After days of heavy rains, organizers have given revelers and others at Burning Man the okay to go home.
Burning Man, an infamous festival that takes place annually in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada brings together art, community, self-reliance, and various levels of debauchery. The festival gained another level of notoriety as people struggled to leave the barren desert location this year. The inclement weather left many cars and other vehicles trapped, blocking thousands from leaving.
This year’s eventgoers included Chris Rock and Diplo, who had to hike for hours before hitching a ride. The two recorded the events in a viral social media post.
After the flooding on Friday morning, organizers warned campers to conserve food as a timeline to leave was unsure. Unfortunately, authorities are investigating at least one death at the event. Additional details were not made available, but investigators say it’s not weather-related.
Burning Man organizers announced people could leave on Monday afternoon but suggested people try and stagger their exit to avoid mass traffic.
“Take it slow and mind those directing traffic,” CNN reported an update read. “Please be patient as you exit through Gate Road, and respect Burning Man staff who are working hard to make the Exodus experience as smooth and safe as possible.”
Organizers say they focus heavily on “Leave No Trace” principles. The event has a team that comes in afterward to clean up. However, with trapped vehicles and many leaving the event on foot, it’s fair to assume this year’s event cleanup will take longer. The Black Rock Desert is part of the Bureau of Land Management.
