JRS/v:1/03.25.97
JUNKET TO NEVADA – or – FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
Yes, we (Larry Harvey, Will Roger Joegh Bullock, Leo Nash and myself) have all returned safe and sound from the nether-reaches of Nevada (not Nevahda). The trip was not without some rather hairy moments, the worst of which was a rather tense evening at the Community Center in Lovelock where the Pershing County locals had a chance to vent their thoughts on our presence in Northern-Nevada.
It was during that second meeting that it became clear the 1997 event should be held exclusively on private land. The members of our little group debated the ramifications of this possibility during the car-ride back to Reno. Then Joegh’s car broke down in the middle of nowhere, but this was a good thing as all tensions abated as the focus was now on the vehicle, rather than the issue at hand. After a short rest, the car cooled and we were on our merry way again, none the worse for the wear as we limped into Reno.
After a sleepless night, further debate and a Thursday dinner meeting (a break from which I took to call the sweet Miss Candace with an BM email-list update) at Bruno’s which included the BLM and the property owner’s niece (who has been given a lease for the piece of land) a decision was made to keep event-related activities on the private property. This means burning of things and placement of art, and really doesn’t effect much, as the private boundary actually juts 30 acres (by 20 acres) into the playa. (That’s a lot of land, man.) And private ownership of the playa-land boundary a 1/2 mile to the north and 1/2 mile south of this “jut” cuts a wide 10 acre swath.
NO PROBLEM.
We will still be allowed day-use (and night) of the BLM-playa land which includes walking and biking across it (and sitting on it staring at the stars if you care to, but NO camping). No cars will be allowed on this piece of playa, which BTW is NOT connected to the BIG playa.
Access to the Hualapai playa is mostly off of private land, and the BLM will be monitoring one remote road that leaves the Big Playa and heads sort-of in our direction but dumps one on another farmer’s land…who is still pissed that 30+ people showed up asking for directions to Fly last year….
This decision to restrict our boundaries to private land not only gives us more autonomy, but effectively ends the lengthily and costly ($20k+) BLM permit process that we had started. As the meetings progressed it became clear that there was an additional cultural inventory that would possibly be required, and that added even more onto the cost of preparation for the permit. SO, we are now entirely on private land. The hassle factor of the permit was extremely high, and we were also faced with deadlines that would have been difficult to keep since the playa is still under water. We would possibly have spent a bunch of money and time only to be told that we had an incomplete permit…now. ?..
no worries…………Yaaa, hooo….
What does this mean to you and me?
Well, it won’t seriously effect the experience we would of had with the Haulapai playa. There was to be NO camping or driving on the playa under the ORIGINAL plan, and now it’s an official referendum from the BLM and The Project is in complete support of this. We will not be erecting a fence, but will find some artful way to indicate what the boundaries are in order to install art within the private ownership part of the playa. Access to the playa from the road is nearly impossible without coming through the property we will be using.
You will be hearing more about the property in the newsletter which I understand “will be in the mail on Friday”.
Some brief details, tho that you won’t find in this newsletter, but will be released in the June issue:
Property terrain is “high desert”. Ground is soil, and can be dug into more easily than the playa, but is still quite hard even in March. Lots of brush and short grasses so of which will be thinned.
The property is 4 miles long by 1- 1.5 miles wide. The playa is 4 miles by 3 miles. Pretty large space to roam around in, really. (Remember how FAR away the rave camp was?) The playa surface IS different, not at all as HARD. Both the playa surface and the land surface will change the way we play with our toys.
Important points.
Fire hazards abound and will have to be respected quite seriously by participants. The project will need to put a major fire safety plan into place before we get the Washoe County event permit.
We do NOT have direct access to the Black Rock Playa. It IS very near by (not close enough to walk, maybe 8 or 9 miles over rough desert terrain), and one will need to leave the property to get there. We will all be much safer without people driving 50 mph by our tents at 3 am.
In fact, driving fast at this event will only be experienced when heading there or heading home, which will serve to enhance the coffers of Washoe County should you choose to exceed the speed limit as several hundred (so they say) did last year. OR, you can choose to leave and drive around on the Black Rock Desert, and return to the event, tho random moving of cars will be discouraged. Sunday visitors will leave vehicles in a parking area near the gate and use “public” transportation to enter the camp. The parking area will be secure and available for all participants to leave a “shuttle-vehicle” there if frequent trips to the playa, Empire or other hotsprings is expected.
It will be MUCH easier to walk a short distance to get away from everyone, and there will be no problem with lying on the playa surface to watch the August meteor showers as there will be NO VEHICLES to be concerned about.
Starting to get the picture?
More thoughts:
>From what I can tell the wind isn’t as strong in this spot as what we experienced in the center of the Black Rock Desert. There was a breeze in the evening at the site, but when we went back into Gerlach it was windy. I’m not saying there won’t be wind, but I question the severity, but I’m told summer storms will still be quite a problem.
There aren’t any trees to speak of, just one dead one near where they may put the man.
Best news:
Fly hot springs are on the north end of the property. You can walk to them, or ride your bike. Tis true. There are no less than 12 pools at the springs, and we will be working to protect those pools before the masses arrive. The springs will take in an extra fee for use, as they need to be managed and protected separately and the hot spring fees will go DIRECTLY towards this. If you have never seen the Fly Hot Springs, as I had not, you will be blown away.
Rugged bikes are advisable.
Bringing in your own water is still necessary.
The Hualapai plain is a really beautiful spot, and I think that despite the difference in geography that the experience in this spot can only be better than ever.
Three of us enjoyed the hotsprings before returning to Reno on the 21st, and I was sorry to be the one driving as I was severely distracted by a dramatic sunset that rivaled the best I have seen while at BM… dramatic reds, pinks, oranges and blues that slowly changed and moved 360 degrees around us for no less than 10-15 minutes until the last vestige of orange/yellow light slipped away just as we pulled into Gerlach for a Margarita and chili rellenos at Jaliscos.
—–pause for reflection —————
The community for the most part is really enthusiastic about our visit over Labor Day. There is a private landowner directly adjacent to the Hot Springs and we will need to be particularly considerate of their privacy and property (read: fences and cattle).
Burning Man has been encouraged to really contribute to the community of Gerlach (pronounced Gerlack not “lock” or so I was told) and one project will probably include expanding the small community kids park that is there. A local mentioned that maybe “all these artists” could some up with something unique….I’m sure there are plenty among us that would love to create an interactive-climb-on-it-slide-swing-thing. Anyone that’s helped create a park installation let me know…this is a serious project we are ready to plan for.
In addition to improvements to the tiny park The Project is looking at starting a small scholarship possibly art related for a Gerlach High School graduate.
Both of the above ideas have been enthusiastically embraced by Larry. Anyone interested in taking part step up now. We will be attending Gerlach community meetings once a month from “now on” and presenting our progress on various projects as we see fit.
In addition to the Gerlach community we made friends and found quite a few cool places to go in Reno. There are members of this list that showed up in Reno and Gerlach to lend support and we intend to involve the Reno art community as extensively as possible as they are only 2 hours from the site and can help prepare the land. I’m planning a “hot spots” of Reno for the web site, so those that have a short list send it to me.
We will still have an important permit to fulfill with the County, and we aren’t out of the woods yet, but feel confident we can do what needs to be done to get over that hurdle. I’ll let you know as that one heats up.
SO !, as you can see, a lot was accomplished last week. There is an incredible opportunity for The Burning Man community to flourish at this beautiful spot…..I CAN’T WAIT for Labor Day.
I’m outta here. Talk amongst yourselves. I’m still not back on the list yet. My boss is happy about that…So, if you have questions feel free to email
me…marian@softadinc.com. DO NOT however email me to put you on the mailing list. please call the hotline 415-985-7471, but don’t bother if last year
you registered by mail or bought a ticket in your own name at any retail outlet…we have your name already.
ever-faithful to the list…I’ll always give you the scoop before anyone else……
maid marian
— <mutter> jeez that took forever to write.