Garrison Discussion Boards

[Dusty Nipples]

This just in from Ranger Genius...

I just got back from Ranger training on the playa, and thought I'd give a playa condition report.

The black rock desert has had an extremely dry year, with very little snow run-off or spring rain.
As you may or may not know, we rely on these sources of water to dissolve and re-pack the playa every year. Once the temporary lake dries, the surface begins eroding and flaking. So the sooner the lake dries, the dustier the playa will be by the time the event comes. To give you an idea, the playa was too muddy to drive directly across it this time last year, with a few places still showing some standing water. This year, on the other hand, Quinn (the manager of the BRC LLC's ranch) told me that the playa has been bone dry since February.
The playa surface, as a consequence, is very soft and flaky.

The upshot is that we're going to have a very, very dusty year. Probably the dustiest in recent memory (remember 2004? This year will be much worse). A single vehicle moving slowly across the playa over near trego hot springs created a dust signature that could be seen from Hwy 447, on the complete opposite side of the playa.

I'd recommend everyone invest in dust masks (and maybe some extras to share), and anyone who's prone to respiratory problems may want to even invest in a respirator system of some kind.

Can't wait to suffer with you all out there!

[Dusty Nipples]

Reports are still coming in... the playa is very soft. I only have 10" steel tent stakes, and I'm being told they may not suffice. I've looked, and I can't find longer ones anywhere out here, and I don't think bringing rebar on the plane is a splendid idea. I also don't want to wait until Reno and try to find rebar or longer stakes there... I'm sure Reno will be sold out by time I get there.

Question a.k.a. Favor?

Fred... can you bring some extra rebar for my tent? I'm thinking if I use a combination of rebar and tent stakes, I'd be okay. I'm bringing a big tent this year... I think it takes 8 - 10 stakes total, not including the rainfly.

Please let me know if this is too much of a pain. I'll work something out.

Thanks!

xoxo

[fred smith]

Note below copy from last year's gloom & doom prediction, not that there is no chance of gloom & doom this year, just hope for the best. Also note that last year's theme was the best yet (so far) due to the hope/fear factors that imbue our efforts. And recall that it was not particularly gnarly.

That being said, there is always extra rebar & other staking units until there are no more. I cannot guarantee there will be enough, but despite the intense winds, usually tents can hold their own w/ enough gear kept inside. In the past, coolers & water jugs were the ticket for us.

Your bike has new treads.

Will ask around.

Love yours, mine & everyone's dusty nipples!

Frederick of the Playa

Dusty Nipples



Joined: 29 Nov 2004
Posts: 84

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:26 am Post subject: Dust report from DPW

[i]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Forwarded to me from a friend...

>
> Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:10:36 +0000
> From: "Emory Moody"
> Subject: DPW report PLAYA CONDITIONS
>
> The Playa is very ODD, different textures. The city
> is in a new site this
> year, slightly north of the last 5 years' location.
> The "12 mile-trego" road
> runs right the fuck thru center camp.
>
> The different textures are on account of a drifting
> lake on the playa most
> of the summer. Some of the stuff has the biggest,
> deepest crevasses I have
> *ever* seen. Dont drop anything unless you are
> carrying a shovel. Other
> areas are the lousy texture we all suffered from in
> 2001. Some parts were so
> hard it was difficult to pound in posts, many blades
> popped off.
>
> BRING DUST GEAR- IT"S HELLA DUSTY. The more traffic
> that breaks up those
> deeeeep fluffy crevasses the more 2001 style
> white-outs we can expect. There
> have already been nasty ones delaying the survey.
[/i]
_________________
"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite." -William Blake

[Dusty Nipples]

Thank you Fred! I'm not usually one to add bluster to gloom and doom reports, however the news I'm hearing is coming from good sources. And it's consistent. As of spring, there was not a drop of water to be found on the playa... usually by July there are still wet areas. So I'm trusting reports that it's going to be softer than usual... much softer. Dove managed to find 18" stakes at a local store, and I will be getting some to bring as well. I'm sure we'll be fine. I just wanted to give the heads up that we may be a bit more reliant on rebar (and dust gear) than we have in recent years, and to be prepared for it.

I gots my goggles, I gots my boots. I'm ready to rock and roll!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

[Dusty Nipples]

Oh... and I gots a bike with new treads! Heaven I tell ya, I'm in heaven!

Thank you my love

[fred smith]

We love you! Treads are good. No gloom & doom. Just preparation. So looking forward to our time on the playa.
_________________
"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite." -William Blake

[Dusty Nipples]

I'm trying to figure out how to add a picture to this thread. Live webcam from Gerlach today tells all... Oh My God... it's gonna be a hella good time!

[Dusty Nipples]

How bout a link...

http://tribes.tribe.net/burningmanother/photos/f6bfc37d-afa0-43a2-94c4-966320b27167

Wait... what's that wall of dust in the backrgound? Could it be BRC?

tee hee

[Dusty Nipples]

Just recieved these pics from the crew on the playa. I think you should see it. No fear, no worries, just preparation.

http://culturalvision.net/html/brd_playa_surface_2007.html