shade structure for 1st time burners

[roamtheworld]

Hello everyone,
My friend and I will be first time burners this year and one of my main priorities is a shade strucuture. We will be attending with Green Tortoise (GT) so are options are limited as GT restricts the amount each passenger is allowed to carry on board. Limited to one pack and personal item. sounds like the airport....

We had planned to build a monkey hut shade structure but realized quickly that 10 feet pvc pipes would not be allowed on board. Cutting them to size still would be too large, though was considering modifying the structure so we would have a 2-3ft poles and lot more connections. However, this could dimish the sturdiness of the structure.
http://www.chromatest.net/Lovemonkey/


Has anyone used a shade structure with compactable, bendable poles, similar to what you would use for a tent or some variation of what is used for the "EZ shade" design. I've considered buying an "EZ shade" and wrapping a tarp around 3/4 of it. Though the more I see these (at farmers markets) the less it seems like a good idea. maybe I'm wrong...

Ideally, I could fit the poles/pipes, tarp/material in my pack.


Any help would be appreciated
Thanks




P.S. According to one woman at GT, she says a shade strcuture isn't needed as a they have one common shade structure... however, from all the posts I've read, by 7am, a tent without any shade structure is like an oven and I doubt GT will have enough space for everyone to be sleeping under their structure. I'd prefer to be as prepared as possible!

[trilobyte]

I'm not familiar with Green Tortoise, so I couldn't help you with regards to their restrictions or limitations. You should be able to bring out whatever you want, unless your plan for radical self reliance is to rely on someone else radically

A shade structure is a very good idea, though it's not a requirement. Thousands of people participate in the event each year without a shade structure, and manage to survive.

As far as planning structures out, it seems kind of late in the game to be thinking about various options and giving this topic some consideration, especially when you've got some kind of camp gear restrictions. EZ ups/EZ shade units have worked, though I've been told it's a good idea to replace the cotter pins that come with them, as well as plan out a way to stake them down properly. Know that the dust storms at the event can get pretty fierce, winds over 60mph do happen out there.

If you haven't already read the survival guide, please do so. And if you haven't already done so, look for replacements for your stock tent stakes. No matter whether you have a shade structure or not, you're probably going to need some reinforcement to keep your tent/gear secure.

~Trilo~

[psychedelicsurvivor]

First shade structure that you can bring: wide-brimmed hat

Second shade structure: umbrella

The third basic shade structure that you can carry easily is a lean-to style
Go to a good sporting goods store in your area and get two collapsible tent poles. (Sportman's in Reno has these as well). Then bring a white sheet (or a small tarp) and four tent stakes (1 foot rebar at home depot for 50 cents each works best) and some rope. With four poles, you have an eight foot high structure that will hold in LIGHT wind and provide about 80% shade (sheets still allow sun through) There are umteen hammers you can borrow.

As a last resort, follow the shade around Black Rock City as the sun passes across the sky. This might require social skills as you "borrow" shade from those who have it.

Good luck.

[theblinkyguy]

The Tortoise sets up a large camp with shade. You should not need anything. They usually even have a mister set up.

[galaxybeing]

You're right, the morning sun is a bitch, expecially if you like to stay out late at night. I just had a tent and no shade the first few times I went and by the end of the week I was really sleep deprived. Then I saw these guys setup and took these pics. This is what I do now. I got a silvered tarp (16 x 20?) and those are 2x2 poles from home depot and rebar (2ft). Bring a compass and point the shade SSE.

The other thing is the dust. By the middle of the week the inside of my tent would be covered in dust because the dust goes right through the ventalation panels on the top of tents. So we decided to cover the vents at the top of the tent with tent material and velcro we got at JoAnn's Fabrics, and then just unzip the windows a bit for ventilation. It made a big diffference.

[galaxybeing]

Sorry, I meant point the shade so it leans toward the EAST. I point it slightly south of east or ESE.