Thousands of people who were stranded at the Burning Man festival due to heavy rain and mud have started to leave the site in northwest Nevada. After several days of downpours, organizers announced the beginning of the exodus operations. However, the trek out of the festival was still challenging, with drivers encountering deep puddles and muddy stretches along the five-mile route to the paved road. Despite the difficulties, many campers successfully made their way out, while others had to abandon their vehicles halfway.
Leaving Burning Man is typically a time-consuming process, taking up to 12 hours as thousands of cars and trailers make their way off the desert playa and onto a congested two-lane road. This year, organizers advised attendees to postpone their departure until Tuesday to avoid creating a massive traffic jam. Approximately one-third of the campers had already packed up and left the site, while others remained behind to clean up the mud-caked grounds and search for any lost items.
The adverse weather conditions had caused delays in the festival’s schedule, including the burning of the iconic wooden effigy. Muddy conditions and the inability to transport fire safety equipment to the burning site were cited as reasons for the postponement. Despite the challenges, some festivalgoers decided to stay in the hope that an improved weather forecast would allow for the climax of the event.
The heavy rain and resulting mud had also led to some participants deciding to leave the festival early. Bike wheels became clogged with mud, and people had to cover their shoes with plastic bags to navigate the normally dry desert. A video went viral, showing music producer Diplo and comedian Chris Rock hitchhiking in the back of a pickup truck after getting stuck in the mud.
Burning Man, held on federal lands in Black Rock City, is a temporary town that hosts over 70,000 people each year. The nearest airport is more than 100 miles away in Reno, making it a three-hour drive to the festival. This year’s event began on August 27th and was marked by unprecedented rainfall and mud.
While most attendees were focused on leaving, authorities were investigating the death of one participant, which did not appear to be weather-related. Despite the challenging conditions, many festivalgoers tried to make the most of the situation, organizing parties and getting to know their fellow campers in shared spaces.
The unexpected rain highlighted the festival’s gritty and self-reliant roots, often overshadowed by its association with tech moguls and social media influencers. Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve announced that the city was preparing for a mass exodus of Burning Man attendees and offered certain parking lots at the local convention center for their use. As campers dismantled their tents and packed up their belongings, some were already discussing their plans to return next year, hoping for better weather conditions.
In conclusion, the annual Burning Man festival faced significant challenges this year due to heavy rain and mud. Despite the difficulties, thousands of attendees successfully left the site, while others chose to stay in the hope of witnessing the festival’s postponed climax. The adverse weather conditions emphasized the festival’s self-reliant spirit and brought out the camaraderie among campers. As the exodus continued, authorities investigated a participant’s death, unrelated to the weather. Reno city officials provided support for the mass departure, and many festivalgoers already expressed their intentions to return next year, hoping for drier conditions.
Original Story at www.nytimes.com – 2023-09-05 01:34:43
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