I (assume I can find the money somewhere and my car does not die on me and other transportation cannot be arranged) will be going this year. I went last year with a few friends from Seattle, and seem to be stuck (because nobody else was doing it) organizing the trip for the group this year.
I saw your pictures of setting up the tent and dome; pretty cool. How did you find it last year? If I do go it would fall on me to organize my group, too, so it'd be good to have a bit to go on from someone I actually know and who's been there, rather than websurfing up third-party answers.
Did you go for the full week, and would you recommend it for that long? There's mention of pervasive sandstorms/thunderstorms; were those a nuisance, a bit hazardous, or simply not present? I suppose I envision being unable to avoid a dust devil or some such. How was security/anal retentiveness of organizers (as I've heard a few negative things in this regard, though by and large it seems low)? How crowded/excited (and resultantly hazardous, for me) is it? And finally the last in my tide of questions...how was it from a roughing-it standpoint: sleeping, outhouses, bathing, etc?
I had an ambivalent experience - mostly strongly positive, but some fairly strong negative. But I think the negative was mostly of just 'enh, that is not for me' or just my interpretation of attitudes. I am not sure I can really elaborate more than that, even though I have tried. But it was mostly good
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I would love to join your camp! There may indeed be people you know; right now I have only posted this on LJ and mentioned it to a friend from Synergy and Melissa F. I'll send out a larger email in a week or so.
Thanks for all the information; it all seems quite promising. I am not used to hiking/camping, but I am fairly nomadic, so that should be okay. The one issue that remains large in my mind is that I've got a bad back (the entire thing is metal, almost), and sleeping on the desert floor would kill it. I saw in your pictures that you brought mattresses, so I just need to find a friend down here that has a truck or van that can carry one, or get one that inflates by pump. Actually, both of those ideas would work, just thinking aloud...:)
So yes, sounds quite good. I'll keep you informed about who might be coming from my group. Can you put up a few more pictures from your trip? I'd love to see them!
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Did you go for the full week, and would you recommend it for that long? There's mention of pervasive sandstorms/thunderstorms; were those a nuisance, a bit hazardous, or simply not present? I suppose I envision being unable to avoid a dust devil or some such. How was security/anal retentiveness of organizers (as I've heard a few negative things in this regard, though by and large it seems low)? How crowded/excited (and resultantly hazardous, for me) is it? And finally the last in my tide of questions...how was it from a roughing-it standpoint: sleeping, outhouses, bathing, etc?
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Thanks for all the information; it all seems quite promising. I am not used to hiking/camping, but I am fairly nomadic, so that should be okay. The one issue that remains large in my mind is that I've got a bad back (the entire thing is metal, almost), and sleeping on the desert floor would kill it. I saw in your pictures that you brought mattresses, so I just need to find a friend down here that has a truck or van that can carry one, or get one that inflates by pump. Actually, both of those ideas would work, just thinking aloud...:)
So yes, sounds quite good. I'll keep you informed about who might be coming from my group. Can you put up a few more pictures from your trip? I'd love to see them!
Thanks for all the help!
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