In Dust We Trust

Are you ready for the DUST?
A common misconception regarding the playa is that it's a sandy desert.  This isn't the case; actually, the playa is a dried-up lake bed made of alkali dust.  It's as light as talcum powder and, aside from the occasional smooth black stone, entirely uninterrupted.  It doesn't support life.  There are no snakes or lizards, or even bugs.  Any life you see of this sort came in with the Burners - in calm-weather years flies and the like will make the migration across the playa to take advantage of the city.
The Jack Rabbit Speaks newsletter states that this is the dustiest year the crews have seen in, well, ever.  There was little-to-no rain on the playa this summer, and the top layer of playa dust is quite loose.  Once we all start moving around out there, and the wind kicks up, we'll be looking at a airborne dust  - i.e. - dust storms.
Pretty much NOTHING is safe from the dust.  I've heard Burning Man virgins discussing how to "dust proof" their tent/wardrobe/etc.  Go ahead and remove that term from your vocabulary.  There's no such thing as dust proof.  It's so light-weight that it gets into everything, including YOU.
Go ahead and start accepting it now.  Many folks will not prepare in this way.  They'll think nothing of it, get out there, get covered, and freak out.  And "early exodus" is probably in the works this year; many people will decide they can't handle the conditions and leave early.  It'll be interesting to see how the demographics of BRC change throughout the week.

There's a lot you can do to prepare for the dust:
Your Camp:
Wear work gloves during set-up and break-down, while mooping, or dealing with your bike.  It will keep your hands much happier and that's no bad thing!


Secure your camp!  Regular tent stakes aren't going to work in deep, loose dust.  You're going to need rebar; 12" at least, but this year I'd go longer.  Make sure you cap your rebar so it's not a danger to others.  Rope everything in VERY securely.  The extra effort up front will pay off when your tent stays where you put it all week.
You will not be able to keep the dust out of your tent.  If you have a fancy tent that's mostly screen walls with the fly covering it (instead of zip-up windows with covers) it's going to get even dustier.  RV's and cars aren't dust-proof either.  Be prepared to clean the shit out of your vehicle afterwards - especially if it's a rental.
This means that you might end up sleeping with your mask and goggles on.  During the day, the dust storms can cool things off a bit simply by blocking out the sun, so if you can sleep with all the stuff strapped to your head it's not a bad time to take a nap.
Zippers will get cruded up with the dust and stop working.  You can spray them down with a vinegar & water mix and that should get them moving again.  It's a good idea to have a jug of plain white vinegar on hand - vinegar is like kryptonite to the alkali-based dust and will, for the most part, clean the playa dust off of stuff (including your body) better than plain water or even soap can do.

It's a good idea to pack up your sleeping stuff (sleeping bag, linens, pillows) when you're not using them.  A big blanket bin or even a trash bag would work to keep (most of) the dust off of it.  Trust me, it's no fun to climb into your tent all worn-out after a long night of dancing, just to find everything in it coated in an inch of tenacious playa-dust.  You can also drape a painter's drop cloth or shower curtain over everything in the tent to keep it covered, then just pull that out and shake it out.
Some folks I know don't even bother with a tent.  They sleep on a tarp, roll up their bedding and pack it up when they're not using it.  I get cold easily so I need something to keep the body heat contained, but sometimes the dust does seem to make it more trouble than it's worth!

Personal Gear:
You absolutely MUST HAVE a dust mask and goggles.
There are several different types of dust masks:
Those little paper dusk masks are pretty useless during a real dust storm, though they might be good to have on hand if you're dealing with a light-dust situation and just need a little coverage.  If it's all you've got, at least cover it with a bandanna or scarf - wetting the cloth cover helps even more.
The big plastic/rubber dust masks with the fancy, replaceable filters work great for keeping the dust out.  It's also a good idea to have one of these on hand, just in case we experience Condition Alpha.  However, for day-to-day playa use, I find those to be too cumbersome.  They're really hot and sweaty, they're hard to pull out of the way to take a drink, and it's hard to be heard through them when you're speaking.  I've also noticed that, for some reason, they cause bad breath.
I recommend using the neoprene style masks used by dirt bikers.  They're easy to pack down, lightweight, and easy to talk through or even run a Camelbak hose under.  Plus, they come in different colors and designs - bonus!  Do have a couple of extra filters on hand, too, in case the first ones get too dusty.  The "NeoMask" brand even comes with ear plugs - added bonus gear!
RZmask.com has really cool designs and you can use "BM15" in the coupon box to get 15%!  Don't forget to get extra filters!

Not all goggles are made the same, either.  The most important thing about your goggles is that they don't have open vents and that they fit your face. 
I had a fancy pair of Bobster dirt-biking goggles that were great; three interchangeable lenses in smoky, amber, and clear, plus they had a good strap and were pretty stylish.  Only problem was that they were too big for my face and there was a gap right over the bridge of my nose.  Wind would shoot playa dust right into my eyeballs at certain angles.  Ouch!  I gifted those to a friend without goggles in 2009. 
In '09 I was using a fancy pair of swim goggles.  They were cute and kept the dust completely out - plus they didn't cause a gap when coupled with my mask.  Otherwise, they weren't too comfortable.  They stuck to my face and left awful rings around my eyes.  The lenses were smoky and I couldn't see well at night (proven by the fact that I almost ran straight into a large metal giraffe while cruising on my bike).  The strap tangled in my hair... Ugh.
In 2011 I bought a cheap pair of pink party goggles (raver style) with big, white cushions around the bases.  Though cheap, these have been the most comfortable goggles yet.  They were vented, but I covered the inside of the vent with a piece of duct tape and then filled each hole with glow-in-the-dark puff paint.  Voila!  The only trouble with these is that the big cushion and the wide lens does cause a gap when wearing them with my mask, so I cover that with a scarf or a bandanna.
Lots of folks use snowboarding goggles as well - they need to have the vents filled, but otherwise I imagine they work great!  Do keep in mind that shaded sunglass-style lenses will do you no good if it's storming at night; you'll be effectively blinded.  Get two sets, one with shade and one without, a pair with exchangeable lenses, or one pair with clear lenses and depend on your hat to keep the sun off your eyes.
If you wear glasses or contacts, bring a new pair of disposable contacts for each day.  There are companies that make goggles that can be worn over glasses.  Or, if you have the money, you can order prescription-lens goggles.

Floss and Q-tips are a must.  The dust will get in your teeth and ears (and every other part of you) and it's really really nice to be able to clean it out occasionally.  A touch of hand sanitizer on a Q-tip can feel like a full spa service when your ears are particularly dirty.

Scarves and bandannas are great to keep on hand.  I have two long, lightweight scarves made of jersey-knit cotton.  I wrap them around my head, ears, mask, and neck when it's storming and it helps maintain my sanity.  In '08 I had a bit of a playa-breakdown because I really, really wanted to wash my hair and it just wasn't going to happen with all the dust storms going on.  I started wearing a headscarf during the storms and it significantly helped my attitude.  In '09 I met a wonderful woman at Center Camp having the exact same breakdown; I gifted her the scarf off of my own head and it seemed to help her adjust.  Little things like that can make a big difference; be thinking about what helps you feel more comfortable and make sure you have that on you at all times.

You might be a lucky Burner and have access to a shower.  Or you might not.  Either way, bring a LOT of baby wipes (but please don't throw them in the potties!)  You'll need them to clean up yourself and possibly other items that you want do partially de-dust.  Remember, you won't be able to completely clean ANYTHING once you're on the playa.  Dust has become a consistent part of your world.  You'll be covered in it even after you return to the default world until you get all your gear cleaned up.

Feet and Hands:
Sometimes I see folks going barefoot on the playa, and all I can think is that they must be out of their minds.  Playa dust is alkaline, which means it's like salt.  It literally EATS things - your feet and hands especially.  There's a dust-related injury called "playa foot" that affects people who don't care for their feet.  The soft skin between the toes dries out and cracks, and can bleed.  The callused part of the foot starts to look shredded and it's generally pretty nasty looking and uncomfortable.  You want to avoid this!
Bring more socks than you ever think you will use.  I change socks 2-3 times a day.
We do daily foot baths.  Vinegar or Dr. Bronner's and water are great for foot baths.  Clean your feet, then moisturize the hell out of them.  We have a giant bottle of cocoa butter in camp and use it to liberally coat our feet after each foot bath.  I put socks on before it finishes drying to keep the moisture in.
A good oil-and-salt scrub is also useful; I get the lavender oil version from Trader Joe's.  This is especially good to have post-Burn because your hands will be in rough shape after you tear down your camp.  The salt helps rub off the loose, shredded dry skin around your nails and thumb.  It's also nice to use it on feet.
Keep a bottle of lotion in your daypack; Trader Joe's has small yellow tubes of shea butter hand lotion that's nice and thick...  I've already got several tubes stashed in various spots in my gear pile.

Clothes and Costumes:
It's super energizing to look and feel fabulous (whatever your version of that is) while surfing through a serious dust storm.  However, it's important to choose styles and materials appropriate to the playa.
Synthetic fabrics for the most part do much better in the dust.  Cotton tends to absorb it and get very faded-looking and dirty.  I love my vinyl pants - I can just wipe the playa off of them. Faux furs are popular because they're warm, snuggly, fun, and stay bright even in a brown-out.
Some clothing is not appropriate for the Burn.  Steampunk is a popular style in BRC, and you'll see some elaborate, amazing Steampunk ensembles.  I have a beautiful peacock-themed Steampunk gown with a belt-bustle and matching top hat.  The dress is silk dupioni; the belt is suede, silk, lace, and peacock feathers.  The hat is silk velvet.  I'd LOVE to rock it at the steampunk parties and bars; but I don't bring it to Burning Man.  Basically anything you can't wash in vinegar isn't a good bet, unless you're ok with it being dusty as hell forever and ever, amen.   After time, the playa dust can and does destroy things.  My bike, my cowboy hat, and my car are good testaments to this.  I have a real Barma leather cowboy hat, and I wouldn't Burn without it (but I might sun burn without it).  The leather has definitely aged much faster due to the playa.  I have to clean it and brush oil into it post-Burn or it'll dry out and crack.
Make good decisions about what you bring to begin with and you'll have an easier time of it while you're there.

Shoes:
You really want a good pair of shoes - or several - while on-playa.  I bring sneakers, cowboy boots, platform boots, and Teva-style sandals.
My oldest, most beat-up pair of sneakers go to the Burn.  The shoelaces stop working sometime around day 2.  I throw them out post-Burn.
The sandals are shoes for in-camp only; when it's hot and I'm just chilling, moving around in the small space before going out.  I wash my feet after sandal-wearing sessions before putting on boots or sneakers.
Cowboy boots (I have Ariats, with the good sole and round toes) are the best shoes ever on the playa.  Dust does get in them, but I can just wipe them out.  Actually, my Rhinestone Cowgirl costume is one of my favorites when the dust is kickin'; go figure the cowboy clothing would be great for desert conditions.
I don't do high-heels when there's this much walking and biking travel, though some people can handle it.  I do like a pair of platform boots with a zipper or straps instead of laces because they'll keep you a bit above the dust.  A little added height is great in the crowds, too.

ZipLock is Your Friend:
Pack everything in ziplock bags, including your clothing.  I put each complete outfit (including socks and underwear) in a single bag, press the air out it, and stick it in a bin.  There's nothing so delightful as putting on a (momentarily) dust-free outfit.  Plus, anything you don't wear doesn't need to be washed when you get home.  I find that my tent even stays more organized when I pack like this.
Cameras and other electronics should also be packed in ziplock.  Books as well - playa dust wrecks havoc on book bindings.
Lots of food items can be re-packed in ziplock bags, but I would also use a bin with a tight-fitting lid to stow your food.  Always keep your food and drinks packed unless you're actively using them.  Mmm... playa spice! 

Finally, prep your mind!
Watch some videos of dust storms and white/brown-outs to get a feel for what you'll be dealing with out there.  The more prepared you are mentally and emotionally, the easier it will be to rock out instead of freak out when it gets crazy dusty!
Here are some of my favorites:
Dust devil bitch-slaps a drum circle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpsr9FLzABw
Hat-chaser in the brown-out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzT2qyMZJ98
Deep Playa view of a brown-out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=8Tw9Dn2Lrz0
Some random footage of the playa while biking around:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZIG7F9FhmM&feature=related

Have You Read Your Ticket?

One of the single items I adore most in this world is a ticket.
One little piece of paper with so much potential.  A faceted panorama of meanings.  Symbolic of entry.  Indicative of fun.  Always, always, I have loved a ticket.
I was so happy and inspired when tickets suddenly saw a jump in artistry.  My first artistic ticket was a mail-order Grateful Dead ticket to their last show in North Carolina in Charlotte 1994.  It has purple glittery print-style ink and a heart on it.  I still have it.  I save all my tickets, even the boring ones, just so I can remember all the shows, festivals, and events I've attended.  In that whole big mess of special little papers, none of them quite compare to the Burning Man tickets.
Every year they are different, and yet every year they carry the same warning:
"The ticket purchaser or holder ("you") voluntarily assume all risk of property loss or damage, personal or bodily injury, serious injury, or death, which may occur by attending Burning Man 2012."  (And so on...)
That line scares the faint-hearted away from the event.  I find it inspiring.  Yes, you could die at Burning Man.  The environment is harsh, and despite the many rules we follow, there are dangers.  Things could go wrong.  You could make a bad decision, or someone else could act poorly, and you might not make it back to the default world. 
I appreciate this.  I find it refreshingly truthful.  So much of our daily lives has lost any flavor - it's hum-drum, day-to-day, tasks and chores and work and bill paying.  We've separated ourselves from death by enclosing our old folks in nursing homes and hospitals.  Death, largely, has become a sterile thing behind closed walls.  Occasionally it's a tragic thing we cast our thoughts away from even as our eyes can't help but watch.  We bury our dead away from our homes and go on living our clean, sterile lives separate from the immediacy of it all. 
Historically, death was much more present in daily life.  It was harder to live, and people knew life was short.  I feel as though we would all enjoy life better if that were still true today.  We've taken so many pains to avoid risk that we've dulled the whole scenario.
That's one of the things that I appreciate most about the playa.  Burning Man is a very special event in it's concept, just like all the good regional Burns around the world.  The playa, however, adds a certain zest to the whole thing.  It's big.  It's harsh.  It's dangerous.  You could die!  There's RISK involved! 
I believe it's the close bareness of the possibility of death that helps us feel so much more alive.  Cherish it.

But then, also be careful.  No reason to tempt the shade.  I suppose that if I died at Burning Man, I'd go to the great beyond pretty satisfied that I went while I was sharing my best self, rather than on the commute to work or something awfully mundane like that.  However, I'm sure my loved ones would see it as a tragedy.  So I do my best to remember the back of my ticket, and its warning.
In 2008 I came across a camp with an old fire truck, ladder suspended at a 45 degree angle with a bell hanging from the end of it's fully extended length.  I watched a woman climb all the way out to the bell, rung after rung, and ring the bell.
Internally I struggled with watching her.  I get vertigo, just a little bit, when I'm near the edge of a level looking down - like bridges or balconies.  I'm not afraid of heights exactly, but my equilibrium tends to shift pretty severely for a moment or two at an overlook.  Watching her climb made my head spin a bit.  Even so, the desire to do that, to climb up into the open air just to challenge myself, suddenly came over me.  I was about to dismount and request a turn when the woman finally began the climb down.  Obviously she wasn't much of a climber, because she turned around to climb down, in an awkward crab-walk down the ladder.  My friends and I cringed and looked away, fearing to even watch her struggle to descend.  Bill suddenly croaked out "Back of the ticket!  I'm not staying here!" and rode off.  We followed.  I'm sure she made it down just fine, but I agreed with Bill - I didn't want to be so personally involved in a "back of the ticket" moment.
Make good choices while you're on the playa (and every day, for that matter).  Stay lit at night, both your body and your bike.  If you're going to lay on the ground in the open playa at night, light your perimeter - especially if you plan to sleep.  Getting run over by a mutant vehicle would be an unpleasant way to go.  If you're going to climb, do it while you're reasonably sober.  Don't do too many drugs, or get dehydrated, or drink too much.  Avoid messing with things that aren't supposed to be messed with, especially art installations or fire effects.  Walk the line.  Remember, you can't have a good time if you're dead.
The road home is the most dangerous experience in your whole Burn.  Everyone's exhausted and just wants to get to that final stop: whether it's a hotel or home, a crash spot or a shower.  Exhaustion brings on frustration, poor decisions, and car accidents.  If you're too tired to drive, don't.  Pull over and rest.  Remember that you're not only endangering yourself, but everyone else when you drive when you're too tired to handle it.  Be responsible and let's get everyone home safe in September.

Flip that ticket over and take another look.

"Admit One Creative Spark"

That's YOU, you know.  How do you express your creative spark?  Think about it...
I was really vibing with that idea earlier today while I was working on a big pile of playa gifts.  I AM a creative spark.  Sometimes it's dull or shuttered, but it's there, hanging out somewhere near my heart.  SPARK. 
Sparks are kinda like tickets - full of potential. 
The art on this year's ticket supports the idea as well.  A faucet of light, nourishing a dried-out world.  New growth digs in and attempts to flourish. 
Let's make it grow.  And ourselves.  And each other.

SPARK.  SHINE. 

It's in you.  Let's let it out!

BRC is a Bike Transit Community

If you've decided to bring a bike to BRC, you have (likely) made a good choice!  However, the type of bike you bring can go a long way toward insuring you have a fun and adventurous Burn.
This year promises to be a dusty one - there has been very little rainfall on the playa this summer, which means that the playa surface is going to be super loose, with "dunes" of dust spread around.  Road or speed bikes with skinny tires are pretty much useless even in a good year; this year they'll be even more so.  You pedal and pedal and watch the tires spin, but get nowhere.
The bigger the tires, the better.  Mountain bikes and beach cruisers are the way to go!
The more complicated a bike is, the more room there is for trouble.  The gears are going to get packed with playa dust.  Oiling them just makes it worse, since the playa dust sticks to it and then becomes playa clay!  If you can find a single-speed cruiser with big tires and a nice, wide saddle, you will be a happy rider.
Don't bring your thousand-dollar fancy mountain bike to BRC unless you're a savvy bike mechanic and can take the entire thing apart to clean it, oil it, and rebuild it post-Burn.  It's better to find a used, beat-up but still good 'playa bike' for BRC.  We have three in our storage shed in various states of repair that we use only for the Burn.

Two Cardinal Bike Rules: LIGHT YOUR BIKE and LOCK YOUR BIKE.
If you don't lock it when you leave it in a public space, it WILL GET STOLEN.  Some folks are bad Burners and for some reason feel that bikes are community property.  A friend of mine went to the potties, dropped his bike, and went into the blue room.  Came out a minute later to find someone mounting his bike to ride away.  WTF??  Fortunately he caught the guy and got the bike back... but still - be warned and keep that sucker secured!  If you don't have anything available to lock your bike to, lock two bikes together facing opposite directions (Russell and I do this all the time) - or at least lock it so that the front wheel won't turn.
You must must must LIGHT YOUR BIKE!  (And your person, but we'll get to that later.)
Remember: your headlamp might light the way in front of you, but you want to BE SEEN as well as see.  There are a thousands of people, bikes, and art cars moving in every direction at night.  You might be sober and aware, but don't count on others to be. EL wire, LED's, battery-operated xmas lights, and even the infamous glowsticks can be used to light your bike.  Use them and secure them tightly!  You should also have the requisite front and tail lights on your bike.  There are even fancy LED spinners you can put on your spokes to light your wheels.  Go all-out!  It's safety bling!
The other added benefit to a well-lit bike is that you'll be able to find it again if you leave it somewhere.  You'll see what I mean when you're on-playa and roll up to one of the big dance camps at night to get your groove on.  Hundreds of bikes are parked in a swarm with no rhyme or reason; what seems like an open and easy-to-spot area might be completely covered by the time you come back for your bike.  Friends of mine have even lost their bikes due to this!  When you leave your bike, leave the lights on!  And do *try* to park it intelligently, where it won't be a danger to other Burners on the move.

Don't bring your bike to the big burns, like the Man Burn or the Temple Burn. If you're camped way out on the outskirts of the city, bike up to the A road or Esplanade and find a good place to lock it, then walk out the rest of the way.  There are too many people and things get crazy out there; bikes left everywhere present a safety problem.  Plus, if you get inspired to join the mob on the front lines, get a chance to jump on an art car, or have to move quickly because it gets too hot, it's best not to be encumbered by a bike.

There are several other tricks for making your bike playa-friendly: 
A tennis ball with a hole punched in it affixed with duct tape to the kick-stand gives you a better chance of leaving your bike standing, rather than dropping it in the playa.
Baskets or panniers are a wonderful addition.  I hate carrying a heavy pack around, but you need to keep some of your gear on you on at all times (mask, goggles, water).   I use my basket heavily through the week.  I just secure a milk crate to the handlebars with zip ties and then line it with a draw-string bag.  Be sure that items in the basket don't fall out when you lay your bike down - no MOOP is good MOOP!
Sore ass is a constant Burner complaint.  Your bike seat might be comfortable on the road at home or for the occasional jaunt up a mountain, but day after day, in the heat and the dust, a bike seat starts to chafe and bruise those tail bones - and you want your taint in good shape should you get sexy on the playa.  I use 3" foam, a piece of material, and a lot of duct tape to create cushy bike seats.  Just cut the foam to fit the shape of the seat, wrap it in soft material, and tape it.  Voila!  I've also seen folks use old stuffed animals in basically the same way...
Having a horn, bell, or even a whistle on a string is another good safety measure for your bike.  Most of the time you won't need it, but when you're in an area of thick crowds it's good to let people know where you are with a little toot-tooting.
Decorate your bike!  People do all sorts of things to their bikes for the Burn.  Mine has fur on the body and then I add a little fun here and there on the handle bars.  Music players and water vapor misters are also great on a bike!  I've had my bike covered in My Little Ponies (it was a rental - super stoked to have it arrived already blinged up with ponies!), with party beads, flower leis, whatever!  Just be aware of potential MOOP when decorating your bike.  Make sure everything on it is going to stay on it, even in harsh conditions or when the bike gets dropped and locked.

It's also smart to bring some basic bike repair supplies, like a pump, and extra inner tube, and some tools.  If your bike gets trashed you might be able to find someone who can help you fix it, but your chances of doing so are even better if you have the materials to do it.

Be prepared to ditch your bike - but always retrieve it!  Lost/stolen/and abandoned bikes are a HUGE problem for the staff of BRC.  Don't be a part of the problem!
There are times when having a bike is great, but sometimes it's also a burden.  For instance, in 2011 Russell and I cruised all the way to the opposite side of the city to catch a friend's DJ set at Boogie Knights.  Typically, the schedule was off and he wasn't there, so we were trying to decide what to do when the epic mutant vehicle the Purple Palace rolled onto the playa, ready to take on passengers and head out for an amazing ride.  Getting on a big (or any) art car can be tough; they reach capacity quickly and aren't often taking all-comers.  We saw our chance and we took it - so we locked our bikes to a random sign on the 10 o'clock radial and jumped on board.  We had an amazing night on the Purple Palace - best night on the playa in fact!  We disembarked at some point after the Black Rock Horse burn and had to hoof it all the way back to retrieve the bikes.  Totally worth it.  Just make sure you lock your bike to something secure where it's NOT IN THE WAY and do your best to triangulate it's location so you can find it again later. 
That being said, the open playa (where there are no art installations or easy-to-find map points around) is NOT a good place to leave your bike.  You might think you'll be able to hike back out there and retrieve it later, but the likelihood of finding it again is very slim.  We've found so many bikes abandoned out in the expanse past the Temple, and it's always a shame.  If you're on foot out there and find one of those lost and lonely bikes, I say it's ok to take it - probably it was stolen to begin with and then ditched, and just straight lost by it's owner.  However, if you take it - it's yours.  Take it home and don't leave it on the playa for the clean-up crews to deal with.

A little note on unsafe bikes:
My first year, I was very dependent on friends for my playa gear.  I was flying in and wasn't terribly Burn-savvy yet.  A buddy (also a virgin) got a bike for me at a flea market that was too tall for me and didn't have good brakes.  Once the dust got on the tires, the brakes didn't really work at all.  I wrecked several times and avoided being injured by pure dumb luck.  Apparently bikes with bad brakes are a common problem; a used bike one of my campmates picked up in Reno pre-Burn last year had none.  I seriously recommend against using a bike with no brakes.  Make sure you test used or rented bikes for good brakes BEFORE you get to the playa.  No sense getting a head injury or breaking something because of a bad bike!  A bike that's too small is way more preferable to a bike that's too big; you can 'walk' the bike while seated in heavy-crowd areas, and if you hit some deep dust and the bike spins out from under you, you have a better chance of landing on your feet and avoiding injury.
Pre-Burn in '08 I fell in love with a kid-sized bike named Tropical Splash at a thrift store.  It was $10, in great condition, and super sparkley.  It had 8" tires I think: tiny!  Bill's bike got stolen and Tropical Splash was his only option; he suddenly became a babe-magnet on that little bike.  Don't discount a little bike just because it's tiny - it might be just the ride you need!

One last thing: If it starts raining, STOP riding your bike immediately.  If you must keep moving, lock your bike and retrieve it later.  Water+playa turns to a sticky muck that will seize up your gears and collect on your tires.   It's a pain in the ass to clean it off once the rain stops, so save yourself the trouble.

Happy cruising!

Don't MOOP - and BE A MOOPER!

At this point in the game, you should have read your Survival Guide and (if you're a newbie) the First Timer's Guide.  If you haven't, go do that RIGHT NOW!
Survival Guide: http://survival.burningman.com/
First Timer's Guide: http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/

Having read these two very important guides, you are now savvy about Matter Out Of Place, or MOOP.  MOOP is defined by ANYTHING that is not naturally part of the playa.  If it's not dust or a rock, it's MOOP.
The Leave No Trace tenants of Black Rock City apply on every level; our goal as Burners is to keep the playa clean and leave it better than we found it.  Your goal personally is to "never let it touch the ground" - and if it does, pick it up immediately.
These concepts are all to the good, but I feel that most MOOP occurs accidentally and without our notice.
Obviously I didn't mean for the basket on the back of my bike to spring a hole and leave a trail of fun items in the dark & dust behind me while I rode around (my first year - 2007 - and I lost a lot of things I'd rather have kept!)  That giant roll of gaffer's tape I found half-buried in a dust-dune in '08 was obviously a bummer for whoever dropped it (score for me, though!)  My point is that MOOP happens.  So what can we do about it?
First and foremost, take care of your camp and possessions.  Obviously my bike cargo basket in '07 was not sufficient.  Since then I take extra pains to secure anything I carry in or on my bike.  I added a large drawstring bag to my bike basket, using it as a liner to keep small items in - and it doubles as a dust-shield for items within.  Since that improvement I haven't lost anything out of my basket - at least not that I'm aware of.
The same idea goes for your camp.  It's easy to spread things around - my camp is usually full of things like art supplies, costume pieces, gifts, and misc. playa-fun tidbits.  It's smart to keep everything stored in bins, and when you take something out be sure to put it back as soon as you're done with it.  This will save time later, when you go to leave camp and realize things are a hot mess.  Every time you leave camp, make sure everything is put away and secured.  Zip up your tent, lock your car, and pack up anything and everything that could blow away.  If you have open trash bins, cover them and secure the lids.  The wind & dust storms kick up quickly and sometimes with no warning.  It might be beautiful and calm when you leave camp, but an hour later when you're on the opposite side of BRC the conditions could change and leave your camp a wasteland.  MOOP that gets blown out of your camp can quickly get buried in loose playa dust, litter other camps, and in the worst-case scenario become a danger to other Burners as it flies through the air.  This goes for food and eating supplies as well - I've seen paper plates rolling like tumbleweeds down the roads, moving too fast for me to catch.  Once something is riding the wind, it can be really difficult to catch it!
An excellent example of this is the video posted by noonatron008:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzT2qyMZJ98
- and no, he never did find the hat!

Which brings me to my next MOOP-related topic: costumes & MOOP.
You are just as responsible for your fabulous clothing as you are for your camp and other supplies.  A good pre-Burn costume check is to take a questionable item and shake it vigorously for 30 seconds.  If nothing falls off of it, you're probably ok.
Feathers are NOT ALLOWED on the playa in any form - headdresses, earrings, etc. included.  Feather boas are especially MOOPy.  This is a hard one for me - I'm a costumer and I do love embellishing with feathers - but we try to be good Burners and I have cut them out of my playa-prep pile.  Gate security can deny you entrance to BRC if you have feathers in your vehicle.  Be warned!  Glitter is also another playa-no-no; loosely secured sequins as well.  Though they may look great on your skin or your vest, they will eventually fall off you and into the playa, where it's nearly impossible to remove them.  Leave these items at home!
Aside from the obviously MOOPy items, be aware of other aspects of your clothing that might come loose or fall off.  The guy in the video chasing his hat obviously had no intention of losing it, and like a good Burner did his level best to retrieve it.  Wide-brim hats are a necessity during the day, but they like to blow away too.  Try tying a scarf around your head and hat, or secure it with a string or ribbon under your chin.
Jewelry is another big unintentional MOOP item.  Earrings fall out, necklaces fall off, faux gems fall out of rings...  Try to wear accessories with strong hardware.  I'm a fan of those little rubber backs that fit on french-hook earrings to keep them from sliding out.
Glowsticks are popular for nighttime safety bling, but one the of #1 MOOP items collected by the clean-up playa restoration teams post-Burn are the little plastic connectors.   Not all glowsticks are made the same; for some reason, some of the types on the market don't work that great and pop out of the connectors.  The glowstick is usually easy to retrieve, but those little bits of plastic go flying.  If you must use glowsticks, make sure they aren't going to go spouting MOOP once you start moving around.  Either get the good ones or try reinforcing them with a bit of tape.
Always be thinking of ways to secure things to your person.  Carabiner clips are endlessly useful, as are pocket belts with grommets or D-rings that you can affix things to.  Be prepared and be aware, and you too can reduce MOOP on the playa!
Below is the official "MOOP Map" posted by the playa restoration crew after the Burn in 2009!  '09 was one of the least-moopy years in Burning Man history.  The red and yellow spots are the worst for MOOP - the areas where the big dance camps are at 10 and 2 o'clock especially.  Let's try to have an all-green MOOP map for 2012!

And finally: BE A MOOPER!  A "MOOPER" is a Burner who always picks up MOOP, wherever he or she finds it.  Everyone should carry a MOOP Bag - I usually just use a big ziplock, but anything will work as long as it's secure. Anytime you see MOOP on the playa, pick it up and dispose of it properly.  If you're up all night dancing at that amazing big sound camp, help clean up in the morning when the sun comes up.  The big dance camps are the worst for MOOP because of all the party people that unintentionally shed MOOP while dancing, or are just too spun to clean up after themselves and leave behind bottles and other items.  You do your community a great service by picking up items to return to lost & found, or recycle, or dispose of.  Plus: it's good karma - something that's always good to have on your side, especially on the playa!  Some friends of mine even create interesting playa-gift jewelry from pieces of reusable MOOP every year.   And you might get a lucky ground-score in the process!  It's a win-win!

It's a New Day and a New Way!

I began putting this blog together in March, and quickly fell off the horse.  Once we were clear in our decision not to attend the Burn this year, I spent a few more days trawling along the various Burning Man internet communities and then felt the need to separate.  We were firm in our decision not to go, but I still felt it as a loss.

Here I am again, just a few weeks before the event begins, and suddenly I'm motivated to write more.  Why?
Because plans change and I just couldn't stay away - I'm happy to report that I will once again be visiting my favorite city in the world: Black Rock City!
I'm planning on a much different Burn experience this year.  My wonderful husband Russell (aka "The Injun Pathfinder") has a new full-time job, grad school, and our 2-year old Burner baby to contend with, so he's taking one for the team and sitting out this round.  Though I will miss my family dearly while I am on-playa, I feel that burning "by myself" will really open up the experience for me.  I intend on doing some real personal work while I am there, soul-searching, and trying to re-open some places in myself that have been very closed down the past few years.
I'm also sponsoring two good friends who are Burning Man virgins!  I am such a den-mother 'camp mom' type, and I love helping people achieve their first Burn (hence the reason I put this blog together to begin with).  I don't have all the answers, but I have a lot of good ideas and I like to nurture.  In prepping to write a big "what to do and suggestions for how to do it" email to my buddies, it occurred to me that I should just get this blog going again and share the information with anyone who wants it!
Thanks for reading, and thank you for participating!