Burning Man 2002: The Pinz and the Shoulder

Burning Man 2002: The Floating World. Sixth burn.

Burning Man 2002 was notable for two things: the Pinzgauer and the dislocated shoulder.

I drove the Pinz out for my sixth burn. It’s a reasonable vehicle for the playa — high clearance, all-wheel drive, doesn’t mind dust. The playa in 2002 was dusty enough to warrant the Pinz.

The shoulder happened on the playa. The medical team handled it. I recovered well enough to finish the week, though sleeping on that side was compromised for a while. By September 12th, writing from Carlsbad, the Burning Man-related wounds were mostly cleared up — upper arm still hurt some but I could mostly sleep on that side again.

I hadn’t gained back all the weight I lost at Burning Man by then, which is the one reliable health benefit of a week in the desert: the activity level is high and the food availability is whatever you packed. You come back lighter.

The Pinz didn’t get a dislocated shoulder. The Pinz was fine.