Temperatures

[Drawingablank]

I'm trying to plan out my costume wardrobe and I am pretty much set for daytime wear. For night time I am a bit more unsure. I have read that temps can range from over 100 to below freezing, but I was curious how rapid that change is once the sun sets.

I'm pretty well set for the colder end of the spectrum, but was wondering how much time nightly is typical for say 50ish temperatures which my warm stuff will likely be too warm for.

I realize that conditions can vary greatly, but am trying to get some kind of handle on this - I'd rather be over prepared than to be wishing I had brought more, and although layering is an obvious choice, there is a limit to how many layers I want to drag around when I head out.

[Elderberry]

I'll just say that after last year, we're bringing a propane heater for our Yurt. Never thought we needed one before, but will never be caught needing it and not having it again.

I think last year it was the combination of cold AND wet that made it seem colder and less comfortable; but either way, we're bringing the heater. And unless you're out dancing at night, I doubt you need to worry about your coat being too warm, especially if you're sitting around the camp talking and don't have a fire going.

[theCryptofishist]

Tights and long johns under your day clothes is an option.

[TomServo]

Generally, as the suns about to set, behind the western mountains....the tempurature is wonderful. That's when you want to prepare for the night. Since its really unpredictable, be prepared to strip layers off or put layers on. It may be freezing outside, but hot in a camp.

[Trishntek]

Tights and long johns under your day clothes is an option.

For some of us, that means actually putting tights or long johns under nothing,,,, jus' sayin'

[gaminwench]

I typically start the evening in tights, fishnets, booty shorts and a vest.
Around midnight I add long gloves, scarf and hat.
2 AM I add my playa coat (this usually involves a pit stop back at camp).
4 AM is when it gets *really* cold... big fake fur long coat and ugg boots takes me through til sunrise; then the shedding begins!
Bathrobes, in different weights, work really well for me as mitigation against changing levels of cold...

I've also had nights where I never needed to add anything til the 4 AM chill set in...

[Savannah]

Generally by 9 or 10 at night I find that I can feel whether the heat is going to linger between 55-70F, or whether it's going to get really cold sooner than the 2-4am hours.

If the former, arm warmers and some other packed layer may do (because I like to dance and roam all over, and rarely sit down during a disco hike), but if cold by 9, it's going to be a coat night even for me.

Then again, this depends on how warmblooded or coldblooded you are.

eta: if in doubt, you can always take your coat off and either roll it up or hang it high, and dance with one eye on it.

[C.f.M.]

I'm trying to plan out my costume wardrobe and I am pretty much set for daytime wear. For night time I am a bit more unsure. I have read that temps can range from over 100 to below freezing, but I was curious how rapid that change is once the sun sets.

I'm pretty well set for the colder end of the spectrum, but was wondering how much time nightly is typical for say 50ish temperatures which my warm stuff will likely be too warm for.

I realize that conditions can vary greatly, but am trying to get some kind of handle on this - I'd rather be over prepared than to be wishing I had brought more, and although layering is an obvious choice, there is a limit to how many layers I want to drag around when I head out.

It's a crap shoot (if that's the right saying). Last year, I remember being SO cold Monday night. Thursday, it was well into the evening before I needed a jacket. I recall the temps being fairly pleasant until Sunday night, when it got cooooollllld again.

I've been contemplating this myself.

It's all about layers - and keeping your feet warm. I make sure I have warm comfy boots and cover for my arms and legs, the rest is a variety of layers. But at night, always leggings. In fact, I thought I'd go to the local backpacking store and see what kind of high tech crap they (lightweight but warm).

My cloak I made was perfect, but heavy and bulky to fly with. I'm going to try a plain ol' wool overcoat, this year.

[unjonharley]

I have wind breaker pants and coat.. They stuff into there own pocket. About the size of qt baggies.. Have had then for years. So do not know where to buy them anymore.. They are used for walking on the windy beach.. Mine have a light lining and are very warm..

[Trishntek]

My cloak I made was perfect, but heavy and bulky to fly with. I'm going to try a plain ol' wool overcoat, this year.

I LOVE my wool coat that reaches nearly down to my ankles and has tons of pockets. We went camping a month ago and it was rainy/marine layer/damp/cold nearly the whole time. I disdain anything more than flip-flops for my feet. With a shemagh on my head and my coat, nothing else was needed! There was little or no wind tho' and that makes all the difference. Having said that, on the playa last year, I was very comfy with a long linen skirt and a scrub top under the wool coat during the coldest nights.

of course, maybe the continuous infusion of absinthe had something to do with it,,,,

[Bob]

Roll up a Snuggie and stuff it in your bustle.

[dragonpilot]

What did it get down to last year on Monday night after the rain? Seemed like high 30s to me...with wind chill factoring in.

At any rate the operative word for night time is "LAYER"...Bare skin at night with a bit of wind is going to get chilly or down right cold...YMMV. I know I'm always grateful to have at least a light jacket at night out on the deep playa where the wind has a good fetch. And it's the upper body/torso that really needs the covering...you can go pantless and usually be just fine as long as your top is covered.

And also, how many times did we get dust storms at night last year...2-3 times? Lemme tell ya, full body protection out on the playa is truly appreciated under those conditions, but again...YMMV.

[Savannah]

Agreed, Dragonpilot . . . Monday night after the rain I'm pretty sure it did drop to the high 30's, and again Sunday night after the Temple Burn. Someone on the board linked to a weather report saying 38 degrees for one or both of those nights.

The night windstorms were Friday and Saturday. And Sunday night before gates opened it rained kinda heavily and gusted for a while.

The Man looked amazing burning in that Saturday storm. With the fireworks exploding up & away from his up-stretched arms, it looked like he was casting spells.

[Dr Jet Sinister]

Bring a scarf! Keeping your neck warm will keep the rest of you warm fairly efficiently and they don't take up a lot of space. Before gate opened last year, I was wearing 3 layer of clothes (and a coat) because I just couldn't get warm. By Tue or Wed I had bare shoulders and a scarf and was perfectly comfortable.

[theCryptofishist]

It's all about layers - and keeping your feet warm.

I'm obligated to make a joke here.

[AntiM]

Agreed, Dragonpilot . . . Monday night after the rain I'm pretty sure it did drop to the high 30's, and again Sunday night after the Temple Burn. Someone on the board linked to a weather report saying 38 degrees for one or both of those nights.

The night windstorms were Friday and Saturday. And Sunday night before gates opened it rained kinda heavily and gusted for a while.

The Man looked amazing burning in that Saturday storm. With the fireworks exploding up & away from his up-stretched arms, it looked like he was casting spells.

Tuesday morning we had ice puddles on the top of our shade stricture and I was wishing for my winter parka. Oddly enough, our neighbor who was just setting up had brought hers.... exact same brand, color and style of mine. Very playadipitous.

I was not enchanted by the Man fireworks overhead. Our conclave was under the worst of them, we beat feet with the fuel cart when one of the burning cinders smacked hard into my gloved hand. If not for my leather gloves, which I'd taken off them put back on moments before, I'd have a nice burn scar on the back of my right hand!!! Yes, they were terrific, but I sure hated being that close! Except I can bitch about it.....

[C.f.M.]

I was at camp for The Burn, and the fireworks were about all we could see. I'm pretty sure by this point I had a megaphone and too much gin, and was yelling things like:


"Worst 4th of July EVER"
"Fireworks, people, that's your ticket money at work."
"Best 4th of July EVER."

I second the scarf, warm neck goes with warm feet, head and hands. Socks and boots + scarf and hat often means sleeveless can be OK for a while.

I tried on the coat last night - it's too small, and I have to insert a panel up the back and lengthen the sleeves, but I think I'm going to bring it. I was THRILLED when I found it, black wool, nipped at the waist with a lovely flaring bottom and cherry red lining. Y'all send me patches to add to it.

I do like polar fleece, for warmth. It's part of what made my cloak so bulky, but also so warm. I always use a polar fleece blanket on top of my air mattress, to keep the cold air in the mattress from seeping into my bones.

[Bob]

[Dr Jet Sinister]

Sheeeet! That's funny!

[Trishntek]

probably more like, " One size fits nobody"

[Dr Jet Sinister]

probably more like, " One size fits nobody"

We can only hope.

[wedeliver]

I typically start the evening in tights, fishnets, booty shorts and a vest.
Around midnight I add long gloves, scarf and hat.
2 AM I add my playa coat (this usually involves a pit stop back at camp).
4 AM is when it gets *really* cold... big fake fur long coat and ugg boots takes me through til sunrise; then the shedding begins!
Bathrobes, in different weights, work really well for me as mitigation against changing levels of cold...

I've also had nights where I never needed to add anything til the 4 AM chill set in...

OMG, that is pretty much exactly what I do!! Just skip the tights, I go with fishnets and vest to start off and end up in my long heavy, wonderful faux fir oh, plus some kind of head covering, might even have to cover the ears.

sometimes as you move across the playa the temp in the air will change and perhaps become warm even.

[AntiM]

Faux fir? You wear a fake Christmas tree?

[wedeliver]

Faux fir? You wear a fake Christmas tree?

Don't you remember? You told me you liked it! and trying to wear a live tree, wood peckers chased me all over Black Rock City.

(is your eye twitching??)


Ok, I have no idea what it is but it is a nice warm, soft and furry long to the ground coat.

[Savannah]

Don't you remember? You told me you liked it! and trying to wear a live tree, wood peckers chased me all over Black Rock City.

That was you?!? Sorry about my enthusiasm.

[Drawingablank]

Wow - haven't seen those in ages but I remember when they used to advertise those on tv constantly.

[Bob]

They'll fit nicely under Dockers or those pleated men's skirts.

[Drawingablank]

They'll fit nicely under Dockers or those pleated men's skirts.

Well, they're not my idea of a fashion statement but I think I'd rather be seen in those than dockers.

And thanks to all for the temperature / clothing advice.

[portaplaya]

Here is an article on the real temperatures at Burning Man: http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-tempe ... urning-Man?

To summarize, average daytime high: 88º; nightime low: 52º. However, when you are acclimatized to days of about 85º, 52º feels darn cold. But it has never been "freezing" in Gerlach during Burning Man.

[Savannah]

Tuesday morning we had ice puddles on the top of our shade stricture and I was wishing for my winter parka. Oddly enough, our neighbor who was just setting up had brought hers.... exact same brand, color and style of mine. Very playadipitous.

I was not enchanted by the Man fireworks overhead. Our conclave was under the worst of them, we beat feet with the fuel cart when one of the burning cinders smacked hard into my gloved hand. If not for my leather gloves, which I'd taken off them put back on moments before, I'd have a nice burn scar on the back of my right hand!!! Yes, they were terrific, but I sure hated being that close! Except I can bitch about it.....

The fireworks did look more dangerous than usual on the north side--I was near 8 o' clock--and I was surprised (if happy) that the Burn went on. Though obviously the wind got much worse once the Burn started, not before . . .

Here is an article on the real temperatures at Burning Man: http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-tempe ... urning-Man?

To summarize, average daytime high: 88º; nightime low: 52º. However, when you are acclimatized to days of about 85º, 52º feels darn cold. But it has never been "freezing" in Gerlach during Burning Man.

No, it was not literally freezing (32F). It was, at the lowest, a whole 37F on the night of the Temple Burn. I can read the difference between the Warm Lo, Lo Ave, and Max Lo, etc, and the less extreme averages are obvious (and stated above), and so yes--everyone will be overdressed and snug as bugs in rugs this year, and it'll be funny. But it's not a bad idea to caution people about the possibilities. Motsky felt honorbound to give away his treasured Christmas sweater to a cold, pleading girl on Monday of the event. That Christmas sweater was so bad it was literally award-winning (he put some work into it). If people had been prepared, he'd still own that awesome turquoise faerie-light-festooned monstrosity.