How cold does it get?

skygnome777 · Post by **skygnome777** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:40 pm

In the 2008 survival book it says the playa can be easily 100 degrees during the day then easily drop 50 degrees at night.
100-50 = 50
Yet in videos I see some people wearing winter like jackets on the playa.
How cold does it really get?
I mean, I grew up on a mountain in Connecticut, the thermostat in my bedroom is set to 50 degrees and I sleep in the buff!
50 degrees isn't winter jacket weather. :-)
How cold does it really get?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:28 pm

skygnome777 wrote:In the 2008 survival book it says the playa can be easily 100 degrees during the day then easily drop 50 degrees at night.
100-50 = 50
Yet in videos I see some people wearing winter like jackets on the playa.
How cold does it really get?
I mean, I grew up on a mountain in Connecticut, the thermostat in my bedroom is set to 50 degrees and I sleep in the buff!
50 degrees isn't winter jacket weather.
How cold does it really get?

I sleep out in a hammock on play. The wind chill in the mornings is about sweats f°. But broke down on the way home. Through a bed on the ground. In the morning there was a frost outline of my head. It had droped below 24°. THat's fucking cold for sleeping out of doors when your not prepared.

The desert can play some mean tricks. Just be ready to play it's games.

This year the van is riged RV style. A gas lamp will heat that space in a few.

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:07 pm

Hot as shit.
Cold as fuck.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:25 pm

Lots of people from the southwest means lots of people wearing parkas in shorts weather!

(Of course, when I was biking regularly, "shorts weather" was anything above the freezing point of water, at least while bike riding. 40 degrees F was when I would start leaving my bedroom window open at night. I really need to get back in shape, it saves on the energy bill!)

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:32 pm

It can get down into the 40s or 30s, but 50s is more common. The difference is more marked between hot and cold, so it is easy for some people to feel chilled. and out in it all night weather is different than sleeping or being able to step in and get warm somewhere.

I sleep in the buff out there, but if I'm out and about, my legs get cold and I like a light jacket. We do carry heavier coats, because the temps are unpredictable, and because we like faux fur.

Post by **Sham** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:35 pm

I would plan on it getting down to the 30's at night. I am in a light tent and have a sleeping bag. It gets cold in the sleeping bag, but I find if I bring a light fleece blanket and lay it on top of the sleeping bag, it keeps all the cold out and me nice and toasty! The type I am talking about is a $5-10 one you can get at Wally-Mart. The little layer of thin fleece is all it takes to warm you up.

During the day, it gets pretty hot----but it's a dry heat.

The sun and sunburn is the biggest thing to worry about during the day. Lots of sunblock, hats, umbrellas, long sleeves will make you a happy camper. Again, the heat is less of an issue during the day.

Token · Post by **Token** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:37 pm

Because it is a salt flat, with a whipping 10% humidity on average, 70 degrees is refreshing, 60 degrees is nippy, 50 degrees is downright cold.

It is a combination of low humildity and temperature plus the never ending wind.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:30 pm

Sometimes a tad chill.

skygnome777 · Post by **skygnome777** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:41 pm

Dry cold is worse than moist cold. I didn't think of that.

Now I i need to decide which jacket I should make space for in my luggage.
hmmm decisions decision...

the classy but worn wool peacoat or the awesome, but offensive to animal rights radicals black leather jacket. :-)

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:44 pm

I did not mention in my post above, We were being chased by a 70 plus mph wind storm.

The van was limplng badly but I pushed the luck to the next valley.

I beded down in a low spot about 6 inches deep also buretoed the sleeping bag in a tarp.

Didn't feel the ice until the morning piss call. Good thing I tied a string on the little one.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:45 pm

skygnome777 wrote:Dry cold is worse than moist cold. I didn't think of that.

You wouldn't be saying that if you were walking in a -60F with 1" hailstones hitting you.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:47 pm

skygnome777 wrote:Dry cold is worse than moist cold. I didn't think of that.

Now I i need to decide which jacket I should make space for in my luggage.
hmmm decisions decision...

the classy but worn wool peacoat or the awesome, but offensive to animal rights radicals black leather jacket.

The Peacoat for sure! Much more character.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:24 pm

Absolut Jeenyus wrote:Hot as shit.
Cold as fuck.

I'd feel better if you switched the adjectives.........

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:18 pm

ygmir wrote:
Absolut Jeenyus wrote:Hot as shit.
Cold as fuck.
I'd feel better if you switched the adjectives.........

Haha its funny you say that because originally I had em reversed... But I was like naaaaaah shit isn't cold, its hot. So I went with the latter.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:22 pm

Absolut Jeenyus wrote:
ygmir wrote:
Absolut Jeenyus wrote:Hot as shit.
Cold as fuck.
I'd feel better if you switched the adjectives.........
Haha its funny you say that because originally I had em reversed... But I was like naaaaaah shit isn't cold, its hot. So I went with the latter.

well, there is that.....but, I'd like to think fuckin' is hotter than shit.......hahaha

**burn** · Post by **burn** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:26 pm

If I get too much sun, it can feel a lot colder at night.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:28 pm

**burn** wrote:If I get too much sun, it can feel a lot colder at night.

what if you said that to my mother?.......

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:38 am

skygnome777 wrote:Dry cold is worse than moist cold. I didn't think of that.

Now I i need to decide which jacket I should make space for in my luggage.
hmmm decisions decision...

the classy but worn wool peacoat or the awesome, but offensive to animal rights
radicals black leather jacket.

Which jacket is easier to clean? Which jacket are you less attached to if you misplace it? Sew a name label with contact info into the collar.

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:28 pm

It got down to 28 degrees one year- Thats FRICKING COLD when your sleeping outside in a tent or wondering the Open Playa at night or better yet When your on the top of a two story Bus going 3mph. with the wind chill factor kicking in.
Soooooo bring your warm coat BUT nothing you care deeply about- and do write contact info in the collar. And you may want to bring more than one- In case you sliip and fall in the porta pottie water ! ( I Have done this)
My coat collection came from goodwill, Salvation Army and out of my Mommie's trunk in the closet. ( I got a great collection)

skygnome777 · Post by **skygnome777** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:42 pm

Heh well the pea coat is old and worn out so I call it my hobo coat and use it for camping because it's already destroyed enough. :-)

The black leather jacket is only cool in the I'm not a biker but I'm wearing a biker jacket someone gave me sort of way.

Actually leather is destroyed by rain so I probably should go with the pea coat.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:24 pm

Right now its 101. Average high for Gerlach in late August/early September is around 82 and average low is around 51 so figure somewhere between 112 (record high July 2007) and -30 (record low December 1972) All figures are according to www.weather.com. The tatered peacoat should look good

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:29 pm

ygmir wrote:
Absolut Jeenyus wrote:
ygmir wrote: I'd feel better if you switched the adjectives.........
Haha its funny you say that because originally I had em reversed... But I was like naaaaaah shit isn't cold, its hot. So I went with the latter.
well, there is that.....but, I'd like to think fuckin' is hotter than shit.......hahaha

I use a lot of ice cubes when I'm getting busy. lol

Playa Tom · Post by **Playa Tom** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:13 pm

Last year I worked Eodus during the Temple Burn, it was cold, the wind blew and iit rained. It was the coldest I have been in a long time. To answer your question, "How cold does it get on the playa?" the answer is Yes. To answer your other question, "How hot does it get on the playa?" the answer is Yes.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:25 pm

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer on the Black Rock Desert.
-Mark Twain

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:01 pm

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

104...

Jordan 10-E · Post by **Jordan 10-E** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:53 pm

I my seven years there have been a few times it has gotten quite cold at night, a couple times even during the day. By the time Burning Man comes around the summer is almost over and moving right into fall. Also, as you all probably know, the closer to morning (pre-dawn) the colder it gets. The coldest time of day is generally right before the sun comes up. Many nights are very comfortable though.

One other issue is your body's perception of cold. After being out in the sun all day, possibly getting sun burned and losing fluids, a small drop in temperature can feel very cold indeed.

Layers are your friend.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:38 pm

So, I'm going to guess that it does snow there in August and September sometimes.

Maybe not since the event started there, but it's got to happen, if rarely.

Minxy · Post by **Minxy** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:42 am

As many have said, plan for the extreme and be happy when it doesn't happen.

Last year when we woke up on Tuesday morning we had some ice on the top of our evap pond. Brrr!

Generic Anonymity · Post by **Generic Anonymity** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 10:43 am

The Root Society regulars told my group to expect 47 at night, but it does seem appropriate to be prepared for colder.

After doing the Frostburn event in Pa, I somehow doubt I'm going to be very cold.
For that event, there was snow everywhere, and the majority of attendees were bundled up quite snugly.
I myself had thermal overalls, a snow coat, boots, layers underneath, gloves, a hat, and foot warmers.

I think I'll bring a hoodie.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:02 am

47?

Sometimes 80s.

Don't expect 47.

How cold does it get?

How cold does it get?

Re: How cold does it get?