Arrival at gate: Tips? Lines? Timing?

[LowePro]

Could some workers or Veterans from recent years offer a tip on when is a good time to arrive at BRC to miss some of the long lines?

Is Sunday afternoon super busy or mellow?
When might be a good time to avoid long lines? Midnight? Very Early morning?

Thank you all.

[lemur]

you cant miss the lines.


bring lotsa water, and snacks.

[VultureChow]

Don't show up before gate opens. Other than that, it's a crapshoot. I had a three hour line at midnight with early entry.

bring lotsa water, and snacks.

And a jug. Pissed in a starbucks cup cause I couldn't find a potty.

[lemur]

have your ticket ready (and Id and paperwork if youll be going to will call)

have water easily available, and some snacks

have your dust protection stuff, and a light, ready... (when you arrive at camp, or are waiting in a will call line.. these will probably come in handy)


if theres white outs, or missing kids, or breakdowns.. or who knows what else.. it might take up to 5-8 hours from when you turn off the pavement until when you get to camp... yes.. thats about 1 mile per hour, or less.



you might be able to avoid some of this by arriving on tuesday, or wednesday.

[Dr. Pyro]

Go to Disneyland instead. They have shuttles.

[VultureChow]

Go to Disneyland instead. They have shuttles.

And handicapable tour guides for the Manhattanites who don't want to wait on line for the rides: http://gawker.com/rich-families-cutting ... -505640665

[swampdog]

Timing is impossible to guess. Don't plan your entry around it. Peak time is probably around midnight Monday morning, you'd probably have a shorter wait by like 2 AM Tuesday morning but then you'd be exchanging playa time for the reduced wait time. And, you could end up with 6 hr wait Tuesday AM too.

The best thing you can do here is work on your attitude (not saying you have a bad attitude, but it takes work to keep your cool). It's like any traffic jam, you can't make it go any faster by being anxious or worrying or getting pissed off, so just relax and keep yourself cool as best you can.

DO obey the speed limit (before you get to the traffic-jam part). Speeding increases dust for everyone.
DO NOT try to cut in and out to gain advantage. a) it doesn't work b) you don't want to be that guy
DO be prepared with food/drink/toilet resources.
DO NOT start full on partying. Driver must be sober, open container laws apply. People get busted.

[Savannah]

Yep. The line averages 3-5 hours almost no matter what you do--and if you come earlier than allowed, you'll have to wait in D Lot 'til you've learned your lesson.

So embrace the line & crank the music. Realize everyone else is in this with you. Enjoy the cheers emanating from other cars. Gift the driver in the next vehicle an ice cold caffeinated soda.

If it's daytime, have your sunscreen handy in addition to the food/beverages/pee bottle.

(There are portapotties after a certain point, but your proximity will vary).

[swampdog]

DO be prepared for dust storms. If you don't have AC it can get a bit unpleasant having to choose between open windows & dust or closed windows & excess heat. (personal experience)

[FIGJAM]

The first 24hrs. at opening is chaos.

Monday at 6am it may of subsided a little.

And take a nap before hitting the line!

[Savannah]

DO be prepared for dust storms. If you don't have AC it can get a bit unpleasant having to choose between open windows & dust or closed windows & excess heat. (personal experience)

Agreed. That's a point in favor of coming in during twilight/night/early morning, but not having driven the whole way in one go (to avoid exhaustion).

Wind tends to be less at night, and you're not going to boil to death.

[Krokodyle]

DO obey the speed limit (before you get to the traffic-jam part). Speeding increases dust for everyone.
DO NOT try to cut in and out to gain advantage. a) it doesn't work b) you don't want to be that guy
DO be prepared with food/drink/toilet resources.
DO NOT start full on partying. Driver must be sober, open container laws apply. People get busted.

And, from what's been posted before:

ENSURE any auto and trailer license plates are FULLY VISIBLE and not covered (even partially) by ANYTHING, such as straps, bicycle wheels, etc.!

[dragonpilot]

Others have already said it...embrace the line...it's part of the Burning Man experience...get to know your neighbors, enjoy the freak show around you.

One year we arrived on Thursday, shot straight thru to camp in a matter of minutes...felt like we got ripped off!

[lemur]

dont get out of your car.

[tamarakay]

And if you see a blonde hottie Australian gate volunteer do whatever the hell she tells you and DON'T try and hug her. Trust me on this one.

[Drawingablank]

And if you see a blonde hottie Australian gate volunteer do whatever the hell she tells you and DON'T try and hug her. Trust me on this one.

I was thinking during the burn we need to get a video camera and sneak a sign on her back that says hug me.

[TomServo]

It's pretty much been said already, but have no expectations except this: expect that you will need to embrace certain discomforts, and make them enjoyable.



if your driving, wait till your camped for that whisky sour!!

[Dr. Pyro]

And if you see a blonde hottie Australian gate volunteer do whatever the hell she tells you and DON'T try and hug her. Trust me on this one.

I suspect I know exactly which "...blonde hottie Australian..." to whom you refer. Not even making eye contact may be a good idea as well.

[BBadger]

There are really no shorter line times, or at least noticeably shorter. I'd time it for the time you want to set up your camp (assume line arrive time + 3-5 hours). I prefer night time setup.

[theCryptofishist]

And if you see a blonde hottie Australian gate volunteer do whatever the hell she tells you and DON'T try and hug her. Trust me on this one.

I suspect I know exactly which "...blonde hottie Australian..." to whom you refer. Not even making eye contact may be a good idea as well.

0/I think we need to let Ygmir recruit her to Gate...

[MikeGyver]

Best tip, Plan to wait in line and be surprised if you dont. Make sure you fill up fuel atleast in Fernley (if your coming from that direction). Running out of fuel in line isn't good, Remember you'll need enough fuel for Exodus 100+ miles after the burn.

[Bounce530]

DO obey the speed limit (before you get to the traffic-jam part). Speeding increases dust for everyone.
DO NOT try to cut in and out to gain advantage. a) it doesn't work b) you don't want to be that guy
DO be prepared with food/drink/toilet resources.
DO NOT start full on partying. Driver must be sober, open container laws apply. People get busted.

DO stay with your car.
DON'T go scampering away from your car, and party with the group a few lanes over. You'll get distracted, the line will move, and we'll be stuck behind your driverless vehicle.

[Eric]

if your driving, wait till your camped for that whisky sour!!

This bit can't be emphasized enough - you're still driving, the laws of Nevada are still in full force. Nobody in the drivers area should have open alcohol, the LEOs have night vision goggles, and they do look to collect the stupid tax on the playa road into BRC. No booze until you're parked in camp. Period.

[dubz]

Total crapshoot. We ended up heading in on Monday morning, due to a misplaced checked bag, and didn't hit a second of traffic before the dust, and literally waited for 3 minutes at the Gate. It was amazing. Exodus last year was also amazing, and we waited for about 20 minutes total when we left Monday at noon.

I have waited for hours on line when coming in for Early Arrival, so there just really is no way to tell in advance. I would take everyone else's advice: have water accesible, relieve your bladder before hitting the line (although in recent years there have been portapotties stationed strategically), have your dust gear accesible, and prepare to have a good time with those in your car. Just know it is an integral part of the experience, and embrace it!

[Oldguy]

I do not like to drive at night, and like to set up camp in the coldish early morning. I cook up some sausage and bacon, and BZOOM, I got new friends coming out of my ears...so, I get off the freeway about daybreak. I try to make my first visit to the man at noon, first day... In time for the Carousel .

[ygmir]

And if you see a blonde hottie Australian gate volunteer do whatever the hell she tells you and DON'T try and hug her. Trust me on this one.

I suspect I know exactly which "...blonde hottie Australian..." to whom you refer. Not even making eye contact may be a good idea as well.

0/I think we need to let Ygmir recruit her to Gate...

*ears perk up*

[Elderberry]

Come early, stay late. No lines.

[xdwingdx]

Greetings everyone! I'm Puddles.

My girlfriend Poppins and I were also wondering about the entry strategy this year. IF they are letting people enter starting at 6 PM on Sunday, what is the best time to leave Gerlach? Was last year the first time they did this 6 PM start time?

Like, what is considered 'showing up early' ? if the line is 2 hours long, and you get in line at 4 PM, are you considered early?

Ideally, we could set up camp before sundown..

Love all the suggestions so far. Love the fact that you need to appreciate the line just like you appreciate the temple. it is all apart of the journey/experience.

Thanks

Puddles
Camp Zen as Fuck

[Bless]

Last year, we showed up around 4 pm and got stuck in the detention lot. Once 6 pm rolled around, they started letting people in who had just shown up, and seemingly ignored the people in d-lot. Fortunately, we were one of the last cars in our line, so we backed up and pretended that we'd just come in.

[lemur]

IF THE GATES OPEN AT 6PM EARLY IS ANY TIME BEFORE 6PM.