Playa Climate Prediction Center

[Bob]

Add five or ten degrees for the playa.

[Jackass]

There's currently a huge fire in Plumas County southwest of the playa, it's probably smoke from there

[Rice]

Just heard from my Sweety on the playa.

Guess it is dusty, super dusty. Every gust of wind is really dusty....

So, if there is any wind, it will be dusty.

(Make sure you have a dust mask, goggles, etc ready and accessible in your car while in line. You will probably need them!!)

If you do not like to get dusty, stay home....

[MrBeardy]

I heard there is a thick layer of dust, but a few inches under it is hard packed from last year. Someone told me that after the first big wind storm the dust will blow away and we should have the best weather in years out there and that dust should be almost non-existant!

[Rice]

I heard there is a thick layer of dust, but a few inches under it is hard packed from last year. Someone told me that after the first big wind storm the dust will blow away and we should have the best weather in years out there and that dust should be almost non-existant!

Is this person on the playa today? I was just talking to my GF who is working on the playa getting the city ready. She stated that there is a thin layer of packed playa on top of a couple of inches of loose playa, then there is packed playa below that.

The wind will never blow all of the playa away...

It is dusty with a slight breeze, right now. When there is 60,000 people tramping around on the playa it is going to be amazingly dusty.

Wishing does not change reality!

[fritz]

Wishing does not change reality!

But, you have to admire MrBeardy's optimism!

[Jackass]

Everyone's going to eat dirt this year, it's what's for dinner!

[Bob]

DPWer don't care. DPWer don't give a shit.

[theCryptofishist]

When you're driving to the playa, look out for that vintage ford driving the other way. It'll be the Joads.

[MrBeardy]

[quote="stretch80"][quote="MrBeardy"]I heard there is a thick layer of dust, but a few inches under it is hard packed from last year. Someone told me that after the first big wind storm the dust will blow away and we should have the best weather in years out there and that dust should be almost non-existant![/quote]

Is this person on the playa today? I was just talking to my GF who is working on the playa getting the city ready. She stated that there is a thin layer of packed playa on top of a couple of inches of loose playa, then there is packed playa below that.

The wind will never blow all of the playa away...

It is dusty with a slight breeze, right now. When there is 60,000 people tramping around on the playa it is going to be amazingly dusty.

[i]Wishing does not change reality![/i][/quote]

It was actually news from the Playa gods themselves!

Ok, ok, I kid, but would be wishful thinking. Instead, maybe we can get one of those wide tire bikes, a ski rope and pull some people behind it for some powder turns on a ski or wakeboard!

[Talynt]

Logistics this year are making our camp truck pretty space-tight, and frankly as much as I love my playa bike if I'm genuinely not going to be able to use it I'd much rather leave the half-dozen bicycles out this year (and save on tubes, tires, patches, chains, locks, lights, baskets, and lube. Well, make space for other lube....)

Can anyone get a first hand account of the playa? Like a picture to share? Or can dwp say "this year biking conditions are at least 80% as bad as 2008 or worse?"

Currently sounds like we shouldn't bring em.

[Bob]

Jesus fuck.

[theCryptofishist]

Or can dwp say "this year biking conditions are at least 80% as bad as 2008 or worse?"

I'm not sure anyone's invented the richter scale for biking through dust...

[lucky420]

We had a helluva rain storm here yesterday... little bit of monsoonal moisture reached us. It rained hard for a good 1/2 hour.

The whole shebang, lightning, thunder, winds, DOUBLE rainbow (you know what that means)...

Don't believe that any of it reached the playa, which was probably good for all the builders up there.

[Canoe]

... Can anyone get a first hand account of the playa? Like a picture to share? ...

http://blog.burningman.com/2012/08/buil ... -big-bang/

[Talynt]

Thanks Canoe,

Looking at those pics, it looks fine, no? I don't see anyone sinking in dust, I see no significant dunes... Look at their boots, doesn't look like they're trudging around in 3 inches of loose dust, right?

Hell, it looks like the opposite of what they're saying the conditions are like... Anyone have an opinion?

[DhammaSeeker]

Anyone have an opinion?

It will be hot and dusty.

[strange love]

Bring your bike

[lucky420]

uh yeah it looks fine until thousands of people and vehicles start roaming around on it. Crust has been reported to be under an inch thick, that shit crumbles like a junkies teeth.

If it's not extremely dusty this year, I will eat a shoe.

[Foxfur]

The dust will be deep enough that hippies will turn the playa into a giant cat box.

[Simon of the Playa]

Jesus fuck.

bob is that approximately an 80% Jesus Fuck or a full fledged 100% 2001 Jesus Fuck.

[Bob]

I predict the stealthy return of the Mad Shytter.

[Eric]

Looking at those pics, it looks fine, no? I don't see anyone sinking in dust, I see no significant dunes... Look at their boots, doesn't look like they're trudging around in 3 inches of loose dust, right?

Look at the foreground of the second pic, "Just George" talking. See all that dust piled up just from the few vehicles that are out there now? Multiply it by 60,000 people.

You can spend as much time trying to convince yourself it won't be the Dustopacalypse, but if you're a smart burner you're going to prepare for the worst weather ever - and if you're extremely lucky you'll get surprised when it's just really dusty, not biblical.

[Bob]

You can always stay home, or just hit it for a couple of days and bail out for Tahoe.

I predict BRC will rival Dodger Stadium this year.

[theLynxmissesthesnow]

Aside from the posts about how this post is misposted and should be reposted elsewhere...

are there any other items one should bring for extreme dust?

googles, mouthscarf... giant vacuum.

[maladroit]

Extra set of balls.

[Eric]

are there any other items one should bring for extreme dust?

googles, mouthscarf... giant vacuum.

Check out this sub-forum - filled to the brim with answers to those questions & more.

And when you're done reading that specific forum, the entire "preparation" forum has tons of good advice.

[Rice]

Aside from the posts about how this post is misposted and should be reposted elsewhere...

are there any other items one should bring for extreme dust?

googles, mouthscarf... giant vacuum.

Make sure you can light your self (front and back) at night. Carry a small flashlight. 6 hours of water, some empty zip lock bags, maybe a roll of toilet paper, personal items (meds, etc), snack.

Basically if you are away from your camp and a serious storm blows in, you may be inclined to stay where you are. Make sure you have your basic needs at your finger tips. All things being equal, what would you need if you were stranded at art installation for 6 hours? (Imagine not being able to see your elbow...)

That is why I always have a stocked backpack with me, even when heading to the portapotty.

[Elorrum]

When you're driving to the playa, look out for that vintage ford driving the other way. It'll be the Joads.

Look for me, Ma, I'll be there.

[Spadge63]

With all the doom and dust predicted, with everyone hunkered down in their camps, I wonder if there will be a Burner Baby Boom next year.