To Folks Worried About Loved Ones

Every year I and other folks I know are contacted by many people who are worried because they haven't heard from their loved ones in days. 

This year is a bit different than usual because their is cell phone service for some carriers from the site.  But here's some info that hopefully will help calm everyone down.

Even if your loved one has cell service at the gathering, it probably is sucking a lot of battery power to use. If someone has been on site for a few days, it is very probable that their battery is run down.  Unless your loved one planned ahead and brought a solar panel and appropriate gadgets to recharge their cell phone, there's no way to charge a phone at a gathering as there is no electricity.

People can hike out to their cars to recharge their phone, but it's a 3/4 of a mile to 2 miles from camp to the road  (depending on where you camp).  From there it could be up to a 6 or 7 mile hike on a narrow road with no sidewalk to get to where your car is parked. 

Folks on the land often recommend people stay inside the gathering instead of going to their car for the following reasons: 

Its very hot and a five to seven mile hike in 95 degree weather can be dangerous - especially to people with ongoing health issues.

Walking on the road can be dangerous and the less time you spend on the road the less likely you are to

1. Be arrested by the cops for something silly (most common cause of problems)
2. Waste an entire day of your gathering going to your car
3. Getting heat stroke by hiking 10 miles in 95%, 90% humidity weather.

We have medical doctors, registered nurses and emergency medical technicians on site and providing free care. (We also have herbalists, acupuncturists, chiropractors and massage therapists). Most of people's health care needs can be met on site with a modality of the patient's choosing. Should a more serious condition develop that cannot safely be treated on site, our medical team has set up communications with hospitals in the area and we will transport your loved one either directly to the hospital or to meet an ambulance if need be.

So in short, no news is good news. It means your loved one is at the gathering, having a reasonably good time and not causing anyone else a lot of grief.  If your loved one is in the gathering without access to a telephone, it means the cops have not arrested them and no one has taken them to a hospital.  They are being feed, have access to clean drinking water, and are probably having a good time.

People usually start heading out on July 5 and by July 8, 85% or more of folks have left.  If you haven't heard from your loved one by July 9, drop me an email and I'll reach out to family on the land and see what we can find out.