Kilted at Burning Man?

[Riverkilt]

So, long story short, looks like a 71 year old lady friend has talked me into attending Burning Man 2011.

From what I hear about the heat and cold there a wool kilt might be helpful in the cool evening hours. But guessing from what I hear about "playa dust" it would be foolish to take a good wool kilt there and have it impregnated with the windblown dust.

Leather might work for the evening. Guessing teflon coated PV would be best to resist the dust.

Any suggestions or advice from the rabble who've been to Burning Man?

Thanks

[Zardoz]

I've been to it before, It is very hot, windy and dusty, I would not take a wool or PV kilt out there, maybe a canvas or leather like you mentioned. and some goggles!
Honestly I could go on and on about about the pros and cons of people paying big bucks to go to the middle of nowhere, listen to crappy jam band noise 24/7, get higher than Amy Winehouse, and have random unprotected 'relations'.
(although I'd say you do not really need to go to the wasteland to do that!)
But it does make for interesting 'people watching'

[Tobus]

I've no clue what Burning Man is, but by the descriptions above, maybe a Utilikilt would be the way to go? My workman model, being made from duck cloth, is pretty good at resisting sand and dirt, and it's machine washable. Plus, if it gets a little too windy or if things get really crazy, the "modesty snaps" can come in very handy.

Or, though it may be sacrilege, considering the windy/dusty/hot/cold conditions, maybe this would be an occasion where trousers are more suitable?

[Riverkilt]

Was thinking Utilikilt Survival since its washable and has all those pockets. Would have to break it in well first. Burning Man isn't until late August.

And, there's absolutely no need for the modesty snaps or togs at Burning Man...if the wind blows it blows.....

Google it or UTube it...don't think I can explain it easily...it is a completely inclusive gathering.

[Mikilt]

I have been to Burning Man a couple of times, though never kilted. You'll do well in a PV kilt or Utilikilt

[masonpiper]

I am from Reno, and I go every year and am kilted most of the time. I would not take my leather out there for any reason, the heat and crap have ruined good leather boots and I do not want to risk my leather. That being said, I do take two of my tartans, I take them to the cleaners afterward and have had no deterioration in 5 and 8 years respectively. I also take my black workmans, khaki workmans, tiedye, and khaki original. I am only out there for 5-6 days and between those kilts and my costumes, I do not wear all I take. Many people wear unbifircated garments out there.

if it works here is me on playa

and feel free to hit my off forum or on for any questions you have

Scott
aka Ranger Piper
bagpiper@rangers.org

[Dale Seago]

Agree with the cloth concept for this. I prefer Buzz Kidder's kilts over Utilikilts simply because Kidder uses a more traditional construction, theirs being based conceptually on a canvas kilt issued (briefly) to the Black Watch. I also like the subtlety of the way the edges of the pleats are stitched so that they can never be "lost". I've worn them many times out in the boonies, and particularly like the solid khaki and the hunter green ones.

[azwildcat96]

Am I the only one wondering why a 71 year old lady would want to (as Zardoz put it) "paying big bucks to go to the middle of nowhere, listen to crappy jam band noise 24/7, get higher than Amy Winehouse, and have random unprotected 'relations'."

I think we need the long version of this short story...

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

I've been three times and nothing will prepare you for the playa. It is bigger and weirder than the pictures. It is not always hot; in 1999, I took way too many shorts and not enough flannel shirts and almost froze. Playa dust will get in and on everything; take nothing you can't afford to have damaged.

I know you like deserts. Me too. There is nothing in my desert knowledge that is anything like the alkaline flats of the Black Rock Desert. Otherworldly.


And the whiteouts are incredible. Take good goggles.

[masonpiper]

Hmm. Well, I didn’t even question that, I must have been out too many times. I live in/next to that no where, I don’t get high, I do not have relations out there unless my spouse is with me, and I camp at 6 and the *** end of town, well away from crappy thump and bump at 2 and 10. If you ask 30 participants and volunteers why they go you will get 40 different answers, taking into account the terminally reality challenged. From my perspective it is about community and art. Some of the most incredible artwork is installed out there and a good portion of it burned at the end. You can walk the playa, inner and outer for hours and there is always something new to find. When you walk the back streets you interact with some of the coolest people you will find. It might be only during the burn, but then and there they are great. I volunteer about 30-40 hours of my time out there and during that time, I see the worst and best of people. Usually it is the best coming to the rescue of the worst. It is temporary, but 40,000 people can come together and operate as a community for 10 days, with remarkably little crime and violence. I have seen people take a bike of a 20 foot container into a small pool and get hurt badly, nobody felt the need to stop them apart from a few “that’s gonna hurt when you land” comments but EMS was called and everybody help him until they arrived. I have seen others gather around and offer a kind shoulder, helping hand, sustenance, and gear, with no expectation of pay back, return or even a thank you, it was just done because it needed to be done. All is not cookies and milk out there, emotions and tempers flare, idiots are a part of all communities, and the environment is killer, literally. BM is a triumph of what people can do, not what they should do. Back to kilts. I have a OLD black workman’s, like 2001 it will still stand on it’s own when snapped. The only thing that has softened it at all is playa dust. I do wash all of my clothes from the playa once with just vinegar, it cut s and removes the dust easily, and then a normal wash works to finish it, my tie dye has faded a bit more than if should have according to the people that dyed it, also burners, and that is the extent of damage, think of playa dust as clothes softener and you aren’t far off. UKs and sport kilts are seen out there quite often, wool tartans a lot less, but they are warm at night, do take kilt hose for when the sun goes down, but make sure you do not mind spilled wine, beer, etc on them. I have taken to carrying my daily gear in an over sized sporran as I keep patrolling with less and less, so along with the pockets and my camelbac, I am covered for almost anything I need.