How hard or soft is the Playa this year?

[Zman]

Has anyone been out on the playa this summer? Any reports on if it is a nice hard surface?

[Thecatman]

Went on playa at the three mile entrance and it was hard. That was the first weekend in June.
The first week of July we took a "road trip" through central Utah and every dry lake bed we drove passed had dustdevils and whiteouts. The worst was Seiver dry lake along highway 50 near Delta. The dust from it was visible in Nephi.
On July 9th went back to Gerlach and there appeared to be whiteout developing at around 2:30pm when we left Bruno's. An hour earlier it was nice. Can't say what the conditions were since we did'nt go on it.
Had a rental car.

[Snow]

was there for fourth of juplaya. Some was hard as rock, some was dunes, some was soft. It all depends where you're at. But once 30,000 vehicles drive on it, it will be soft and dusty

[Shaman-n-KK]

Anyone got an update on Playa conditions this year...maybe as recent as 4th of Juplaya? Still having flashbacks of the "cookie dough" consistency of '08...shiver. Thanks, friends!

[thisisthatwhichis]

4th of Juplaya was pretty nice.... some of the best that I have seen.....

[Clar-i-ty]

4th of Juplaya was pretty nice.... some of the best that I have seen.....

Go outside, turn three times and spit so you don't jinx us! Quick! Go! Now!

[Craigster365]

Any news on Playa Conditions for Metropolis? Just hoping for better conditions than 08! Last year was OK, but I've heard of better!

[teardropper]

4th of Juplaya was pretty nice.... some of the best that I have seen.....

Yeah, I camped on some beautiful, hard playa--no dust at all.

But BRC? I've got good boots and fat tires. And I can't wait to get back in the dust...

[C.f.M.]

I'm hearing it's kinda wet this year out there.

And that results in a silt-like mud, that sticks to shoes something fierce.

Would rain boots be something I should pack?

[ygmir]

my friend, who arrived on playa to work yesterday, reports the surface not as bad as 08, but, the worst/softest/dusty since.

[C.f.M.]

my friend, who arrived on playa to work yesterday, reports the surface not as bad as 08, but, the worst/softest/dusty since.

But what does that mean?

Soft = bad?

I remember so much of it was sort of compact wet sandy (ie, hard to ride a bike through) by the end of the week last year (my only year).

[ygmir]

my friend, who arrived on playa to work yesterday, reports the surface not as bad as 08, but, the worst/softest/dusty since.

But what does that mean?

Soft = bad?

I remember so much of it was sort of compact wet sandy (ie, hard to ride a bike through) by the end of the week last year (my only year).

a pic from this morning:

[C.f.M.]

my friend, who arrived on playa to work yesterday, reports the surface not as bad as 08, but, the worst/softest/dusty since.

But what does that mean?

Soft = bad?

I remember so much of it was sort of compact wet sandy (ie, hard to ride a bike through) by the end of the week last year (my only year).

a pic from this morning:

Hrmph. So icky to start with, not to end up with.

[theCryptofishist]

my friend, who arrived on playa to work yesterday, reports the surface not as bad as 08, but, the worst/softest/dusty since.

Okay, 09 was worse than 08.

I'm a very confused fish.

[ygmir]

my friend, who arrived on playa to work yesterday, reports the surface not as bad as 08, but, the worst/softest/dusty since.

Okay, 09 was worse than 08.

I'm a very confused fish.

I thought 08 was worse.....dang perspective, I suppose.....seemed 08 was hard to even ride a bike in, last year, not so bad.

[theCryptofishist]

my friend, who arrived on playa to work yesterday, reports the surface not as bad as 08, but, the worst/softest/dusty since.

Okay, 09 was worse than 08.

I'm a very confused fish.

I thought 08 was worse.....dang perspective, I suppose.....seemed 08 was hard to even ride a bike in, last year, not so bad.

Last year we had to lay carpet in my car port so I could get around in there. I don't think I used the pushchair. Believe me, I am particularly sensitive to the condition of the surface.
Although some were attributing it to location of camp.

[ygmir]

Okay, 09 was worse than 08.

I'm a very confused fish.

I thought 08 was worse.....dang perspective, I suppose.....seemed 08 was hard to even ride a bike in, last year, not so bad.

Last year we had to lay carpet in my car port so I could get around in there. I don't think I used the pushchair. Believe me, I am particularly sensitive to the condition of the surface.
Although some were attributing it to location of camp.

I'd go with specific camp location.........I know you're sensitive to surface conditions.........but, for me anyway, the playa was much more bike friendly last year, than, the year before.........not as good as 07, though.....

[Fire_Moose]

I found that the roads in '08 were pretty much fine to ride on.


AAnd i heard that the 10:00 side is better then 2 this year.

[Ugly Dougly]

Depends on how high you're falling from.

[Magpie]

Re: How hard or soft is the Playa this year?

Yes

[Pink Daddy]

I saw some really gnarly wipe-outs with people on bicycles in 08, riding in the open playa. I borrowed a campmates bicycle and it was a serious workout trying to get to deep playa, very sucky...

[Elderberry]

Here's a report I just got from one of my clients:

Just returned after my tour on the Applegate Trail. Saw Burning Man lights across the playa from our camp at Black Rock (they are setting things up). Thunderstorms have been passing through the area. Had one very windy night and some areas showed more wetness than usual at this time of year. Still plenty of dust, though. Temperatures were high nineties -- not overly hot for the season. Nice breese most of the day (not necessarily an advantage in all the dust).

So, same old story, be ready for anything.

JK