New burners thanks to Lakes of Fire

[waxpraxis]

Earlier this year a good friend of mine convinced me to come up to the Lakes of Fire regional burn. Well, the event was a couple of weeks ago now and I had an absolute blast! As each day goes by the greeting of "welcome home" resonates deeper and deeper. I've always loved making things and grew up in a family that heavily promoted arts and crafts. I just haven't done much with personal expression in my adult life. Going to Lakes of Fire really did feel like coming home!

So, pretty much the second I left Lakes of Fire I started scheming to see if I could get my butt to the big burn this year. I've been told by friends for years and years that I would love Burning Man and I really wished I would have listened to them. Now though, I get to celebrate my first burn in style - my wife and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on the playa!

Due to kid-related obligations (it's our anniversary, no kids this year!) we won't be on the playa until wednesday, but otherwise all is good. In every spare moment I've been reading everything on the main site and I'm starting to slowly dig through ePlaya. I've already started compiling our gear and our leave-no-trace plan but I do have one question...

Our shade structure and tent will be, as recommended, held down with rebar. Should we just pre-bend and bring that with us (we're flying into Reno), or would it be better to just buy it in Reno at a Home Depot or something?

[sputnik]

Welcome! Glad to hear you had a good time at Lakes (ie Bogs) of Fire.

I do not use rebar. I use 12" aluminum v stakes. They hold great and are very lightweight

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/1 ... x?a=645054

[Packoderm]

Welcome! Glad to hear you had a good time at Lakes (ie Bogs) of Fire.

I do not use rebar. I use 12" aluminum v stakes. They hold great and are very lightweight

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/1 ... x?a=645054

They're sold out.

[waxpraxis]

Thanks for the tip! I think those would work fine for our tent, but our shade structure is a bit of a beast and I'm hoping to be able to hang my hammock off of it as well. In the soft soil of my backyard the 2' rebar stakes started to pull out a bit when I was in my hammock. I have a feeling the playa will hold much better, but the last thing I want is to be happily napping and have my structure fall on top of me my butt smacks the ground! (Those falling dreams SUCK!)

Here it is right now - I'm still working out the actual shade material. Right now I'm leaning towards silver tarps on the top and three sides.


It's based on the Camp Elsewhere design http://www.bweebweebwee.com/tensegrity/ and so far seems to work pretty well.

[sputnik]

Yes, that company is sold out. I was just putting it out there as an example. Rebar is very heavy, if you're flying these stakes save lots of weight. Not sure where you live, but I found them at an army surplus store in Dearborn, MI. As to whether these would hold your shade and you in it, not sure.

[Sail Man]

As a fellow LoFer and one of the team leads, it's great to hear you had a most awesome time at our wee little burn, somewhat on the opposite side of the dryness spectrum from the playa, as Sputnik pointed out though. But, where would the Lakes be without the water....

But I digress....


Any major camping retailer can sell you aluminum tent stakes. However, as you point out, you want some heavy duty shit for a big shelter. You can get the rebar pre-cut at any of the big box hardware stores, I've bought it both at HD and at Lowes. Obviously it is not pre-bent but they also sell caps strictly for the purpose of covering and protecting the exposed ends. Gorilla glue something to the caps (they're orange plastic caps begging for decoration) like skulls of doll heads for exp and you've got some easy art.

[Savannah]

There are apparently 3 Home Depot stores in Reno; see Google. I would call and ask any questions you might have about hours and supplies. Rebar is so heavy (and so non-particular) I cannot imagine trying to fly with it.

Stuff you should fly in, among other things:

* goggles (because fit is important, darkness is helpful, clear ones are nice for night)
* costumes (if relevant to you, or if you're picky)
* prescription medication
* comfortable shoes/warm playa coat (consider wearing these/sitting on these on the plane). Because it is important to like both these items, & have a good fit.
* Stuff with which you are completely inflexible, for whatever particular reasons you may have. Know thyself.

[waxpraxis]

Thanks for the info folks! I've been concerned about the rebar because we're not getting in until Wednesday and I imagine the local big box hardware stores could be fairly well pillaged for Burning Man-specific stuff like rebar.

So far it looks like I'll need to swing by some big box store for the wood supports for the shade structure (3x 2x3s or 2x4s) and the rebar. Otherwise I've been working up a big long punchlist for everything else.

Savannah - thanks for the info, and goggles are way high up on my list since my wife and I both wear glasses (and are damn near blind without 'em) and I know getting goggles that fit well over glasses can be a pain in the ass.

Sail Man - I was with Camp S'moregasm, I hope you were able to stop by and get your sugar fix on!

[Savannah]

On the plus side, Reno is so very accustomed to Burners and makes so much money from us passing through that they have every reason to stock lots of rebar. If you're worried, I'd say call and ask whether they have any difficulty meeting demand by mid-week . . . and maybe map out one or two extra hardware/home stores (less well known ones) just in case.

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

Have questions? Read this first: http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/
Everybody on eplaya is always excited to help first timers; but in sympathy for some of us old timers, please get your required reading out of the way before posting. As hard as it is to rein in the the excitement and enthusiasm, and as unbelievable as it might seem, most of your questions have already been asked and answered, if you just take a moment to read.

Now, let the adventure begin!

[waxpraxis]

Yeah, it seems like there's a whole mini-economy that pops up around the burn! As someone who geeks out on economics in general I find it really, really facinating!

jkisha - thanks for the welcome, I've been reading and re-reading the first timers guide and everything linked to off of it since I decided to make a stab at coming this year. It actually was REALLY helpful when I was convincing my wife to go - I actually sounded like I knew what I was talking about!

[Elderberry]

Yeah, it seems like there's a whole mini-economy that pops up around the burn! As someone who geeks out on economics in general I find it really, really facinating!

jkisha - thanks for the welcome, I've been reading and re-reading the first timers guide and everything linked to off of it since I decided to make a stab at coming this year. It actually was REALLY helpful when I was convincing my wife to go - I actually sounded like I knew what I was talking about!

This will be my 6th time or so...and I still read over it quickly each year, along with the survival guide. Hope you make it to the eplaya Meet 'N Greet.

[waxpraxis]

Oh - there's a meet n' greet? I hadn't run across info about that yet! See, always more to learn!

One thing I was wondering about is the ice that's sold at the event. I read some post that seem to indicate that it's sold in big blocks (which would be AWESOME for an idea I have brewing!) but I've never seen it explicitly stated what shape/size the ice comes in.

[Savannah]

Oh - there's a meet n' greet? I hadn't run across info about that yet! See, always more to learn!

One thing I was wondering about is the ice that's sold at the event. I read some post that seem to indicate that it's sold in big blocks (which would be AWESOME for an idea I have brewing!) but I've never seen it explicitly stated what shape/size the ice comes in.

You can get 1 big block, or a bag of smaller pieces. It was $3 per bag last year. I liked to get one of each every 2-3 days.

[MyDearFriend]

Oh - there's a meet n' greet? I hadn't run across info about that yet! See, always more to learn!

Come here my friend

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... &start=240

It asks: what are you bringing? because it's billed as a pot-luck supper, yeah I know but they assure me IT"S NOT LIKE THAT...

A bag of ice will do fine, but, by all that's holy please post some lil' note in that thread so we get your name and etc.

Welcome welcome!

2-ft rebar is cheap at Home Depot, if you are worried about them running out just do that "order for pick up" thing so they will hold it for you...

[waxpraxis]

Cool, thanks for the info. We're still planning our food situation so I really don't know what we'll bring yet, but as soon as we have things a little more sorted I'll definitely chime in!

Last night I bent the rebar I bought for testing and strung up my hammock on our shade structure and it worked just fine, woo!

[illy dilly]

Hey Waxpraxis!
Welcome to ePlaya (sorry I'm kinda late)!

For deciding so quickly, you sure have made a lot of head way!
I have a feeling we might have another undercover virgin on our hands!

[waxpraxis]

Thanks! I tend to be most inspired when I'm working in a constrained system - and the playa and the 10 principals are pretty damn constraining (in a good way!). Just the thought of going out there (and the desire to be somewhat comfortable while there!) has really inspired me to think a lot about what I want to do and build like mad! (besides I have less than 60 days!)

[illy dilly]

Hell yeah!
Our first year, we were buying our tickets in early July, so you're ahead of that curve!

You're right, every little creature comfort you can add will make your week that much more enjoyable!