How much walking is involved at camp?

SRC · Post by **SRC** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:12 am

Hi everyone!

This is going to be my first time coming to Burning Man, really looking forward to it.

However, I've got one concern--I have a bad ankle problem and I really can't walk very far distances. I'm not disabled and I don't have a permit/don't intend to bring a vehicle.

How large/extensive is the camp? How much walking is involved in an average day?

This really might change my mind about coming, any help is very much appreciated!

Thanks!

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:07 am

The city is a BIG place. 2100 feet from the man to esplanade. That's about 3/4 mile straight across from 3 oclock to 9 oclock. Porta-johns are going to be a bit of a hike too unless you make the decision to camp very close to them. If riding a bike is not out of the question, then bring one.

READ the survival guide. Look at the map.

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:13 am

Miles. Miles and miles, each day (if you choose to walk around).

I read somewhere expect to walk 9-10 miles a day on the playa - which sounds about right, if you intend to try and see it all.

A lot of virgins I've taken to regional burns wind up just exhausted, from all the walking.

I'm used to it, a ranger shift is straight up 4-5 hours of walkingwalkingwalking, but if you're not used to it, it can be very tiring.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:18 am

i like to walk. i pretty much walk everywhere i go, whether in BRC or here, in the ROC.

one year i had a busted foot, but i made a cane, and still walked.

you gotta want it.

maybe a crutch would work, and when you get tired, sit down and rest.

maybe some art car will show mercy on your ass and give you a lift.

maybe not.

good luck, i know you can do it.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:24 am

I have lower back problems and arthritis in my feet. I can't walk all that far without pain. We have a four-wheeled bike with two seats, MyLarry pedals me around. We even keep a funky old push wheelchair in camp in case my back "goes out" and I am operating in hobble mode. I know these aren't options for you from the sound of it, but I'm just pointing out there are solutions other than motorized carts.

Do bring a cane and/or a crutch. Get a bike if you can. Make friends with art cars. Rest in interesting camps.

You can enjoy the event without a lot of walking, but some is involved.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:39 am

If you can't walk or ride a bike, you are disabled.
There is no mass transit.

You may be content without transport, especially your first time.

Smaller is better for transport.
With a permit, you can at least get to different areas to explore.
If you can use a bike to a limited degree, drive to an area and then use a bike.
An electric bike is ideal if you can handle one and obtain one.
Wide vehicles in traffic are slow out there.

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... iving.html

I suggest enabling your email on your profile too.

BrotherDan · Post by **BrotherDan** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:58 am

Well almost no mass transit, assuming all goes as planned :D

http://nowhereomnibus.wordpress.com/

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:14 am

I hope you make it out there.
It is really needed.

CornStar · Post by **CornStar** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:29 pm

Bring a wagon and some oars and just row around. Or a shopping cart. Most likely people will push and pull you in new directions at their own amusement.

CornStar · Post by **CornStar** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:47 pm

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=27706

heres a thread you might consider

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:48 pm

If we could all just levitate, this wouldn't be a problem...

I would bring a cane. Motorized wheelchair possibly? Those are always fun...

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:36 pm

I do absolutely no walking at all.

The "yellow" bikes will be back, for what that's worth.

SRC · Post by **SRC** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:29 pm

Thanks, all. I think I may be deciding not to come this year, don't know if it's quite the right time given my condition.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:38 pm

Come on out.
Just try to make arrangements that you'll be happy with.

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:06 pm

Awwww c'mon now. Get your ass out there. Don't let this shit stop you...

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:19 pm

There are people who are so much fun to be with that they stay in one place and people come by to spend time with them. I'd say think about it in odd ways )branstorming if you will( and see if you can't come up with some sort of "settled" way to get people to come into your camp and interact with you.
If nothing clicks for you, that's fine, but not spending a few days kicking around alternate ideas seems a little silly.

scotto · Post by **scotto** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:20 am

You will walk more during the week of Burning Man than you have ever walked before - more walking then you ever thought possible...

Minxy · Post by **Minxy** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:18 am

Come! Don't walk. You will be glad you did. :)

Samasutra · Post by **Samasutra** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:42 pm

SRC wrote:Hi everyone!

This is going to be my first time coming to Burning Man, really looking forward to it.

However, I've got one concern--I have a bad ankle problem and I really can't walk very far distances. I'm not disabled and I don't have a permit/don't intend to bring a vehicle.

How large/extensive is the camp? How much walking is involved in an average day?

This really might change my mind about coming, any help is very much appreciated!

Thanks!

If you are lucky you will have someone to ride your gimpy butt around all week. (But don't count on it, radical self reliance and all that..) My girlfriend learned the hard way that jumping on trampolines with 5 inch platform boots is a good way to sprain something. She spent the rest of the week completely disabled and hoped up on painkillers. The lovely citizens of Blackrock were very accommodating. Passerbys watching her hobble to and from the porta potties usually gave her a lift. And her boyfriend rode her around on the back of his bike, like a good boy. Her ass looked a mess by the end of the trip. Perhaps you can attach a buggy to a bike so one of your friends can cart you around.

Karma · Post by **Karma** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:01 pm

Just come. It will work out. It always seems to.

gidget · Post by **gidget** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:14 pm

SRC, 2 years ago I severely fucked up my ankle at Burning Man walking back to camp from temple burn. The next day during a white out I broke two toes on the same foot (as my fucked up ankle). I could ride a bike but not walk last year, and the playa ended up being so dry and pitted I couldn't ride the bike. So I was basically camp-bound. Luckily our camp was right on the esplanade last year so Burning Man came to me, and I had a great time. I know those circumstances may seem discouraging, but try not to take it that way. Do what you need to do to take care of you AND enjoy the event.

If you do go, I highly recommend bringing these things (if I hadn't had them last year I wouldn't have made it one day):
bike
crutch or cane
ankle brace
ice pack (refillable bag kind)
icy-hot patches
reclining "zero gravity" chair ($50-$90 at an outdoor store, if the bottom bar that your feet rest against doesn't have an attached pad you can make one by duck taping pipe insulation or a foam waternoodle around the bar)
pain killers of choice
pee bucket or jug (unless you are camped right next to the portapotty you NEED this) AND a really wonderful friend or lover who is willing to go empty it for you...

Keep your feet up when you can, stretch, make friends with an art car. If you make it out, stop by C.R.T.T. and sit on our couches all day watching "playa tv" and I'll try to hook you up with someone to work on your ankle for you.

Hope you do make it...

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:48 am

Congratulations, Gidget, Crom has blessed you with a fine ordeal!

Good solution, too, put on such a show that everyone will come to see you!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:47 am

The most difficult thing about explaining burning man is explaining theme camps.
An example I use for the more basic types is what I call "Shade, drinks and conversation with naked gay guys".
There was no formal sign, just a sign outside the shade area offering cold drinks.
I must have gone by a hundred times and then was just in the mood to stop and drink something cold.
When you came inside there were tables to sit down at and the organizers were on the other side, like a booth or restaurant.
And they actually had decaf drinks too.
They said they got tired of running around and decided to let the event come to them this year.
And it did.
When you came in, they handed you a drink, but also invited you to sit down and hang out a bit.

Describing this and some other camps contrasted with the more elaborate camps has helped me explain burning man to people totally baffled by the whole thing.
Most people try to relate it to a music festival.

Anyway, that is one way to stay in camp and meet a lot of people.
But there are camps you can do the same thing in.

Tapetown is another example of a simple camp.
A brilliant idea.
Watching the guy's setup, I met a lot of folks.
A board with all kinds of tape on it to use.
Anyone looking for a gift to bring, this works.
He had gaffer's, reflective, fluorescent, and on and on.
Most people used it on bikes, but a lot of stakes got flagged too.
I know he saved a lot of people from injuries.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:27 am

SRC? Is biking out of the question for you? Or, what about handcycling?

http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/at/handcycles.html

Gyre, that bit about Tapetown really reminds me that even the simplest thing/idea can be a great gift. How original

Post by **Elderberry** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:08 pm

BrotherDan wrote:Well almost no mass transit, assuming all goes as planned

http://nowhereomnibus.wordpress.com/

Great idea, hope all goes as planned. Lots of people will really benefit from this.

JK

SRC · Post by **SRC** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:09 pm

Hi all:

Really, thanks so much for your help! I'm coming from the East Coast, flying, so not a lot of space to bring anything. I was planning on renting a bike for the week, but even biking really affects my ankles (such problems at 24! How frustrating!) plus after reading so many rebar horror stories I'm not sure I'm in a position to assume the risks associated with the event.

But you all have been lovely lovely people and the man will burn without me and perhaps next year this problem will be better and I will feel more confident in my ability to rely on myself :)

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:25 pm

jkisha wrote:
BrotherDan wrote:Well almost no mass transit, assuming all goes as planned

http://nowhereomnibus.wordpress.com/
Great idea, hope all goes as planned. Lots of people will really benefit from this.

JK

Is this still happening? It looks like all of the info on the site is from last year and hasn't been updated since.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:30 pm

If you're flying, get the trip insurance and add medical.
That cost me $15 last time.

Get a good headlamp, at least a 1-watt, 3-watt is better.
Watch where you're going.
Light yourself up.
You'll avoid most accidents that way.

I've driven, walked and biked out there.
I've handled explosives, flammables and fire cannon and my most serious injury has been dust in my eyes.

Biggest risks seem to be unlit people and vehicles, or falling off of stuff.

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:19 pm

SilverOrange wrote:Is this still happening? It looks like all of the info on the site is from last year and hasn't been updated since.

Yea the site hasn't been updated, but I'm pretty sure it will be there. Its listed here...

brcprincess · Post by **brcprincess** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:32 am

I have barely ever walked anywhere, only ridden my bike.

Except for last year when the crust was virtually non existent, which made riding impossible.

How much walking is involved at camp?

How much walking is involved at camp?

Walking Distance...

Re: How much walking is involved at camp?

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