Los Angeles Virgins here...

[OneStepBeyond]

We'll this is our first year, we're a bunch of chill young dudes from L.A.
never been to burning man, but i've heard so much about it. i've read the survival guide and all, but i was wondering from people with experience, what is the first thing i should do after camp is set up? i mean i wouldn't know where to start lol... and have any of you ever been bugged by any law enforcement? i mean i'm not plannin on doing anything harmful or bad, but i just don't want to go to jail or get cited for something i should have been discrete with, i mean whats so wrong with lighting some incense?!
I also wanted to know, how is the experience leaving burning man? is it something that will absolutely take all day? i read that people should set up what time they're leaving with they're neighboors so they don't create so much congestion, heard something that its like emtying a barrel full of water with a straw. i'm assuming the way in is the same as well correct?

well peace to everybody and hope you have a great time at burning man.

also we have space in our car for one more person and theyre stuff, the add is on the share ride thing. e-mail me if your interested we'll split the gas cost and all that stuff, you can also feel more than welcome to camp with us too if you don't have a camp yet

[MikeVDS]

but i just don't want to go to jail or get cited for something i should have been discrete with, i mean whats so wrong with lighting some incense?!

Incense is fine, but if it's a controlled substance, it's very likely you'll be busted. If you want to do it in a private area you'll probably be fine, but if you can be seen, someone will be watching. Nudity is just fine. It's still technically against the law but as far as I know it hasn't been enforced nor do I think it will be. You can get away with reasonable safe pyrotechnics that leave no trace. Other than that laws will be about the same.

but i was wondering from people with experience, what is the first thing i should do after camp is set up?

Just go walking. Look at art, interact with art, help others set up some amazing things.

how is the experience leaving burning man? is it something that will absolutely take all day?

If you leave Sunday or Monday in the morning or afternoon expect it to take about 4 hours. You can avoid most of it by leaving at 3am.

[Captain Goddammit]

also we have space in our car for one more person and theyre stuff, the add is on the share ride thing.

Are you sure?! For many burners, it's hard to pack 1 or 2 people's stuff into a truck and trailer!

Anyway, yeah, what MikeVDS said. You're still in the USA, and laws about drugs still apply, so use at least the same discretion you would anywhere else.
And also yep, just go walking. You'll find stuff.

[Sensei]

There aren't any virgins in Los Angeles.

Dude, like everyone knows this.

[AntiM]

You can get away with reasonable safe pyrotechnics that leave no trace. Other than that laws will be about the same.

Recall, this is a tent city. Tents melt easily. Holes in someone's tent, dome cover, banners ... not cool. Step away from the habitation.

[Dr. Pyro]

The LEOs will arrest you for setting off fireworks. I know this from personal experience. Imagine what else they'll hassle you about.

The very first thing to check out is the shortest distance to the porta potties. The second thing to do is to make ABSOLUTELY SURE what your address is. My first year the idiot ranger who placed us told me our address was 5:15 and Saturn. In fact we were at 5:45 and Saturn. I got hopelessly lost trying to find my camp using his coordinates. Make sure you know where you're camping because it is very easy to get lost. The third thing you should do is stop by Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro and have a glass of wine.

[OneStepBeyond]

"Are you sure?! For many burners, it's hard to pack 1 or 2 people's stuff into a truck and trailer!"


Your right, i'm taking off the add. too bad, your right it would be pretty damn difficult to fit everything in our little truck.
imgained about 20 gallons of water... lots of bread...clothes....couple coolers... tents...chairs... bikes... damn alot of shit...


"Incense is fine, but if it's a controlled substance, it's very likely you'll be busted."

thanks for the heads up, i'll make sure to be more than discrete with what i do. i guess sometimes it feels like your headed off to a far away fairy tale land where the laws of gravity or cops don't apply. i still imagine it to be close enough though lol.

"The second thing to do is to make ABSOLUTELY SURE what your address is. My first year the idiot ranger who placed us told me our address was 5:15 and Saturn. In fact we were at 5:45 and Saturn. I got hopelessly lost trying to find my camp using his coordinates.The third thing you should do is stop by Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro and have a glass of wine."

i will do so, heard plenty of stories where people just get lost all day trying to find they're camp. lol. i'll make sure to stop by those camps as well.

so when you enter black rock city a ranger sets you in a place to camp? or do you choose yourself? i know there is reserved camp spots, theme camps, but how about the people that are just coming on theyre own? we just pick a spot an sit?


thanks alot for everyones tips.

this morning around 4 am i woke up dreaming of burning man... the funny thing is i needed to go to the rest room, i could just imagine a walk in the middle of the night to the porter potties lol.

[OneStepBeyond]

"There aren't any virgins in Los Angeles.

Dude, like everyone knows this."

nah man nah, your wrong there, i've seen em.. i've seen em. i swear man... i've seen em, they run in packs through the grass lands of south central, becareful there be some crazy ass unicorns right there mang.

[motskyroonmatick]

OSB,
You get to place yourself where ever you want but it has to be in the camping area and not in a Theme Camp reserved area. This is a huge area so don't worry about it. Basically pull in to the city and look around for a spot you like then get out and talk to your neighbors. If you like them and the feel of the area and it is within reasonable distance to the porta poties then set camp.

see you on playa

[gyre]

Lost for a day?
No, days.
People have had to wait until everyone packed up to find their tent and passport.

Be sure to register on playa info and get your friends to.
You must do this yourself.
This saved the australian lost for days in 2006.
You never know when it will come in handy.

If you give someone directions , be very specific.
A street address alone is not sufficient in high density areas.

And stay out of the bad areas of black rock city.

[OneStepBeyond]

I was wondering how long it takes to actually get out of black rock city?
Like i'm talking about on the road.
I am or am trying to plan to go to a concert right after the burn, actually on sunday afternoon, i'm hoping to catch the metal masters tour near san francisco.
Thought since it was on the way back home I could catch it if i leave in the morning from black rock.
do you guys think its a good idea try to make it? or i wouldn't be able to make it?

[TomServo]

If you leave monday, expect a huge traffic jam getting off the playa. Took 4 hours for me last year, from my camp to the road. And then was still a slow drive to Gerlach.

Sunday is not as bad..but you'll miss the temple burn.

[OneStepBeyond]

yeah, I really do want to see the temple burn to really finish off the burning man experience right.
But then again... testament! judas priest! motorhead????
man this sure is a conflict of interest.

[TomServo]

Missed Motorhead and Iron Maiden last year? or the year before, to go to BM.

[OneStepBeyond]

actually saw iron maiden with anthrax a couple months back awsome concert. I just really want to check out testament though, some good bay area thrash metal. kinda have a feeling i'll wake up sunday morning at the playa and not want to leave haha....

[gyre]

Motorhead would skip it to be on the playa if they could.

[MikeVDS]

I have a friend who's skipping the burn for Motorhead this year. Pity.

[gyre]

What will he do if Motorhead turns up and plays on the playa?

[MikeVDS]

If that were likely, he'd probably make it to the burn.

[gyre]

They don't usually tell people they are coming.
Of course, most don't play very publicly.
I've seen a lot of artists there in more or less disguise.

[MikeVDS]

But they wouldn't ditch a scheduled show.

[gyre]

Of course not.
But it's a week long and then a quick flight out.

[JezebelinHell]

If you're worried about finding your camp just make sure you have some sort of a marker. This means if your camp didn't construct a sign or some sort of artwork that goes out front, you need to at least have some idea what the camp looks like or at least whos cars you're looking for. I've had years where I never would have found camp had my campmates not hung directional signs on the streetposts. Think of something almost identical to Yard Sale signs, only with a camp name, arrow, and location on it. Saved us a lot of headache. Setting up camp in the sun can be pretty brutal, but finding your camp in the dark is also pretty rough.

Exodus sucks unless you leave before Saturday night or after Monday night. I had to work Monday morning last year so I left right after the temple burn on Sunday night. I think I got home (to Reno) in time to take a shower, drink some coffee, and head to work. It can be brutal getting out of there. I recommend making sure that your AC is set to recycle air (unless you want to feel like you're trapped inside a dust devil on wheels) and that you don't abuse it. Nothing worse than overheating your car in a traffic jam.

[st8ter68]

IM FROM LA TOO BUT I LIVE IN HUMBOLDT MAYBE WE CAN MEET UP THERE

[yayaman57]

Is there any particular camp / area where folks from the LA area tend to cluster?

[MikeVDS]

Gigsville will have around 200 people from L.A. and will be on the Esplanade and 3:00. We wanted to be near but the had to place us far away at A and 8:30 and we'll have about 60 people from the L.A. area. I'm not sure which other camps are based out the L.A. but I'm sure there are quite a few more.