What: Mad Max-themed camp out weekend
Where: the wastelands compound in the Californian desert
When: October 22-24, 2010
What can I say about this event? It was the first of many; it was my first ‘themed’ campout experience. It was my first time camping in the desert. It was the first time I camped with friends rather than family. It was the first event (sans clubbing) that I have done since coming home from Australia.
As for the event itself – imagine the 1980’s Mad Max movies starring Mel Gibson come to life right before your eyes in a dusty and windy desert – and there are no observers. All are active participants in this charade. There is Bartertown and the Atomic Café, the last of the V8 Interceptor cars (funnily enough there were 2 so maybe not the last, after all), a gyrocopter plane and a bus with “Maggot Wagon” spray painted on the top front, the A-TACO-lypse restaurant for all your quick munchie fixes, and costumes galore in all shades of post-apocalyptic mayhem. Gothic industrial music blaring and DJ sets from late morning until early morning, fire twirlers with all sorts of apparatus (even a hoop skirt set to flame), people with fire guns and other random things, guys called Juggers coming in for some form of bloody football (a game apparently invented expressly for the movie The Salute of the Jugger/The Blood of Heroes), and a quick hello transmission from crew down under working on the Mad Max 4 movie.
My thoughts of the event are quite varied. I went with 4 other friends (3 of whom went to the original Mad Max weekend last year run by different staff) and talking to them I got an idea of what the event was like and it seemed like this year was run less towards actual events happening – or events happening much later than they should have in this years case – and more about meeting, hanging out, and associating with the people that came. And came they did; mostly from California and Nevada but quite a few from the east coast of America, Canada, and even as far away as Australia (my former home for the past year and one that I miss more than I thought I would).
What I liked about this year’s weekend was the fact that numerous folk come over to our campfire to introduce themselves and share some booze or marshmallows. So without having gone last year it seems like last year was smaller number-wise but more packed-full of things to see or do (car races, more gyrocopters, etc.) whereas this year was far more relaxed and about interacting with the people who did decide to come and not necessarily about the events happening. The staff running the show were quite friendly and there was a guy with a microphone popping by campsites to let us know when bigger events were happening which was also nice. Over all it was a pretty relaxed weekend and I had a decent time. With that said – would I go back next year? Maybe. If I had a large enough group of friends to go with then probably but if I had to organize it all by myself then probably not. The more the merrier is always my motto and while people were very friendly you can’t really campsite crash if you come alone.
And before I stop, some advise for those pondering on going next year: while it is a fun event it is also quite windy and cold at night so prepare accordingly. As with all camping trips try to be as organized as possible. Make sure to bring enough warm clothes and coats (for an event like this leather/pleather or faux fur of some sort is probably the best and warmest option). Bring lots of good stakes to hold anything down if you don’t drive up in an RV. Know that there will be dust and dirt blowing around so things will get dirty – keep that in mind when packing kitchen supplies, sanitizers, and clothing. There are no showers, only port-a-potties so make sure to take a shower before heading out. As this is an 18+ event know that no children will be present so you can get away with more risqué costumes, however (unlike Burning Man) you will not tend to see people walking around nude – and really, it was too cold for that most of the time except for mid-day. There will be drunk people and some drug using but mostly at each respective campsite so if you’re not looking for such things you won’t really be bothered by it (unless, like this year, some idiot ODs and has to be airlifted off to a hospital which cancelled some of Friday night’s events. Laaaame). Stompy music will be going on all night long so if you need quiet to sleep make sure to bring ear plugs. Kites can be fun in the wind so if you have one bring it along with any other campsite additions you can cram into your already full vehicle for ambiance. And above all, when you get there just relax and let the weekend take hold of you.
Enjoy the wastelands!
