Playa conditions for 2010

[Boijoy]

Never too soon to ask,,,
Well Gerlach-e-ans, what say you?
Is it "moister than an oyster" righ now for a nice tight surface come August?

[Just_Joe]

The eastern slope of the Sierras got a goodly amount of precip this winter, I'd guess more than normal made it to the playa.

We'll be at the Black Rock Rendezvous over Memorial Day (in 2 weeks) - pictures and trip report to follow...

I've been dinking around with a website- www.playaweather.INFO .

[Ugly Dougly]

That site's cool, Weatherman!
In the Bay Area, it's been five days of sun and one day of rain for while now. Maybe a permanent pattern....

[changoloco]

I am making my annual Spring pilgrimage to BRD next week. I will report back here with pictures and details.

[oneeyeddick]

It's wet right now, you can't drive on it.

[brickmaster]

I came across this website a few weeks ago when I was wondering the same thing.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/rev/hydrology/m ... precip.php

It seems to show that less rainfall than usual has fallen in the area in 2010 but more than usual this winter. The stats aren’t complete for Gerlach so I’m not sure I’d read into it too much

[Playa Foot]

A week ago I drove several miles on the playa, I didn't have my GPS but I think I came close to last years Black Rock City, I did find a few items of moop which had come to the surface.
The first rule of driving on the playa is that if you are not raising any dust the playa is too wet to drive on. While even at 70 I was not kicking up huge clouds there was enough dust coming up to make me feel comfortable. The playa is still a little moist and soft but will dry during the summer.
The precipation this season has been close to normal which is more than we've had for the last few years. The rainy season is about over, there is a possibility of showers this week but the chance of heavy sustained rain before Burning Man is pretty low.
I can't predict what the playa will be like in August, I wish we had more water, but I have hopes that the playa will be good this year.

[teardropper]

Good reports. I, too, will be out for Rendezvous. I was wondering how it was. Glad to hear you got dust, Playa Foot, I want it dry enough to drive on. These early reports are good, there will be more after Rendezvous, I'm sure.

[CapSmashy]

I predict dusty with scattered areas of dunage, playa mush and firm areas deteriorating over the course of the week.

[illy dilly]

I predict dusty with scattered areas of dunage, playa mush and firm areas deteriorating over the course of the week.

I predict you've nailed it! No matter what the weather is between now and then.

[MistressSybs]

Has it ever rained during bm? What happen to the playa then? Cement?

[Snow]

Yes, and Cement, HAHAHAHA nope it turns into death mud

[rodiponer]

It rained for a few minutes last year. It was beautiful.

[Snow]

I don't remember any rain last year, that doesn't mean it didn't, or that I didn't notice! Also, I just had an inch of snow at my house on Saturday.

On a backcountry trip I once came across a small playa (outside lovelock) with a heard of sheep, stuck up to their knees, all dead. It was quite erie. There were coyotes circling them but they were too smart to brave the mud.

I've had some scary trips on a wet playas before, I didn't think I was going to make it back to civilization, this was working at VERY remote abandoned mines (and of course some side exploring on my part). We got a suburban stuck in playa mud during field camp once, it took three days and one additional stuck vehicle to get it out.

[teardropper]

This is a link to the Friends or Black Rock/High Rock website.
http://www.blackrockdesert.org/friends/ ... conditions As of the 24 May 2010 conditions were drying/dry and there was just a trace of rain a couple of days last week. I don't know, yet, how this bodes for Black Rock City, but for this weekend and Rendezvous, it is good.

[ygmir]

I don't remember any rain last year, that doesn't mean it didn't, or that I didn't notice! Also, I just had an inch of snow at my house on Saturday.

On a backcountry trip I once came across a small playa (outside lovelock) with a heard of sheep, stuck up to their knees, all dead. It was quite erie. There were coyotes circling them but they were too smart to brave the mud.

I've had some scary trips on a wet playas before, I didn't think I was going to make it back to civilization, this was working at VERY remote abandoned mines (and of course some side exploring on my part). We got a suburban stuck in playa mud during field camp once, it took three days and one additional stuck vehicle to get it out.

I've been right in the same positions, having spent many years, wandering the desert, going to old mines.....and, getting stuck........

That sheep scene, wow. Stephen King sort of "wow".........
I can see it, though.
I once, almost drown my truck in a "dust pit"......driving along, and, hit a hole, where the dust was up to the front bumper, and, flowed like water.......luckily, I was going slow and, was able to creep through it. it was about 50' long......
I can only imagine what it looked like after the first rain.........

[Ugly Dougly]

Has it ever rained during bm? What happen to the playa then? Cement?

It rained in earlier years, and everyone got naked and slid around in the slime together.

[Dr. Pyro]

Happily at Barbie Death Camp we can do that whether it rains or not.

[Playa Foot]

I hope you that are going enjoy the Rendesvou this weekend. I am staying home I don't like camping in the snow.

[teardropper]

I hope you that are going enjoy the Rendesvou this weekend. I am staying home I don't like camping in the snow.

Puss.

[bm_cricket]

It rained in earlier years, and everyone got naked and slid around in the slime together.

For how much glass I found embedded in the playa last year I would not want to do that.

And yes, I sat there for almost an hour on Monday morning pulling it out of the ground with my barely burner-virgin girlfriend. Not how she planned to spend the morning.. but since I already had camp setup when she got there I guess she had to earn her wings somehow.

[Mulligan]

It rained for about 15-20 minutes last year on Tuesday before the burn? It could have been Monday, I can't really remember (duh) It was barely enough to wet the ground. Most of our camp was taking a well deserved mid-day nap.

[MistressSybs]

so a rain here and there won't foul up the playa too much and will be a welcome relief?

Last year was my first storm in a tent... IT was AWESOME! and funny ... since we were down at the creek at Flipside when it started we had to run up to the top of the hill to get our rainflys on the tents since our shade structure covered most of the tent, not all. Got that handled only to have to HOLD down our Coleman event shade that was covering our kitchen/reception area since it was literally trying to fly off... we're all four holding onto corners till the storm passed - I look over at my husband who's just grinning like a fool... good times! good times!

funniest quote EVAR... as we're leaving the creek... well meaning burners are hollering to the others still in the water... hey there's a storm coming... you should get outta the water... silence from the swimming group until one lone soul hollered out "we signed the waiver"... the whole creek of people erupted into laughter! Another awesome moment at Flipside that I will NEVER forget.

[bm_cricket]

so a rain here and there won't foul up the playa too much and will be a welcome relief?

Last year was my first storm in a tent... IT was AWESOME! and funny ... since we were down at the creek at Flipside when it started we had to run up to the top of the hill to get our rainflys on the tents since our shade structure covered most of the tent, not all. Got that handled only to have to HOLD down our Coleman event shade that was covering our kitchen/reception area since it was literally trying to fly off... we're all four holding onto corners till the storm passed - I look over at my husband who's just grinning like a fool... good times! good times!

funniest quote EVAR... as we're leaving the creek... well meaning burners are hollering to the others still in the water... hey there's a storm coming... you should get outta the water... silence from the swimming group until one lone soul hollered out "we signed the waiver"... the whole creek of people erupted into laughter! Another awesome moment at Flipside that I will NEVER forget.

I wasn't at Black Rock Desert for this but I heard that a few years back there was a real storm just after after the exodus and it made the playa into playa soup. Supposedly it made it difficult for the post-event cars to get around. I can't confirm that. I wasn't there. Just a rumor. But I believe it. I've been on other playas in the rain if it's hard enough to develop standing water then you are screwed. You can't go anywhere until the playa dries.

[MistressSybs]

so a rain here and there won't foul up the playa too much and will be a welcome relief?

Last year was my first storm in a tent... IT was AWESOME! and funny ... since we were down at the creek at Flipside when it started we had to run up to the top of the hill to get our rainflys on the tents since our shade structure covered most of the tent, not all. Got that handled only to have to HOLD down our Coleman event shade that was covering our kitchen/reception area since it was literally trying to fly off... we're all four holding onto corners till the storm passed - I look over at my husband who's just grinning like a fool... good times! good times!

funniest quote EVAR... as we're leaving the creek... well meaning burners are hollering to the others still in the water... hey there's a storm coming... you should get outta the water... silence from the swimming group until one lone soul hollered out "we signed the waiver"... the whole creek of people erupted into laughter! Another awesome moment at Flipside that I will NEVER forget.

I wasn't at Black Rock Desert for this but I heard that a few years back there was a real storm just after after the exodus and it made the playa into playa soup. Supposedly it made it difficult for the post-event cars to get around. I can't confirm that. I wasn't there. Just a rumor. But I believe it. I've been on other playas in the rain if it's hard enough to develop standing water then you are screwed. You can't go anywhere until the playa dries.

Oh that would be a mess... LOL

[zorro sings]

In my 20 something years in Reno I have never seen anything approaching this years weather.Low temperatures and moisture seemingly every day for the past 6 months.If the Playa is not in the best shape ever come August than these factors have nothing to do with the condition of the playa surface.

[Thecatman]

Has it ever rained during bm? What happen to the playa then? Cement?

I think it was in 07 it rained late Friday afternoon and there was a double rainbow to the east that lasted close to a half hour.

In my 20 something years in Reno I have never seen anything approaching this years weather.Low temperatures and moisture seemingly every day for the past 6 months.

I'm with you dude. In another thread I mentioned that we've 8 consecutive months of measurable snow falling at least once in each month in the Dayton area. Since the first weekend of October.
Can't wait to see what June brings. May and June of 09 brought alot of rain.

I've seen snow fall here in June but did'nt stick.
I'm going camping north of Gerlach next weekend with a fellow from work.
Him and his wife are already there for the rendesvous this weekend.

[Bob]

In 1998 the rain came the evening of September 9, flooded the lower end of the playa under a couple inches of water, stranding everybody left for five days. I'd post pics but the org wants to forget it ever happened.

All I can say is don't do like I did -- drive back onto the playa in the middle of the storm to pick up your girlfriend. Just leave her there, radio ahead and walk back. On the plus side, I always pack rubber boots.

[phil]

Yeah, back in ought-ninety-eight, Louise and I were just leaving when we saw the rain coming. It was sprinkling as we drove off the playa and got on the gravel exit. People who didn't get out were stranded a week or more, depending on who tells the tale.

The closest we've gotten to real rain while we were there was in 2000, when we had sprinkles from 8:00 to 10:00 am; then at 5:00 pm, we had a white out with rain. 2000 was a sucky weather year all around:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/bm2k.html

Photos of mud stuck to shoes, snow on the nearby mountains, dust storms, and such:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/wx2k.html

Louise was there with her broken leg, hence the crutches.

[Playa Foot]

Ride your bike behind the water truck. You will see how the mud sticks to everything and is slippery as hell. A light rain holds down the dust for a little while, a heavy rain means that you're fucked.