might have to walk to the burn

dustyroller · Post by **dustyroller** » Wed May 18, 2011 9:19 pm

does anybody have any advice about hitch hiking or walking 3000 miles across the U.S.

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Wed May 18, 2011 9:26 pm

dustyroller wrote:does anybody have any advice about hitch hiking or walking 3000 miles across the U.S.

Allow plenty of time to get to where you want?

i would say trying to hitch at truck stops is a good place to start though, works best in the uk and they travel long distances

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Wed May 18, 2011 10:07 pm

Try to find a ride. If you have no money, offer cooking skills or foot massages. Id trust a burner a whole lot more than a random stranger willing to give you a ride. Don't count on Truck drivers, unless there owner ops..company drivers could get in ALOT of trouble picking up hitchers, and I just don't trust Owner Ops. Try to find a ride, and offer something they could use. And bring Mace.

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed May 18, 2011 10:18 pm

http://guides.digihitch.com/laws

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed May 18, 2011 11:10 pm

Learn how to use uppercase letters on your cardboard signs?

The Hustler · Post by **The Hustler** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:36 am

And ignore the "Rules of the Road" form the movie Dogma.

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:39 am

So if you're hitchhiking or walking, how do you plan on carrying your tent, food, water, and all the other stuff you'll need to survive a week in the desert?

The Hustler · Post by **The Hustler** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:45 am

jkisha wrote:So if you're hitchhiking or walking, how do you plan on carrying your tent, food, water, and all the other stuff you'll need to survive a week in the desert?

What? We have to bring stuff with us? I thought the playa provided!

Post by **AntiM** » Thu May 19, 2011 8:14 am

MyLarry is a trucker, a company driver, and he is not allowed to give hitchhikers rides. He has to register me and pay an annual fee if he wants me to come along, and I'm his wife!

Start working on the rideshare forums, the official rideshare board will be up this summer, try to find local burners who need help with fuel. You can do this, but by thumb is not ideal.

And yeah, supplies.

lambert13 · Post by **lambert13** » Thu May 19, 2011 8:23 am

I strongly advise against hitching.

I used to do it quite a bit with no troubles. Until I had that one bad experience. I was beaten badly by a group of young men. Left bloody and broken by the road in the middle of the winter in the Northeast. The savages took my shoes and coat when they left me. Had to limp home barefoot.

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu May 19, 2011 9:22 am

Ya, unfortunately hitchhiking isn't as safe as it once was.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu May 19, 2011 9:27 am

It's safer to get a job and buy a Greyhound ticket. Might even be faster.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:09 am

jkisha wrote:Ya, unfortunately hitchhiking isn't as safe as it once was.

Cite?

Anecdotally, Gerlach is the only place I've picked up a hitcher who had a .45 duct-taped to his leg. It's also the only place I've been picked up by a driver who decided to take a two-mile shortcut through the sagebrush in a rental minivan.

Post by **Savannah** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:10 am

The http://rideshare.burningman.com website will be up soon. Right now it's still on 2010. However, I got curious and noted that Ashkum, IL is close to Kankakee, IL, which I suspected was big enough for a Greyhound station. It is.

Departing Fri, 08/26 01:10 PM, you could get as far as Reno by Sun, 08/28 07:25 AM in 1 Day, 20 Hours, 15 Minutes in three 3 Transfers: St. Louis, Denver & Salt Lake City (not bad). As of today, Web Only Fare: $209.701. Standard Fare: $233.00

But good luck with the rideshare thing, it's easier--once you get one, anyway. Not much cheaper, unless there are 3+ people, of course.

Robai · Post by **Robai** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:10 am

Well, as a counterpoint to all the fear an loathing, I would like to point out the VBS TV series online called "Thumbs Up America" wherein two young Asian-American guys hitch all the way across the country and have an excellent time.

Here is the Yermo to Las Vegas episode:

http://www.vbs.tv/watch/thumbs-up/thumb ... n-1-2-of-5

Robai · Post by **Robai** » Thu May 19, 2011 5:14 pm

Here is the Yermo to LV episode on Youtube:

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Thu May 19, 2011 5:20 pm

I hitchhiked from New Orleans to New York City in 3 days. Had a large cardboard sign which simply read: HOME TO MAMA N.Y.C. If you give yourself a personality, it helps. The worst part of it was sleeping in an alley behind a gas station in Memphis, but what the hell, it was free.

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu May 19, 2011 5:32 pm

Bob wrote:
jkisha wrote:Ya, unfortunately hitchhiking isn't as safe as it once was.
Cite?

Anecdotally, Gerlach is the only place I've picked up a hitcher who had a .45 duct-taped to his leg. It's also the only place I've been picked up by a driver who decided to take a two-mile shortcut through the sagebrush in a rental minivan.

Maybe I just watch "Criminal Minds" too much.

But, in general, nothing's as safe as it used to be...how many people still keep their front door unlocked? (Canadians excepted)

Post by **AntiM** » Thu May 19, 2011 5:36 pm

In the 70s, I hitched a bit. I didn't know it at the time, but Ted Bundy gave me a ride. Seriously. Lucky I wasn't his type.

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu May 19, 2011 5:44 pm

AntiM wrote:In the 70s, I hitched a bit. I didn't know it at the time, but Ted Bundy gave me a ride. Seriously. Lucky I wasn't his type.

Well how nice of him. I guess everybody has some redeeming qualities.

Drawingablank · Post by **Drawingablank** » Thu May 19, 2011 8:54 pm

In 1975 I hitched from NYC to SF and back - it was the most memorable few months of my 53 years.

That being said, would I consider it in 2011? - NO F'ing way. The world has changed, and in many ways for the worse. Sure, everyone is being coerced into acting politically correct, but the underlying psyche of the country has changed.

Violence

70's - the average American was used to violence being pumped into the tv news daily - It was the real deal and we were appallled by it. Gang wars were groups pummeling each other.

2000's - The average American is inundated by violent dramatizations - tv, video games, music, etc... As a society we have come to accept random, vicious, unprovoked violence as a way of life. Gang violence involves gunfire.

Support

70's - I left home with 119 dollars and a firm belief in people, karma, god, or what have you. And thanks in great part to the kindness of others did ok. People of all ages in the 70's were much more like burners and a lot more likely to help a stranger out. Plus there was an entire system in place to help transients - we called them Bulletin Boards and they were in many cities, staffed by volunteers and were helpful to find places to crash and more.

2000's - As far as I know, the BBS network has vaporized. It has become all about "ME" and what can you do for ME. The amount of folks commiting random kindness to strangers is at an all time low - folks are just downright paranoid about strangers and really believe that "no good deed goes unpunished".

Police

70's - Cops didn't approach you with hands on their guns. In a 6000 mile hitch I was approached by cops twice. The first, outside of Reno told me that as long as I was on the entrance side of the no pedestrians sign to to interstate he would have no issues with me. The second, in Berkely thought the pouches on my belt were a holster and once he saw they weren't told me to have a good night and drove off.

2000's - Cops are more paranoid, and I can't say I blame them. Society is more violent now and cops approach most situations with hands on guns - even for routine traffic stops. Anyone doing something uncharacteristic for this era (hitchiking) must represent even more of a threat than a motorist.

Summary

Sorry for this overly long post, but I think the time for hitchhiking around the US with any expectation of comfort or safety is long past. Plus I seriously doubt you could possibly carry enough stuff to be self sufficient for the week even if you braved it out.

TurtleNut · Post by **TurtleNut** » Thu May 19, 2011 9:09 pm

Drawingablank wrote: Sure, everyone is being coerced into acting politically correct, but the underlying psyche of the country has changed.

Exactly. Be safe. Rent a bus with some friends.

As for advice about walking across America. There is a line from a movie that comes to mind. "Stupid is as stupid does."

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu May 19, 2011 9:20 pm

I wonder. Not about the psyche, I'm willing to use that as a working proposition.
But, almost everyone has smart phones. (Well, within a certain value of "everyone.") Take a pic of the car when it pulls up. Send that to email or post it on net. Negotiate with driver, take his pic and send that to the net as well. If you don't come home they have a pretty good idea of when and where you accepted your last ride, and they pics of a "person of interest" and his car.

It might shift things pretty quickly, and someone probably wrote an ap last year.

BBadger · Post by **BBadger** » Thu May 19, 2011 11:24 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:I wonder. Not about the psyche, I'm willing to use that as a working proposition.
But, almost everyone has smart phones. (Well, within a certain value of "everyone.") Take a pic of the car when it pulls up. Send that to email or post it on net. Negotiate with driver, take his pic and send that to the net as well. If you don't come home they have a pretty good idea of when and where you accepted your last ride, and they pics of a "person of interest" and his car.

Some hitchhiker taking photos of my car as I pull up is a good reason for me to drive off, after all, I'm the one rendering the favor here and I don't want to be suspect if something goes wrong somewhere else. Plus the entire act doesn't make you any safer, it just means they may find out what jurisdiction your body might be in, or possibly who might be related to your disappearance.

The concept of hitchhiking to BM as a whole is irresponsible.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri May 20, 2011 5:49 am

BBadger wrote:
theCryptofishist wrote:I wonder. Not about the psyche, I'm willing to use that as a working proposition.
But, almost everyone has smart phones. (Well, within a certain value of "everyone.") Take a pic of the car when it pulls up. Send that to email or post it on net. Negotiate with driver, take his pic and send that to the net as well. If you don't come home they have a pretty good idea of when and where you accepted your last ride, and they pics of a "person of interest" and his car.
Some hitchhiker taking photos of my car as I pull up is a good reason for me to drive off, after all, I'm the one rendering the favor here and I don't want to be suspect if something goes wrong somewhere else. Plus the entire act doesn't make you any safer, it just means they may find out what jurisdiction your body might be in, or possibly who might be related to your disappearance.

The concept of hitchhiking to BM as a whole is irresponsible.

I agree BBadger.
if I pull over and someone starts taking pictures, I'm leaving.
I don't want to have to put my pants back on just to pick someone up!!!!

Post by **Elderberry** » Fri May 20, 2011 7:16 am

BBadger wrote:
theCryptofishist wrote:I wonder. Not about the psyche, I'm willing to use that as a working proposition.
But, almost everyone has smart phones. (Well, within a certain value of "everyone.") Take a pic of the car when it pulls up. Send that to email or post it on net. Negotiate with driver, take his pic and send that to the net as well. If you don't come home they have a pretty good idea of when and where you accepted your last ride, and they pics of a "person of interest" and his car.
Some hitchhiker taking photos of my car as I pull up is a good reason for me to drive off, after all, I'm the one rendering the favor here and I don't want to be suspect if something goes wrong somewhere else. Plus the entire act doesn't make you any safer, it just means they may find out what jurisdiction your body might be in, or possibly who might be related to your disappearance.

The concept of hitchhiking to BM as a whole is irresponsible.

The car would most likely be stolen, so at least your photos would help the police return it to the owner after they find your body out on the road side.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri May 20, 2011 8:33 am

I hitchhiked to Pyramid Lake in the 70s, for the waters.

I was misinformed.

Post by **Savannah** » Fri May 20, 2011 10:07 am

jerroc · Post by **jerroc** » Fri May 20, 2011 10:42 am

Getting there should be the last of your worries. How about working on the part where you will need water, food and other important supplies. Unless of course you plan on being a free loading hippie in which case you should not come. Hitchhiking is not legal on interstates some states and citys. You could put an unknowing trucker in serious trouble if there is no passanger permit even if it is his truck. And you would be a burden on anyone you traveled with. Wait til you can afford to go.

jerroc · Post by **jerroc** » Fri May 20, 2011 10:46 am

double post

might have to walk to the burn

might have to walk to the burn

Re: might have to walk to the burn

Hitching to The Burn

Fear and Loathing vs. Hitching