The 70,000 people stuck at Burning Man because of the weather are finally able to leave

The tens of thousands of people stranded at Burning Man began their mass evacuation on Monday after a violent storm and flooding devastated the Burners. Burning Man is an annual event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, typically held in late August and early September. Burning Man is all about fun self-expression, confidence, teamwork, and arts and costumes, although this year that ethos came with water rationing and mud. It’s usually sandstorms that Burners struggles with; This year the floods came.

The approximately 70,000 people on site at the now well-known counterculture festival (actually, one should not call it a festival) were ordered by the authorities to stay there for days. No vehicles could depart; Attendees were asked to stay indoors (or in tents) and ration food and water as persistent heavy rain fell Friday night, prompting officers to close the road leading to the makeshift town of Black Rock City, Nevada in and out of it desert site leads onto state land where the annual celebration takes place.

Although they didn’t say why, organizers also urged attendees not to leave the Black Rock Desert, about 110 miles north of Reno, on foot, as others did this weekend to escape, including Diplo and Chris Rock, whose departure went viral. “I actually walked the curb for hours with my thumbs out,” Diplo wrote.

Others stayed. “Everyone just adjusted, sharing RVs to sleep in, offering food and coffee,” Rebecca Barger, a Philadelphia photographer, told AP News at her first Burning Man. “I’ve danced for hours in foot-deep clay to incredible DJs.”

Organizers did not allow vehicles inside after more than an inch of rain fell on Friday. The “burning”, the ceremonial torching of the huge wooden image “The Man”, a wooden temple, is lit for burning in the last two nights. This symbolic culmination of the event is designed to help participants let go of what no longer serves them and to mark the impermanence and at the same time permanence of community and love. Many Burners integrate with related communities in their hometown and celebrate Burning Man throughout the year through parties, smaller events such as Love Burn, and other camaraderie events.

However, the man’s ritual cremation was postponed to Monday evening as authorities worked to reopen escape routes by the end of Labor Day weekend.

At least one death of a man in his 40s has been reported so far. However, organizers say the death had nothing to do with the weather. The nearby Pershing County Sheriff said he was investigating but had not identified the man or the cause of death. AP News reports that President Joe Biden is aware of the situation at Burning Man, including the death, and the White House has been communicating with local authorities.

On Monday, the lake bed where Burning Man is being held began to dry up and harden. However, the roads are far from ideal; Motorists say they have to dodge foot-deep puddles and enormous amounts of mud on the five-mile stretch from Black Rock City to the paved road, reports the New York Times. Even in a year without torrential rain, it can take 12 hours to leave the Playa.

Because of this, organizers are encouraging people to consider waiting until Tuesday to avoid a traffic jam of epic proportions.

And some burners who want to enjoy the full experience, even if it comes with mud and heavy rain, are more than willing to stay a little longer. There could be even more rain as a low pressure area is expected to bring showers across the playa from Monday night through Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said.

“We’re a bit dirty and muddy, but the mood is good. “The party goes on,” Scott London, a Southern California photographer, told AP News, noting that the disruption and departure “offered a look at Burning Man that a lot of us don’t get to see.”

Burning Man follows a “gift economy” model that frowns on the use of money. The Burn is all about giving and sharing. Participants are encouraged to travel independently with essential supplies such as food, water and shelter (life support which they have had to ration this year), in addition to the adventurous and often unusual gifts of art or experiences.

Burning Man started as a small group of friends setting fire to a wooden figure on a San Francisco beach in 1986 and has grown into a global phenomenon filled with celebrities and Instagrammers. For many attendees, however, the core messages of art and community remain, forming a welcome thread that runs through their lives (no matter how hard non-burners like to make life difficult for their burner friends).