New Burner group from GA (and one CA and one MA)

[archeolojust]

Hey there! Dancer and anthropology major here (though I focus in Egyptology), so I'm really going to love studying all of you ;)

Name's Caitlin, and with me will be 3-8 other people (they'll be on the forums soon, me thinks)

Most of us are pretty versed in survival camping, the outdoors, and differing walks of life but its always good to be prepared, so I'm looking over the site and forums as much as possible. Especially since I may be the only one used to extreme weather (Ga is pretty.....warm, but not hot).

My main questions are:

personal potties: how do you make them, how do they work and where do you store the gray water during the week? Also how do you transport it to dump it, and where?

Showers: how do you build them? How much water do you need for them?

What items do you wish you'd brought? Whats the most useful thing you brought but didn't expect to need?

What should we look for in picking a good tent for the weather? We have decent enough ones, but want to make sure they'll work with the dust storms and wind.

Trash: How do you recommend preventing smells and storing well during the week?

Is 2.5 gallons of water per person per day really enough?

Meat: is it best to cook it all ahead of time and then put it in tupperware and a cooler with ice? Or what?

I'll post more as we think of them.

[Sham]

Welcome to eplaya and welcome to you and your group to BM 2010. You're in for an amazing time and for those of us who have been going for years, we just love studying the virgins and have fun picking them out in the crowd. For some of us, studying first timers is the highlight of the week.

Most of your questions have been covered in various threads along the way, and can be found easily using the search feature.

I am not sure why you would want to make your own toilet to use when there are lots of real porta-potties that are cleaned and maintained several times a day. Not to mention that they are spread out over the 7 square miles of the playa, so you will most likely be right near one if you get the the urge. Also, trying to store and carry out 7 days worth of poop and pee from 8 people is not the most appealing thing. Good luck on that one---I'm sure you wil make the right decision on that.

As far as food, you can keep food frozen with ice available, or you can cook things ahead of time. At our camp, we cook all sorts of fresh foods, vegetables, meats, pastas etc. I also bring canned foods like ravioli as a back up sould I miss dinner or if there is a dust storm and we can't cook.

As far as trash, wet or damp trash will dry in the desert air and does not smell. Try to remove all extra packaging before arriving, so your waste that you have to drag out will be at a minimum. Also, you can make some trips to recycle camp and burn the paper and cardboard in the burn barrels.

2.5 gallons of water a day per person is more than enough. I'm sure you will bring extra just incase, and will have to find places to dispose of it at the end of the week. You can look for a camping shower stall, but make sure you have some sort of water collection and evaporation set up. I use a large tarp with 2x4s around the edges.

Read those guides and buy your tickets early and often! See you on the playa.

[gyre]

Toilets are black water.
Gray is sink and shower.

[theCryptofishist]

Hey there! Dancer and anthropology major here (though I focus in Egyptology), so I'm really going to love studying all of you.

Must get out of fishbowl. Hey, at least she's not asking us to do her homework Shut up, better self.

Trash: How do you recommend preventing smells and storing well during the week?

It won't smell. Put it in an onion or orange net bag and it will dry out quickly.

Is 2.5 gallons of water per person per day really enough?

For me it's too much. But I hate outdoor showers and take "sponge" (baby wipe) baths instead.

Meat: is it best to cook it all ahead of time and then put it in tupperware and a cooler with ice? Or what?

Look into sealing.

[dragonpilot]

1. personal potties:

2. Showers:

3. What items do you wish you'd brought? Whats the most useful thing you brought but didn't expect to need?

4. What should we look for in picking a good tent for the weather?

5. Is 2.5 gallons of water per person per day really enough?

6. Meat:

7. I'll post more as we think of them:

1. Use the porta potties provided.
2. Stand in a plastic tub and shower with a garden sprayer. You'll get clean enough with minimal gray water.
3. Just bring the things you'd use on a car-camping trip. Tent security: 10" aluminum stakes (avoid rebar)
4. I prefer a larger tent, 10 X 12 X 7. Any decent Coleman-type will do. They all have top mesh, but the smaller the mesh the better. Hand stitch pieces of old blanket cut to fit the mesh on the outside. Does a great job of reducing dust inside when there's a blow...that plus covering everything with a sheet when you're gone.
5. That's plenty of water, even for showering. Don't forget, you'll be drinking beer, sodas, juices, coffee. Load your CamelBak with ice and water before you set out sightseeing. A small personal mister is nice (Misty Misters are great).
6. I personally don't bother with much meat cooking, except maybe bacon. I do bring assorted lunchmeats for sandwiches and salads. A cooler is a necessity...you can buy on site ice to keep perishables fresh.
7. Read the Survival Guide and go thru this forum for more survival tips.

Don't try to get it perfect. Cover the basics and you'll be just fine. You'll see everything from leetle backpacking tents to 40' luxury motorhomes, and everthing in between.

[C.f.M.]

Especially since I may be the only one used to extreme weather

Yes, because you are the only burner in Georgia.



If only Georgia, or Alabama, or Kentucky, or North Carolina or Florida had a burn of their own...when will the South rise again and have some burners?

Oh, also, the Burning Man Decomp this weekend in Atlanta would have been a great place to ask several hundred people these questions, which you could also very easily answer using, how you say, "google" and "teh interwebs."

Or searching these forums using keywords like "shower" or "tent" and reading through the existing threads in which people discuss how to make showers, and which tents to buy.

[archeolojust]

Thank you all so much for the tips. I DID go to the decomp party, though couldn't stay long as I had work at 7 am the next day (work at a mall). Also, we DO have our own burn - Alchemy, although it seems you already know that. :D I missed out on it this year though.

I'll use the porta potties, it was just advice given to me by some former burners.

Also sorry, newer to forums. Will use the search option.

[C.f.M.]

Well, then, that is a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Decomp was crazy good.

Colab is hosting the DSB Orphan Tgiving this weekend, too; another great opportunity to talk about alllll things playa.

[theCryptofishist]

Also sorry, newer to forums. Will use the search option.

Sadly, we are not so forgiving about that. Or we are if you straighten up and fly right thereafter. If you say something like, "you guys are mean" or "Burners are supposed to be positive" we are then out for blood.

[gyre]

Yes.
Use search.
It is said to have worked once.


Searching 'fire' brings up every thread except this one, always starting with the bar thread....for some reason.

[C.f.M.]

/shrugs

I used it with success, in my research.

Of course, I wasn't a dumbass who put a general term like "fire" into the search box.

[AntiM]

Also sorry, newer to forums. Will use the search option.

Hey, you're doing alright... just never confuse Eplaya with The Playa. We're two different animals.

The potties are generally clean enough, although now and then you get an icky one. All the wet underneath is not spilled pee, it is from where they rinse the stalls out daily. Relax, have a seat. Hovering over the seat is the surest way to make it nasty... asses have relatively few germs, so sitting on a clean seat keeps it clean.

[goathead]

so I'm really going to love studying all of you

in reality you will be the one being studied.
will you be a keeper that we will want back?
or just another hippy, that we will be glad to see go?

[archeolojust]

I've been told on occasion that I'm likable. I'm looking to help out and contribute to the community. I've been literally pouring through forums and links. I solemnly swear I will not bring nor be a yahoo, hippie or other form of annoying brat or asshole.

No worries! Besides, I'm an egyptology major. There aren't lots of mummies, dead bodies or hieroglyphs for me to study out there. Twas a joke ;)

[C.f.M.]

Atlanta Santarchy is 12/19, and Colab (where the SE Decomp was) is hosting a NYE party.

http://colaboratory.net/blog/

I think I already advised to signup for the BurnATL Yahoo group.

[archeolojust]

Knew about the NYE party, thanks for info on Santarchy (or is that the same as the bar hop they did last year in all santa gear?)

Also, joined it! Thank you!

[C.f.M.]

Knew about the NYE party, thanks for info on Santarchy (or is that the same as the bar hop they did last year in all santa gear?)

Also, joined it! Thank you!

Same theory, don't know if it'll be the same route through 5, ending @ Claremont.

I'm going to Asheville and Greensboro, will miss Atlanta this year.