Hitchgathering/North-America

From Hitchwiki
Revision as of 23:24, 7 March 2011 by 24.177.127.8 (talk)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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

Slab City, CA

Pro: Several previous hitch gatherings have happened there, so it's a proven location Con: really hot during mid-summer months

Montreal, Canada

Pro: Amazing city Con: Requires US citizens to have a passport, passport card, EDL, or NEXUS card. A long way from the west coast.

Mexico City, Mexico

Pro: everyone (Canadian, US citizens) is welcome, no visas required (though Canadians would have to fly across the USA or deal with border patrol anyway) Con: There are nicer places in Mexico. Replace this suggestion with one?

Portland, OR

Pro: hitch-friendly, easy access to I-5, I-84. Camping (both legally and other) fairly easy within proximity Con:

Seattle, WA

Pro: hitch-friendly Con:

Madison, WI

Pro: good mid-summer weather, central location, camping close to town fairly easy, people accepting of hitchhikers but also closer to places where it's not as accepted. 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:

Joshua Tree, CA

Pro: super hitch-friendly, relaxed desert culture, BLM land nearby for free camping Con: could be *hot* in the middle of the summer, so this one depends on when

Yosemite, CA

Pro:An easy hitch, people are super friendly, camping "around" is easy Con: Bears. May be TOO populated. Need to get park permission (or camp on nearby BLM land)

Date

Consider weather, holidays, we need time to organize Match up with 5/8/11 (or 8/5/11 as Americans write it, or 2011.08.05 :P ) August 5th 2011? Or choose our own date?

Consider other events around that time National Rainbow gathering (likely Washington), July 1-7 Burning Man- End of August/early September

Assume it starts on a Friday? Any reason not to?


Friday Pros Cons
June 17
June 24
July 1 Start of Rainbow Gathering
July 8 Rainbow Gathering just ended, perfect timing? Rainbow Gathering just ended, too soon?
July 15 Rainbow Gathering ended a week ago, allows people time to show up
July 22
July 29
August 5 Same weekend as EU gathering, could be cool Someone might want to attend both?
August 12
August 19
August 26 Burning Man starts on the 29th, burners will be busy getting ready
September 2 During Burning Man
September 9 Burning Man just ended on Sept. 5th, burners will be burnt out and needing sleep in a real bed...

Timeline

March 6

Start collecting pros and cons about various dates and locations

March 13

Start voting on a date

March 20

End voting on a date Start voting on a location

April 1st

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