Playa conditions for 2009?

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:28 pm

We were there 2 days ago, there are 6 different places selling fireworks, mostly all the same stuff but I bought a little bit from each one as to spread the wealth.

The best prices were at TeePee fireworks, the worst were at the C-container next to the mini-mart you spoke of.

www.teepeefireworks.com

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:13 pm

oneeyeddick wrote:We were there 2 days ago, there are 6 different places selling fireworks, mostly all the same stuff but I bought a little bit from each one as to spread the wealth.

The best prices were at TeePee fireworks, the worst were at the C-container next to the mini-mart you spoke of.

www.teepeefireworks.com

Thanks One Eye!
Cool to know they are still there. When we were there, the container was all there was (I believe we stopped in on Thanksgiving weekend).

LEVLHED · Post by **LEVLHED** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:26 pm

howielookin?

anticipation is approaching overdrive...

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:24 pm

4th of juplaya, we camped on the playa - a deep, crackly hard surface not prone to dust.

Pretty much all the playa is still a "wet" tan color, not powdery white. When first driving out on it from the 8-mile entrance, I could smell the dampness. People too near the edges (over by the dunes, I think) were still getting seriously stuck.

It was amazing to see that there were zillions of bugs (I guess they disappear with the surface moisture).

vertigo900 · Post by **vertigo900** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:34 pm

Does anyone have info regarding the current conditions for this year? I found a couple of sites for temp and wind, but nada on playa conditions.

C'yall soon!

http://www.wunderground.com/US/NV/Gerlach.html

http://www.accuweather.com/us/nv/gerlac ... 0&metric=0

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:48 pm

The latest update I have is from the 11th:

http://www.cieux.com/bm/alerts.html#playa

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:11 pm

We were able to get to 350 MPH on the 12th, The playa was in way better shape than last years, still a little crunchy, but bikerideable. All the roads were holding their firmness and although it was not as nice as 2007, it beats the hell out of 2008.
Check out. http://www.landspeed.com/gallerylist.html

for pics of the playa. Thes pics extend from 3 mile to the NE past trego and almost to the microwave crossing.

vertigo900 · Post by **vertigo900** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 2:36 pm

phil wrote:The latest update I have is from the 11th:

http://www.cieux.com/bm/alerts.html#playa

Great site thanks! Sounds like the playa is in great condition with the recent t-storms in June/July!

Here's what they said:

The Playa

July 11, 2009:"I was at an ARTery meeting on Thursday evening at BM HQ and someone had just returned from the Playa that evening and she too reported that the Playa is in great condition. Flat, hard and smooth due to the rather recent rain fall. Also, I checked and we will have a full moon on Tuesday or Wednesday night."

June 7, 2009: "Campers out at the playa said it flooded last week. This may mean that it will bake into its normal hard surface by Labor Day."

However according to my calculations the full moon will be on Friday 9/4/09 at 9:04 AM Pacific DT. (16:04 Greenwich MT). So we should have amazing natural lighting at night all week! [/img]

bs bob · Post by **bs bob** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:07 pm

moonrise friday 713 pm!!!!

brcprincess · Post by **brcprincess** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:37 am

Hard playa = Happy BRC Princess!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:41 am

flew over sat,(37000ft) looked like a damp spot still in the south east end. that woukd be a good thing.

vertigo900 · Post by **vertigo900** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:14 pm

bs bob wrote:moonrise friday 713 pm!!!!

Black Rock City
Latitude -119.23
Longitude 40.75
Elevation 3900 ft.

Friday, 9/4/09
Sunrise: 6:27 AM PDT @ Azimuth 80 degrees
Moonset: 6:31 AM PDT @ Azimuth 264 degrees (moonset will be physically earlier due to Granite Range mountains)
Full Moon @ 9:04 AM PDT
Moonrise: 7:13 PM PDT @ Azimuth 99 degrees (East horizon: 10 min before sunset = light blue sky, possible alpen glow in far distance.)
Sunset: 7:23 PM PDT Azimuth 280 degrees (sunset will be physically earlier due to Granite Range mountains)

Saturday, 9/5/09
Sunrise: 6:28 AM PDT @ Azimuth 81 degrees
Moonset: 7:33 AM PDT @ Azimuth 272 degrees (moonset will be physically earlier due to Granite Range mountains)
Sunset: 7:22 PM PDT Azimuth 279 degrees (sunset will be physically earlier due to Granite Range mountains)
Moonrise: 7:36 PM PDT @ Azimuth 85 degrees (East horizon: 14 min after sunset = medium electric blue sky, nice!)

Sources:
Moonmenu application for mac
http://www.selznick.com/products/moonmenu/index.htm

National Geographic TOPO - NEVADA
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/prod ... /3620.html

Sun Moon Calculator
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/sunmooncalc/

Peteroba · Post by **Peteroba** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:53 pm

I found this rainfall data for Gerlach in June.

Average June Precipitation: 0.71"
Actual June Precipitation: 1.46"

I'll post July's when it's available.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:17 pm

http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... ather.html

bs bob · Post by **bs bob** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:11 pm

sound like the brc area is in 4 a real gullywasher

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO EASTERN LASSEN COUNTY...
AT 825 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR RUSH CREEK MOUNTAIN...OR 20 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF TERMO...AND MOVING NORTHWEST AT 20 MPH.
FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF
AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN ONE
MILE...PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 40 TO 50
MPH... ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...RAVENDALE...OBSERVATION PEAK...TWIN
PEAKS AND RUSH CREEK MOUNTAIN.
THIS STORM WILL AFFECT TRAVELERS ON U.S. HIGHWAY 395 BETWEEN
RAVENDALE AND WENDEL. DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT STRONG GUSTY CROSS
WINDS...WITH RAPID VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL RESULT
IN PONDING WATER. SLOW DOWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING HEAVY RAIN AND TURN ON
YOUR HEADLIGHTS.
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/RENO ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER UPDATES
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:11 pm

That's not the BRC area, but you are only off by 100 miles or so.

try this instead......Click Here

geospyder · Post by **geospyder** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:27 pm

Sounds like heavy rain but looking out the window I'm seeing small hail. Granted I'm in Sparks, 80 miles from Gerlach as the crow flys so who knows what's happening on the Playa.

dvd-r · Post by **dvd-r** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:38 pm

Partly cloudy, cool. very nice actually.

I have never seen a crow in Gerlach.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:54 pm

dvd-r wrote:Partly cloudy, cool. very nice actually.

I have never seen a crow in Gerlach.

I've seen 'em on the Playa...

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:57 pm

No girl-lack there.

The playa will be covered in snow this year. * * * *

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:25 pm

dvd-r wrote:I have never seen a crow in Gerlach.

That's because it was raven.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:53 pm

Bob wrote:
dvd-r wrote:I have never seen a crow in Gerlach.
That's because it was raven.

Er... not sure why I quoted Bob and posted...

Must be a I-D-ten-T error.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:30 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:
The playa will be covered in snow this year. * * * *

HEY! No need to jinx the playa anymore.
The weather chart shows it only got up to 63 degrees today

A playa cold snap for this time of year! (though the DPW are likely reveling in it)

I like 90 highs and 70 lows...

Pryde · Post by **Pryde** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:48 am

Can anyone currently on the playa confirm its condition. I am either bringing a bike or possibly an electric car based on the ability to pedal and get around. How hard is the playa this year?

Thanks.
Rich Hughes

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:55 am

The surface of the playa is a lot like last year. Plan for that and you should be fine. Remember one very famous burning man saying,

"last year was better"!!

I think you are late for a mv or handicapped permit for an electric car. \

Just think of the issues and find a solution, isn't that what bm is all about?

Pryde · Post by **Pryde** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:15 am

If you say its so, I will have to take your word for it... although with all the talk of the likelihood of a hard surface due to excessive rain, I wonder how it could be as soft and broken as last year?

It seems when people ask this question in the forum nobody ever gives a straight answer. I understand it may be hard to give a straight answer but when it comes to the simple question of can I pedal my bike in any direction without great difficulty, that is all I am asking.

Forgive my attitude. I asked this question on another thread and had some bullshit sent my way.
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 014#465014

I also replied to the Burning Man email blasts with this question and was told "I should be happy to be there regardless"... which I AM. There is nothing I like more than the burn and I always bring a smile and a warm heart. I just want to know if I can pedal a bike.

Thanks.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:06 pm

Pryde wrote:It seems when people ask this question in the forum nobody ever gives a straight answer. I understand it may be hard to give a straight answer but when it comes to the simple question of can I pedal my bike in any direction without great difficulty, that is all I am asking.
Thanks.

A coworker of Mr.Lost was out there last week setting up the tanks that they will be using. According to him (which I consider a very good source) he said the playa is in much better shape than last year, bike riding should be much easier but there are still some small sandy spots. He also mentioned that the wind was blowing about 35mph+ and not even an inkling of a sand storm beginning.

Pryde · Post by **Pryde** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:13 pm

I appreciate the forward answer.

Many Thanks!
Rich

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:26 pm

Read the burning blog and you will see that this has been talked about there. The playa surface is not as bad as last year and not as good as prior years. It's somewhere in between with a slightly crusty surface that tracks out easily. No real sand dunes to deal with like 2008, the worst of it being out by 3 oclock.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:08 pm

If you are concerned about the playa condtions I will again say that it is not much different then last year. If you prepare for that you will be happy, if you expect to ride your bike with no hands, probably not very far.

look at the pics that have been posted and you can see. Since this is the second year of condtions like this I am hoping we will find a way to compact the surface better by watering and compaction methods.

remember I have no stats, just my experience and I see it as being very close, perhaps other people might see it differently.

Either way, the challenges might change, for us as a community to deal witrh them would be good. a suggestion would be to have people enter and exit brc from the north, keep from tearing up the playa to the south where the wind comes from.

just sayin, next year could be better.

Playa conditions for 2009?

Current Conditions on Playa for 2009?

Best Moonrise and Sunset 2009

Rainfall

BBrrrrRRR!

Playa Condition Update???

Really???

Re: Really???

Thanks!