Arrival at gate: Tips? Lines? Timing?

[xdwingdx]

SO I'm thinking get to Gerlach Early... rest, eat, support local businesses, get water...

we went to Camp Grounded last month in Mendocino, campgrounded.org

new life phrase I picked up there was "Plan Tight, Hang Loose" It's good to have a plan, but relax when life doesn't go as expected.

with that said, what would be a good goal for leaving Gerlach and arriving on time

[lemur]

6 pm.

[Savannah]

Greetings everyone! I'm Puddles.

I'll just bet you are!

Puddles and Poppins! Haha! Awesome. Twee rating: NINE.

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?

Do not queue up or wait in Gerlach. Their population in 2010 was 206 people. It's unkind to tax them by cloggin' up the streets with 20,000 vehicles playing some bizarre timing game. They just don't have the space. Plan your drive-time to END in Gerlach at 5:55 (or whatever), not to begin from there, because the Burn is very close to Gerlach.

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?

If you reach the front of the line before 6pm you are early. The trouble is, it's difficult to know how many people have bungled into line early and will fall on their swords for you, making you the clever lambs who arrive precisely at 6:00pm.

Ideally, we could set up camp before sundown..

It's unlikely, though technically possible. Sundown is at 7:30ish (there are online sites you can check for the exact moment) and it will be full dark by 9pm. A big flashlight/lantern or two are necessities anyway. I've set up my tent in the dark almost every year (even sometimes when I had a choice of afternoon vs. evening) and it's been fine . . . not to mention cooler and more pleasant.

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

You've got the right attitude (and I like your camp name).

[mrchiff]

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.

' Last year we showed up really early because we could. Rather than having to drive back to somewhere they made a special place for us to park. Once 6pm rolled around we realized they had forgotten about us and the fact we are special. Fortunately, we have no problem with entitlement and using extreme self reliance tactics, we fixed everything. '

I think LOR's post http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 60#p953862 explains why you might have felt ignored.

[graidawg]

arriving in 2011 was like a preplaya party. lots of people wandering around (not straying far from there cars though) wonderful weather and a generally great attitude from everyone.

my only gripe? MDF would not let me ride on the outside of the SUV we rented.

[danibel]

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.!

Also! Make sure all lights are working. I was stopped coming in because of my license plate light being burnt out. And! Do not light up a doobie in a dust storm in the entry line. If you do get pulled over and the vehicle has not aired out, you will be searched. In fact do not light up a doobie at all! Make sure registration tag is current.

They are looking for any reason to pull you over. Some of these may seem very obvious, but better safe than sorry.

[Chowski]

My experience last year:

I left Sacramento about 1:00pm Sunday, aiming to arrive at gate at 6:00pm. Around six, I was stopped in traffic outside Gerlach where I met my first neighbors (and was gifted a nice necklace with their camp coordinates for their sunset parties). By 8:00pm, my wheels hit playa. By 10:00pm, I was at my camp. By midnight, my tent and bed were set up, and I set off to explore. The next morning, shade went up before the sun got too crazy. Sure, I waited in line a bit, but I like to think I got a "bonus" night out of it.

[ygmir]

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.

' Last year we showed up really early because we could. Rather than having to drive back to somewhere they made a special place for us to park. Once 6pm rolled around we realized they had forgotten about us and the fact we are special. Fortunately, we have no problem with entitlement and using extreme self reliance tactics, we fixed everything. '

I think LOR's post http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 60#p953862 explains why you might have felt ignored.

*the crowd cheers*

[Canoe]

survival-guide - Highway, Gate, Exodus.jpg

[theCryptofishist]

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.

' Last year we showed up really early because we could. Rather than having to drive back to somewhere they made a special place for us to park. Once 6pm rolled around we realized they had forgotten about us and the fact we are special. Fortunately, we have no problem with entitlement and using extreme self reliance tactics, we fixed everything. '

I think LOR's post http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 60#p953862 explains why you might have felt ignored.

*the crowd cheers*

Ipoorah!

[mulch]

If you end up in Gerlach early, where do you loiter until it is time to head for the gate? What have the gas lines been like Sunday afternoon in Gerlach?

[FIGJAM]

Gerlach is tiny!

There is no place to wait.

The gas lines are hellish!

[Major Krash]

if you arrive early, better to wait in Fernley/Wadsworth (where there are Casinos)...then time the 2-3 hour drive from there to gate.

[some seeing eye]

Subscribe to the Jack Rabbit Speaks for the official gate opening time. A close reading of the permit is instructional.

In general people are arriving earlier in the week, but there is no way Gerlach can handle 5000+ vehicles queueing for opening.

[Elderberry]

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.

Why is she even a greeter?

[BBadger]

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.

Why is she even a greeter?

Because Gate != Greeter.

Though I have driven through greeter stations with greeters that reminded me of the cheerleaders in my senior year at my old high school. They would just be chatting with each other at the sidelines, completely ignoring their lightweight "duties."