Since I have been wanting to track how much moisture falls on the playa this winter,
thinking ahead to surface conditions, I got this report 2nd hand from the area and it is
encouraging!
"Wettest year ever! No, not sure about that, but in the three years I have been here, this is the most rain I have ever seen. It started snowing in October, and we have gotten a significant amount of snow/rain/sleet/ freezing fog (pogo-nip) ever since. It rained all day yesterday, and will again tomorrow. I have been on the playa many times to check it out, and there is actually standing water on it as we speak, not all over, but in different spots, which means it is moving and wearing down those dunes. The Quinn-River should be flowing out onto it very soon. I have never seen that! This is going to be a very good year for the Burn, nothing like last years impossible bike riding. Plus, I imagine we will have quite a bit more virgin-playa after all this moisture. Y'all remember what that is like, right? Nice, raised-up, crunchy crust, that definitely keeps the dust down. Dare I say dust-free? Naw, we ain't never gonna get that! But I see a much different condition in the way it is setting up already, so I feel we are in for a treat. 'Bout time! But we will see... "