Hitchgathering/North-America
Location
Considerations
Camping
Camping on BLM land or National Forest can be free at non-developed campsites This extent of available camping is not widely known, but the BLM/NFS can be called to get TONS of free, nearly unknown campsites.
Ease-of-hitching
Near to interstates? Or two-lane highways (Many, including the winning team in previous hithhiking races, say 2-lane highways work better and are more fun than interstates).
Within a hitch-friendly state such as OR, MT, WA, etc?
Access to resources (food/water)
Developed campsites offer this, but usually have a fee attached. *NOT ALL*
Near to cities for social effect, or rural, for ease-of-camping
This depends on our purpose. Are flashmob-type-activies (a la 7/8/9) planned? If so, we need to be somewhere with significant population density. Or is a relaxing, Sines-type small town preferred?
Possibilities
Boulder, CO
Pro: Well known to the attendees of HitchGathering North America 2010, *easy* hitching nearby Con: Free camping / cheap lodging hard to find, the place we camped in 2010 is down a long dirt road with little traffic - might not support rides for a medium- to large-sized gathering
Missoula, MT
Pro: Easy wilderness camping Directly on I-90 Con: Montana can be cold and a long hitch for some people
New Orleans, LA
Pro: Amazing city Con:
Montreal, Canada
Pro: Amazing city Con: Requires US citizens to have a passport, passport card, EDL, or NEXUS card
Mexico City, Mexico
Pro: everyone (Canadian, US citizens) is welcome, no visas required Con: There are nicer places in Mexico. Replace this suggestion with one?
Portland, OR
Pro: hitch-friendly Con:
Seattle, WA
Pro: hitch-friendly Con:
San Diego, CA
Pro: weather is usually great for gathering outdoors Con: not many places for free camping or gathering near the city
San Francisco, CA
Pro: open-minded, liberal place, East Bay is likely to have places to gather Con:
Date
Consider weather, holidays Match up with 5/8/11 (or 8/5/11 as Americans write it, or 2011.05.08 :P ) August 5th 2011? Or choose our own date?
Consider other events around that time National Rainbow gathering (likely Washington) in July Burning Man- End of August/early September
Timeline
THIS IS ALL ARBITRARY
April 1
Have a selection of locations along with pro/con arguments, begin voting
April 21st
End voting, decide on a location
May 1st
Establish camping area from possibilities surrounding Target, begin organizing pre-gathering meetings
June 1st
Media kits sent out, pre-meeting cities decided, target finalization settled