Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

[PurpleKoosh]

I just got email from my boyfriend, who left for the playa Sunday morning....

Today went well until the end. I got back to camp and found that two of the four 7' poles to the shade structure were bent 90 degrees, and the tarps were maybe 15' downwind. Two of the three stakes on the upwind side pulled out, too.

So, to start off the list of shit I need, I need either C&P's shade structure, which probably won't fit in the wagon, or I need you to acquire two, or preferably three, lengths of ~steel~ pipe, 7' long and 1/2" or 3/4" outside diameter. Explaining what they're for may get you some advice or other ideas. And, clearly aluminum won't do the job.

I'm f'ing exhausted and my arms ache from all the stakes I pounded today. I so didn't need this.

I feel absolutely miserable for him - which is only compounded by the fact that he only took the two fairly thin sleeping bags that are a traditional part of his kit, and left me the extra-large heavyweight ones to bring when I go up Saturday.

Did I mention he forgot the Thermarest, too?

[Simply Joel]

aint life grand?

[rodent]

Damn Murphy and his stupid law...

---
rodent (putting the eek in geek)

[sparkletarte]

Oh, bummer for him. Hopefully today is better!

What were the poles made of that bent? We've got poles made from fresh poplars- hopefully they'll be strong yet flexy enough for the wind.

For hammering in the rebar, does a regular hammer suffice or is a sledge really the only way?

[PurpleKoosh]

What were the poles made of that bent?

They were aluminum. I'm off to Home Despot to replace them with steel, and pray it doesn't take up the rest of my rapidly dwindling budget.

[AntiM]

As a Norhtern Utahn, I live on the ass-end of the same storm system hitting the playa now. We just had a record low high of 68 degrees, lots of rain, and windy conditons. More rain Thursday. The good news is that Friday through Monday have clearing and a tad bit warmer weather. Living on the basin-and-range means we're at the mercy of pressure fronts from the north and the south. I would be surprised if this drought stricken region had two weeks of rainy, crappy weather though. That said, we're preparing for a deluge.

The folks who build the city need many thanks, hugs, and/or libations; this week has really sucked weather-wise.

Best of luck oh purple one.

[bdongray]

For hammering in the rebar, does a regular hammer suffice or is a sledge really the only way?

I took a 2 ft piece of 3/4 inch pipe (metal normally used for natural gas), added a converter to 1 inch, another converter to 1.5" and yet another to 2 inch. Then added a pipe cap. This is a very easy target to hit with a sledge hammer. When you are hammering a smaller 2ft piece just use the converter part of the piping. Works well, but still tiring. I've seen some devices similar but have a heavy weight attached. You lift it, you drop it. Repeat many times.

[PurpleKoosh]

Friends of ours who aren't Burning this year (something about having just bought a house...) are loaning us their shade structure. One less shopping trip to worry about.

[Dr. Pyro]

This could simply be God's way of smiting the DMV for the clusterfuck that is this year's registration process. Just a thought.

[PurpleKoosh]

This could simply be God's way of smiting the DMV for the clusterfuck that is this year's registration process. Just a thought.

Thank you so much for your rational, mature response in this discussion.

[AntiM]

So glad I don't believe in God then. A DMV Hottie clusterfuck sounds delicious (although in reality it would be hot, sticky and dusty).

[rodent]

(although in reality it would be hot, sticky and dusty).

Stop it!!!

you're starting to turn me on...

---
rodent (putting the eek in geek)

[Rob the Wop]

Wipe, wipe, wipe, wipe, wipe.

Oops, sorry. Only read the title. Carry on.

[atossab]

O-oh. Are electric conduit poles aluminum? I gotta call the hardware store. Please say no. Also, i'm assuming since he's up there so early he's an old hand at putting up structures, using rebar inside the poles, etc...? I just want to know if it was the wind or if it was "thrown" together. Thanks!

[atossab]

Never mind, ours are galvanized steel. Sorry about your boyfriend's rough times.

[PurpleKoosh]

Also, i'm assuming since he's up there so early he's an old hand at putting up structures, using rebar inside the poles, etc...?

No rebar - it didn't need any last year, even with the wind as bad as it got later in the week. But yeah, he knows what he's doing when it comes to setting camp.

For the record, we're using the Black Rock Hardware shade structure - we bought one last year when our cheap-ass awning disintegrated mid-week, and picked up a second one earlier this year to supplement it. Jon from BRH left me a message on Tribe when I posted about this, offering to make it right; I'll have to call him tomorrow and see what he's willing to do.

[atossab]

Right on. We always put rebar down and the pole over it, then tie down. I can't imagine how else the poles would stand up, but then, I'm an amateur. That's great about BRH, hope all goes well.

[ejl]

For the record, we're using the Black Rock Hardware shade structure - we bought one last year when our cheap-ass awning disintegrated mid-week, and picked up a second one earlier this year to supplement it. Jon from BRH left me a message on Tribe when I posted about this, offering to make it right; I'll have to call him tomorrow and see what he's willing to do.[/color]

I have one of the Black Rock Hardware shade structures that will be waiting for me in Reno. When I placed my order I was told that in winds of over 40 MPH or so that it would be wise to knock the poles out and collapse the structure until the storm passes.

From the description of the failure I am guessing that the wind pulled up the tarp on one side pulling the stakes out, and the tarp then caught the wind bending the two center poles over before the tarp came loose altogether. Based on this scenario, I am planning on replacing the stock stakes with 4ft rebar bent candy cane style. It would be nice to replace the stock poles with steel pipe over rebar, but I doubt that I'll be able to get that together at this late date.

Am I doomed to be chasing my tarp down the playa? Any other thoughts or suggestions for modifying this type of structure to withstand the winds?

[PurpleKoosh]

What I didn't find out until after I started whinging about this was that dafydd had already set up both structures, overlapping tarps on a single set of poles in the middle - something Jon said would be just fine to do. Granted, when he said this, I don't think any of us were expecting the weather to be this weird this year.

I'm picking up LOTS of extra tie-down straps on my next shopping trip.