Future Burner Questions

Druidess · Post by **Druidess** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:19 pm

My husband and I plan on attending in a few years so my questions may be a little early in the planning process but I tend to overplan anyway.

1) We would be coming in from Texas (Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex). Having never driven anywhere other than the southern states, I was wondering what the driving terrain/conditions were? We would most likely come into Las Vegas from IH-40 and then travel north on US 95 to IH 80. I assume that we would be travelling through several desert and near-desert areas and should take precautions not to overheat our vehicle. Would we be travelling through mountains as well? I guess what I am concerned about is having to negotiate mountain passes with sheer drop offs right next to the road surface.

2) Is ice readily available? Do they sell out? I assume lines would be a pain in the butt. I have read other posts suggesting extreme condition coolers and dry ice so this may be a non-issue if we go that route which we probably will.

3) Are cameras allowed for personal use?

4) How big are the camp sites and are there preassigned sites or do we just find a spot that's big enough for our camp and lay claim to a little patch of ground?

5) When is the best time to arrive? If were are to drive through a lot of desert areas I would prefer to drive through those areas at night which would most likely have us arriving at night or early morning. Is there a huge influx of people all the time and do the gates open at a particular time? For example, if Burning Man starts on a Monday, does the playa open on Monday morning or can people start arriving and setting up before Monday?

So, that's all I can think of right now. Sorry that was so long. Chronic overplanner. Like I said, it will be a few years before we make it out there. I will probably think of many other questions between now and then.

poeticphoto · Post by **poeticphoto** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:44 pm

1. FLY ...by then, gas will be aproximately $300 per gallon

2. Ice and coffee are the only two things sold at BM. I'm a burning virgin so I can't comment on lines (though I've heard they're not too bad) and as far as coolers and ice, etc.. there are a few different ways to go, after planning more you will diverge onto one of those ways.
3. Of course. If your bringing a pricy digital piece of picture making magic... make sure to try keeping it clean and safe from playa dust... many people recommend getting a good (professional) clean after ariving back home.
4. If you have art installations/themecamps you can register them and have a predetermined spot. If you're just camping there's an outer area for walk ins... set up and own your piece of playa without paying rent for a week. Somewhere on the site there's a link to pictures of this year's layout.
5. Gates open 12am Aug 30th... but people start gathering before that. Sort of like waiting on a concert. It becomes a party.

Welcome and have fun planning! See you on the playa whenever you make it out.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:11 am

1) Not sure about that route but I think there is at least one pass. Don't overload your vehicle, take it slow, and it shouldn't be too bad. Your car's cooling system needs to be in good shape. Keep an eye on it and turn the heat on if it starts creeping up too high.

2) Ice is readily available. I witnessed some lines last year at the busy times, but they moved quick and it's right in center camp so there's lots of cool stuff going on around you. Apparently they're adding another truck bay this year so lines should be even less of an issue.

3) Yes, you can bring a camera

4) Theme camps are assigned spots, everyone else just picks out a spot when they arrive. The earlier you arrive, the more choice you have in where to camp.

5) You can't get in until 12:01am Monday. People arrive before then to set up the city and work on some larger projects so a little bit of space will be taken already, but that's a small percentage.

Why can't you go this year??? There's still plenty of time left to over-plan

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:12 am

1. Airplanes use fuel, too. Moot.
2. The ice lines get pretty fucking long, and they do run out from time to time.
3. I think you covered that one pretty well.
4. Walk-in camping is for NO vehicles, NO generators, NO amplified sound camping. The majority of camping space is drive-in, unregistered.
5. That's about right.

I'll add that the Burning Man main website has almost all the info you request, and more. Read read read!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:46 am

Huh. I thought a "Druidess" would have, like, special powers over steep grades.

technopatra · Post by **technopatra** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:59 am

Druidess, you may have already done so, but if not, please read the Survival Guide including all of the links in the right hand navigation.

And try to check out Flipside, the Austin burn, next year. It'll give you a good taste of the community, if not the desert conditions. It'll still be good prep work for preparing for the event in Nevada.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:27 pm

Is that still the 2003 Survival Guide, or has it been updated for this year? (Not that it seems likely much will change, I just have anal retentive tendancies!

)

Druidess · Post by **Druidess** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:29 pm

Mystical powers over steep grades-maybe.
Power over paralyzing fear of heights and mangling car wrecks-no.

I would love to make it out to the playa this year, however getting time off from work practically requires a human sacrifice. That and the extreme lack of liquid assests after the purchase of a new home. And tiny (almost) spankin' new cars. So we gotta get bigger vehicles (or maybe just rent one) and all the other stuff needed to survive.

I have done truck-in-truck-out camping before but that was in the mountains in New Mexico. Way different climate (and I slept most of the way so I got to miss out on any treacherous passes). So I kinda know a little about if-you-need-it-you-better-bring-it camping but we borrowed someone else's gear. So we also need to invest in our own gear.

Anywho, thanks for the info. I plan to read everything I can get my hands on. And I will most definitely check out the Austin Burn since it's only three hours away.

Ciao.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:47 pm

There's lots of mountain pass driving, but it's just hilly, no Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner-esque rock wall on one side, sheer drop-off on the other stuff. It's all nice solid ground, but a workout for your vehicle if it's heavy.
No "Fear Factor" episode here.

bushonk · Post by **bushonk** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 9:20 am

oh crap, you mean I didn't have to eat those sea slugs last year?!

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 4:40 pm

A suggestion that allows you to avoid all mountain driving; this will add at least 100 miles, maybe more, to your trip.

Dallas to El Paso, El Paso to Phoenix, Phoenix to Las Vegas, Las Vegas to Reno.

Notice I send you to Reno, no matter which way you go you will have been on the road for days. Aim on hitting Reno on Sunday and easy looking on the web will find you a cheap hotel room. This gives you a chance to shop, get water, ice and mainly rest before hitting BRC. Get up fairly early on Monday and head out. The line will be fairly short and no big deal.

Unless your car is very old or in very bad shape desert driving is no big deal and there is no reason to drive at night unless you want to start to condition yourself for Burning Man. Or, putting it another way, in the next couple of days my 86 year old father, my 82 year old mother and my 17 year old son will be heading out of El Paso and following much the same route as I described except that the will hook over to Death Valley and then though the High Serrias.

No worries.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:40 pm

Is that still the 2003 Survival Guide, or has it been updated for this year? (Not that it seems likely much will change,

There'll be a more detailed explanation of the rules governing mutant vehicle registration as well as what to expect if seen driving about BRC in unregistered vehicles.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 8:15 pm

There'll be a more detailed explanation of the rules governing mutant vehicle registration as well as what to expect if seen driving about BRC in unregistered vehicles.

Thanks! I'm not planing on doing a mutant vehicle any time in the foreseeable future, so I am not too worried.