Burn In The Forest II
July 18/19/20 2003
FAQ

• What is it?
• Theme Camps & Installations
• What should I bring?
• Volunteer / Contact
• other notes
• Where is it? (directions)

As with all Burning Man inspired events, this gathering will be focused on "Leave No Trace" and active participation in personal and group expressions of creativity, art, community, experience and relationship. As with the annual Burning Man event in the Nevada desert, the theme is "No Spectators! Participate!". Every person has something they can bring to this celebratory community experience. There will be plenty of creative projects for people to participate in so don't feel like you have to come up with a big project all on your own. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a community that will fully support any direction of peaceful self expression you wish to explore.

The goal is to create a wealth of visual environments and surprises for everyone to explore, while showing respect for the environment. Let's leave this sacred place cleaner than when we started!

LEAVE NO TRACE!!!
Don't let it hit the ground!
Leave packaging and glass containers at home.
Take care of Mother Nature!

Some of us will be there as early as Thursday July 17th to secure some space at Mile 36. Some will arrive Friday to do set up, etc. The party is expected to start Friday evening, there is a good chance the main sound system will be up. Saturday will be the main day/nite. Sunday will be tear-down /  clean-up day.

Current plans include Totem dance area with community DJs and wilderness hot
tub near the entrance. The dome is at the downtempo far end of the camp.
Some are going rock climbing--newbies or vets, tbd. Look for John, Jerry or
Rach. Sat aft there might be nude oil wrestling and mud baths. Activities
and theme camps are still evolving.

• Masking tape and markers - mark everything you own with name & phone number

• DUST MASK! yes indeed, the dance floor gets REALLY dusty!

• Food/beverages/water for yourself and to share

• Water in large containers - i.e. no small "disposable" plastic containers to carry back to the city!

• an identified personal beverage container (not glass)

• BUG SPRAY / light clothing to cover up - day & nite.. flies and mosquitoes!

• two-way radios - set to 4:20 (channel 4, group 20) check with the kitchen station if they might need 'em.

• *EXTENSION CORDS - heavy duty, lots of them, and power bars

• *Folding tables would be good if anyone has any (*please contact Diana if you are bringing these items)

• work gloves

• garbage bags

• tarps

• rope

• buckets

• flash lites (duh!)

• batteries for all that stuff

• toilet paper (mother nature friendly preferred - please discard in outhouses or garbage, not on the ground!)

• shovel for you shit - away from water source and other campers, and dig a hole! (there are a few outhouses there so look for them!)

• pissing in the woods is ok, but nowhere near any camp area, ok! (no TP on the ground! Bring it back and BURN IT! heehee)

• camping chairs

• towel, wet wipes

• musical instruments, drums, etc.

• lights / visuals - Xmas or any other trippy lites, blacklites, etc.

• glow sticks, jesus lights, safe tea lights, tiki torches

• toys

• costumes

EmoChill's list:
(sorry no time right now to amalgamate the 2 - better to repeat anyhoo!)

• No glass onsite, avoid excess packaging, pack out what you pack in:
  Your own food* (extra to share would be nice), plate, mug,* cutlery
  Drinking water* and other liquids
  Cooler with ice
  Portable table and propane cookstove if you have one
  Camping chair would be handy
  Sleeping bag*, foam pad, pillow
  Towel(s)
  Bug spray* and sunscreen*
  Flashlight* or headlamp
  Toilet paper*, handiwipes
  Personal and community trash bags*
  Works gloves for setup/takedown work
  Earplugs if you want to sleep
  Wear Gap and MEC trendies sparingly--put on something you'd get mugged for
  wearing on Granville (loud, fuzzy, lewd, jock, tramp, bender, superhero...).
  No, it isn't about costumes but get off it:
  Clothes for a hot afternoon, or go naked wearing sunscreen, tribal paint and
  deet
  Clothes for a chilly night* (it's right beside a glacier-fed river)
  Rain gear (or orange garbage bags and duct tape)
  * critical
  Optionals:
  Hand drums or other musical instruments
  Massage bars, incense, christmas lights, elwire, battery-op effects, painted
  silks, UV body paint, 3d art

What NOT to bring with you:

• glass containers of any kind - please skip the Corona this time, eh!

• unnecessary packaging - leave it at home!

• guns or fireworks

• a closed mind

If you have any questions about the event, want to know how you can participate, or have something you are considering for the event, please join the Burn in the Forest  mailing list or send a blank email here.

Greeters: sign up for a shift here.

Community water/snack/kitchen - drop off some of your snacks and water for all to share throughout the event. 

EMERGENCY:
We need everyone to be ready to step in as a Ranger in case of emergency. What sort of emergency? Someone trips and rips or a diabetic forgets their meds. We all need to take care of everyone else there. Watch for unwise use of fire if a burn ban isn't in effect. Get others to intervene if necessary. They will. Find out who the volunteer Rangers are. Rangers don't police us; they take care of us, but we could always do with more. Offer to take a shift with one. There were no problems last year, but we should always be
prepared. Ask for Jody onsite. Like the Burning Man ticket says, you assume
all risks including death.

Everyone else, just be there and PARTICIPATE!
- Volunteer for set up and/or tear down
- Leave no trace - clean up crew
- Transportation for people and/or equipment 
- Performance 
- Playa wear 
- Gifting 

PLEASE NOTE: Fire restrictions may be in effect. A fire ban enforced by all participants may be required. Should conditions allow, fire will be limited to safe areas only. Bring buckets & fire extinguishers if you have 'em! Diana is on top of this, and will give us the latest update to ensure a safe use of the land. You can also check out the the Gov't of BC - Ministry of Forests site for the latest info.

A friendly note about DOGS:  No Dogs Please - In keeping with the spirit of Burning Man, we ask that participants not bring their dogs to this wilderness event. This will help contribute to our "Leave No Trace" intention, and will also enable everyone to experience the natural wildlife in the Squamish Valley. 
One member who has arranged to leave his dog at home says: "Dogs tend to get sketched out at events like this. Add costumes, fire, loud noises, and people acting strangely, and the dogs probably won't have a great time. I always feel sorry for rave dogs, cuz basically they roam around looking like they wish the noise would just stop."
Another member replies: "Yeah, I wouldn't subject a dog I love to the confusing overstimulation of crowds of crazy acting people, manic flashing lights, and amplified high frequency techno music. 
Hmmmmm...so I wouldn't do to a dog what I do to myself.... Going to have to think about that..."

FAQ: Idea of what the terrain is like so we can plan?
The terrain is mostly flat, open, well packed, partially grassy terrain under the shade of tall
conifer trees. You can often camp in the middle of a group of trees and use the trees to tie tarps and such onto.

FAQ: will we want a shade structure?
I would think you could pick a spot under the trees and won't need a shade structure. I never build a
shade structure when I camp up there. Squishy says it was SUPER HOT there last week by the water's edge.

FAQ: should we include a plan for rain/wind?
IT'S BC!!! Always plan for the possibility of rain up here, and especially in the Squamish Valley. Wind is
rarely a problem, especially this time of year.

FAQ: Is there a place to swim?
Yeah, in the river. But only if you like REALLY cold glacier-fed water.

If you wanna see pictures of Mile 36 go here, or keep it a beautiful surprise!

HOW TO GET TO MILE 36!!!

Mile 36 is really easy to find. Here are the semi-detailed instructions!

DRIVE WITH CAUTION!!!!

• There are HUGE logging trucks (weekends also!) that barrel down the gravel road, and they do NOT slow down for oncoming traffic.
• Always drive with headlights on, drive SLOWLY and PULL OVER to the side to let logging trucks pass!!!
• It is YOUR duty to be on the lookout for them, and move out of the way. Keep a constant eye ahead and slow down/look ahead for blind corners!
• It takes approximately two and a half hours from Vancouver.(ed & I did it door to door in 2 hours coming back Friday afternoon, minimal traffic)
• You do not need a 4-wheel drive or pick-up truck, but there are alot more and bigger pot holes this year it seems. Don’t forget to gas up in Squamish! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. From Squamish take Highway 99 (Sea to Sky) North, towards Whistler.
2. At the Alice Lake/Squamish Valley-Paradise Valley intersection, turn LEFT towards Paradise Valley/Squamish Valley. (Alice Lake Road is the 2nd major intersection after the last set of lights in Squamish, a few minutes out of Squamish) Reset your odometer, if you like, but it is not necessary. Distances are approximate!!! You should be at Mile 36 within about 60 minutes. (we did it in 45 minutes)
3. Follow Squamish Valley Road for about 3.6 km / 3 minutes. You will cross a bridge over the Cheakamus River, and moments later, you will reach a Y in the road.
4. Take the LEFT road, Squamish Valey/River Road, DO NOT STAY TO THE RIGHT onto Paradise Valley Road
5. You will simply stay on this (left) road and follow the mile markers until you get to Mile 36. You are already almost at the Mile 9 marker at this point.
   NOTE: If you are making a left turn over a big bridge, you are not on the correct/main road. If the road gets too rough for an average car, you are not on the right road!!!
6. MILE 36 MARKER is at anywhere from 45 to 49km. 49km (depends on your vehicle and tire pressure, I'm told! Our total was 49km) There will be a first entrance immediately to your left, keep going a little bit further until the 2nd entrance. Turn LEFT to enter. If you see Mile 37, you've gone too far!

Some landmarks (approx km):
- 15.8 km:stop sign / one lane bridge; 15 minutes.
- 22.5 km/23 km: cattleguard, then start of gravel road; Mile 20; 20 minutes
- 24.6 km keep right; DO NOT take the bridge to the left going up the Ashlu Valley
- 26.5 km: you will drive past a hydroelectric generating station
- 36.4km (around mile 28), and for the next kilometer, you will drive through "The Bayou";
- 38.2km (after mile 29) there is a great view of spectacular waterfalls from the riverside pullout
- 43.7 one lane bridge / Shovel Nose Creek
- 48 km Terminal Creek

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Download and print directions: mile36directions.doc

Click to enlarge this .

You can blame squishelle for these directions and the website!

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