

I left last year on Monday morning (and have left on Monday morning every year except 98, when I waited about 3 hours in traffic to get to the black top). Usually when I have left on Monday, I find that I spend about an hour or so in traffic. You have to remember that there is only 1 exit for 30,000 people. All the streets of BRC converge into a single lane and then have to cross over an oncoming lane of traffic (directed by a person standing in the road). This process takes time, relax, plan for it, it's part of the experience.

Tiara · Post by **Tiara** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 2:11 pm

Yes, the temple burns on Sunday night (or at least it has in the past).

My first year, I had to get a friend back to SFO for a flight home on Monday afternoon. We packed up Sunday afternoon and evening, attended the temple burn, and left immediately afterwards. No traffic problems getting out of BRC, or on I-80 into the Bay Area.

(be wary of beverages offered by strangers. a while after we hit the road, it became apparent that my friend had been given something a bit more "altering" than lemonade, and I had to take over driving responsibilities.)

Otisserie · Post by **Otisserie** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 2:42 pm

Tiara wrote:(be wary of beverages offered by strangers. a while after we hit the road, it became apparent that my friend had been given something a bit more "altering" than lemonade, and I had to take over driving responsibilities.)

That just appalls me. I can think of few things more inexcusable than drugging someone without their knowledge. I don't care how convinced you are that everyone needs to experience the trip you're on, you can at least ask them first.

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:23 pm

Icepack wrote:Doesn't the Temple burn on Sunday? If traffic is such a mess on Sunday, is it maybe worth it to stay until Monday?

Yes, the Temple burns on Sunday... if there is one. Is it worth it to stay till Monday? Guess it depends on how far you have to drive and when (or if) you've got to get back to work.

Icepack wrote:Also, does anyone know if you do leave on Sunday, is 3pm or 5pm any better than noon? Does the rush end at some point?

Leave very early or very late on Sunday. YMMV due to accidents, traffic, weather, etc.

Icepack wrote:I'm thinking we're only going as far as Winnemucca so we can get a shower at a hotel and sleep solid before we drive the long haul home to the East coast. However, I do have to time it so we get back in time for me to be at work on whatever day I need to be back (Wednesday or Thursday I think).

Sounds like leaving early Sunday would be a good thing--unless you want to push it hard.

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:25 pm

Otisserie wrote:That just appalls me. I can think of few things more inexcusable than drugging someone without their knowledge. I don't care how convinced you are that everyone needs to experience the trip you're on, you can at least ask them first.

Some very fucked up people attend and think it's funny to pull crap like that. You want to be careful out there.

odwally · Post by **odwally** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:24 pm

hey all, odwally here, i manage Exodus out on the playa, the process of getting everyone out of BRC.
following this thread there is some good advice. let me put in my two, pretty well informed cents here.
first, read your survival guide! it has the answers to many of these questions, and will shed light on some myths as well.
leaving sunday anytime from noon to about 5 is not the best idea, expect to be delayed at least an hour or two before you reach reno. leaving sunday night just after the temple burns is usually worse. only the sadistic leave on monday afternoon, that's the busiest time. so if you want to get to reno on sunday, i would leave either early in the morning, or around dusk to have the best chance of minimizing traffic problems.
did someone say to get gas and supplies on the way into BRC? AMEN! it not only will save you a big hassle, but will help cut down on a huge traffic jam not only effecting all the beautiful people leaving BRC, but also all of the innocent bystanding locals in the area.
also...
drive safe
pack well -- don't let your load spill onto the highway or cause an accident.
donate food and libations (but not water! too much plastic to deal with) to the DPW.
and most important, wave to the Exodus crew and give them a big thanks! on your way out.

odwally

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 11:40 am

Zane5100 wrote:
Otisserie wrote:That just appalls me. I can think of few things more inexcusable than drugging someone without their knowledge. I don't care how convinced you are that everyone needs to experience the trip you're on, you can at least ask them first.
Some very fucked up people attend and think it's funny to pull crap like that. You want to be careful out there.

It's a tradition inherited from the CIA, who have done so much to foster the drug culture in this country.

Alpha · Post by **Alpha** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 11:45 am

theCryptofishist wrote:It's a tradition inherited from the CIA, who have done so much to foster the drug culture in this country.

heyHeyHEY no poking fun! :-/

obTopic: last 2 years in a row we've left around 11am and the traffic has been miserable. I need to find a better way but I don't want to cut my burn night short so that I can start packing at 5am, and I don't want to start an 11-hour drive at 5pm either. Staying 'til Monday is tempting but it's nice to have a day to unpack and get everything cleaned up, before returning to work.

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 12:11 pm

Last year I made a point of taking the week of the event and the week after as vacation; we came home on Tuesday, and it was MUCH easier. This year it's looking like I'll be unemployed for the Burn (we know the axe is going to fall at work; it's just a question of when), so I'll be able to stay as long as I please (or until my boyfriend gets sick of me, whichever comes first *grin*).

And yes, I will be helping with cleanup if I do stay that late. I'd feel guilty if I didn't.

III · Post by **III** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 12:57 pm

other options - pack before the burn, keeping only your water and a blanket out. sleep on the ground next to/under or in your car (depending on vehicle/weather) and get up and start driving at 5:00.

while driving with little sleep may be bad, you should get enough so that you can keep your eyes open and at least exhibit cautious judgement, while avoiding huge crowds which to represent a greater danger because the odds of encountering a sleep deprived speed junky go way up...

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 4:54 pm

i thought traffic was handeled very well the last two years.
about 3 years ago though, i waited in line for 10 hours. literally.

the last couple of years i just drove out. no waiting.
left with no hitch in '98 too, but that's when they burned on sunday nights.
-b

SHARPER · Post by **SHARPER** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 4:46 pm

We need to be able to report for work on Wednesday and we have a minimum of 14 hour drive just to get home. I don't like to rush, don't like to waste gas sitting in traffic so we just plan as much as we can. Not having been to BM yet, I did a lot of reading and this is the idea I have so far: Completely pack up the motorhome before the Temple burn on Sunday. After the burn, rest for a few hours and try to leave before 8 am on Monday. We can take our time and even pull over to rest if we absolutely have to. The beauty of the rv is that one person can actually lay down and sleep while the other one drives. Also, if we really need to, we can stop somewhere on Monday night, freshen up and finish the drive home on Tuesday. Will worry about unpacking the rv the weekend after. This sounds reasonable to me - any input or corrections to my thinking?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:09 pm

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

Until the new one is posted in July or thereabouts, following the appropriate links should get you to the PDF version of the 2003 Survival Guide. Quoting from the sidebar titled "Exodus":

An exercise in patience and
cooperation
As you drive to Burning Man along
that small two-lane country highway,
observe its narrow, finite capacity.
Now imagine 10,000 vehicles trying
to leave Black Rock City in one day.
Like draining a bathtub with a straw,
it will take time. Cooperate with the
Exodus staff directing traffic. Keep
the spirit alive!
Suggestions
1. Get gas and other supplies on the
way to Black Rock City. Our biggest
problem is everyone trying to stop in
Gerlach and Empire on the way out,
causing huge jams and backups.
2. Don’t leave Monday afternoon.
This is our busiest time.
3. Agree to have each vehicle in
your camp leave at different times
and spread this time out as much as
possible. We recommend 2-3 hour
intervals.
4. Tune into Burning Man
Information Radio at 94.5 FM for
detailed traffic reports.

YMMV, every year is different, and even if you check as recommended with Playa Info in Center Camp for late-breaking news on what brilliant ideas the Exodus crew might have cooked up, you still have to get in line with everybody else. The more gung-ho types leave at or before sunrise. Keep a stash of Pop Tarts, Cheesy Poofs & caffeinated beverage-of-choice.

Tiara · Post by **Tiara** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 11:32 am

don't like to waste gas sitting in traffic

The Exodus plan is designed to prevent that. When you near the gate, if traffic is backed up, you'll be directed to pull into rows. You can shut off your vehicle and relax until it's your turn to hit the road.

SHARPER · Post by **SHARPER** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 11:45 am

Hmmm - maybe we'll just wait and leave after midnight Monday night/Tuesday am?