People go to Burning Man for a lot of reasons. On the surface a festive gathering of 50,504 artistic souls in the remote desert seems like enough reason to go, but there is so much more. This was my second trip to Black Rock.
(BRC) for the annual burn. The first trip was such a fiasco it’s amazing there was desire to make the trek. In 2002 I traveled solo bringing only 20 pounds of hamburger and a hundred windchimes to meet up with friends there. In the chaos of a spontaneous city I was never able to find my group. The food and chimes were traded for water and buns. A memory yes, but I was not prepared.
The 2010 burn was much different. After connecting with the Santa Cruz Fire Dancing Conclave in early summer I was invited to join the camp and perform fire safety duties during their performances. Having a group to plan the journey and camp with is the best way to make the burn work.
The event is described by many participants as an experiment in community, radical self-expression, and radical self-reliance (wiki). The theme for this year was Metropolis, the birth of cities. Knowing this I expected to witness some amazing desert art, structures and mutant vehicles art cars, I was not let down. Black Rock City/Burning Man by definition is a temporary city created and populated by anyone who wants to come. Burning Man has grown dramatically since its inception by Larry Harvey, Jerry James and a group of 6 friends at a bonfire ritual at Baker Beach, San Francisco on the summer solstice in 1986. The growth of this unique gathering really shows the vibrancy of modern-day tribal culture in need of a way to break out of the button-down daily metropoleis most of us inhabit.
Black Rock desert is a large empty space with absolutely nothing on the playa area (no trees, no grass, no hills, nothing!), a perfect canvas to create something beautiful. Upon arriving at BRC one is greeted by a long line of fellow burners queued up along a hot dusty gravel road. This is where the spirit of sharing within a gifting economy begins to sparkle. Cash is not king on the playa but rather the spirit of the shared experience brings out a desire to give what you can and ask for what you need. Burning Man is not a festival or concert, though both happen there. The idea behind burning the man is to ritualistically release the old and usher in the new. Though there are many things burned at the event, the Saturday night ignition of the massive man and the Sunday night Temple burn are the highlights.
Once in groups set up simple to amazingly elaborate “camps” around a grid of “blocks” designated by hours and cities. A city, even a temporary one, this big needs some organization. Our camp, the Samba Stilt Circus, was at 4:30 and Baghdad. Instead of cash, event participants are encouraged to rely on a gift economy. Burners freely give gifts to one another unconditionally and trading goods or services is common (wiki). We offered fire dancing along with a high bar for BRC slitters to find refreshment. Next to us was a group from Sonoma with the Good Times (not affiliated 
with GOOD TIMES weekly) Geodesic Dome offering live music and thirty types of vodka, including the famous (notorious to some) garlic vodka used to lure in passers by. Behind us was the Buddha camp with its meditation tent and food kitchen serving bacon cocktails. This list of amazing camps goes on forever. Some of my favorites were Spankey’s Wine Bar, the Contra Dancing camp, Spin Cycle hooping area and Mistastic misting area where one could relax on beanbags under refreshing misters.
Did I mention the dust? No account of Burning Man would be complete without remembering the talcum-powder like sand/dust that gets everywhere, and yes I mean everywhere. Feeling the warm dust on your face seemed to help one bond with the earth and each other in the shared experience. Some days it just gathered at your feet as a reminder that you were in the desert. Some days it blew around in white-out fury nearly stopping all activity where many retreated to Center camp for some coffee, performances and conversation.
One interesting thing i noticed while on the playa was the absence of trash cans. None. No dumpsters. Nothing beyond the plentiful port-o-potties. I’d heard no explanation for this but assume it is the organizers' way of making a Leave No Trace green 
consciousness statement. It does force one to consider their trash in a new way.
When people were active they rode around on bicycles, dramatic art-cars (the best way to travel, 5 MPH max), and everything in between. We moved from camp to camp stopping to chat, party and perform for each other. Nearly everybody wore a playa outfit of some sort. Elaborate body painting, flowing robes, bare breasts and more were the norm. Burning Man is a place to go to be free, be renewed, to release the past and create the future.
To learn more on the Burning Man story visit the official web site burningman.com and especially the What Is Burning Man and the First Years sections. Google or YouTube Burning Man for a feast of words and images that will delight your senses and ignite a desire to come play with us in the desert. I’ll be back in 2011 to witness and participate in the art theme: Rites of Passage. See you there.
I rolled with the Santa Cruz Fire Conclave dancers/spinners and TripDelight+friends on precussion
I found a great gallery of 2005 2006 2007 2008 videos on TV Free Burning Man
Burning Man Photos:
ArtCar . . . . . . . . .Center Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WolfBarbarian Stilters 
Amazing 50 foot statue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fire Poser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Trusted Old Friend
Love this guy from the Noodle Camp . . . . . . . . . A mobile Cock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PinkMan 
Some friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riding the wind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A friendly camp
Planning on going next year?
List of things to have at Burning Man:
Hammock
Camelback or similar (for portable hydration)
dust mask (for storms)
aloe gel (for sunburn)
gloves & shovel/rake (for cleanup)
bungees (for shade structure)
duct tape (for everything!)
flag for camp
breezy cot or chaise
lantern
ziplock bags, ziplock bags, ziplock bags (I only wish they made them in a 5 gallon size)
colored plastic wineglass instead of disposable; makes it easier to find your drink & creates zero trash
pitcher for mixing margaritas
cocktail shaker
wash basin
mesh bag for drying dishes
A reusable mug or cup for coffee and beverages at the Center Camp Cafe
lip balm-on-a-string (just put an "O"screw in the top)
water bottle holder
goggles
respirator or particle/dust mask
headlamp flashlight
clean towels (sealed in ziplocks
batteries, lots of 'em
rig some kind of basket on your bike
Food tip o' the day:
Dry ice keeps stuff cold longer
hard-boiled eggs
peanut butter & jelly sandwiches
Directions to Burning Man from Reno
From Reno, Nevada, take Hwy I-80 east for approximately 30 miles. Take the Wadsworth/Pyramid Lake exit #43 to Hwy 447.
Go 1.0 mile to Wadsworth and turn left, staying on Hwy 447 north. It's 75 mls to Empire, NV where gas and supplies are available. Continue 3.0 miles to Gerlach where gas is also available.
From Gerlach, go northwest on Highway 447 for one mile to the fork. Take the right-hand fork, Hwy 34, and continue 11 miles to the Burning Man entrance. Note: The 3-mile playa entrance (first turn-off) used in previous years should not be used. The 12-mile playa entrance just beyond ours will not take you to Burning Man and will be patrolled by BLM Rangers
I went to Burning Man to take a break from working and writing only to find living lessons in personal policies. Being outdoors in the sun is a Healthy thing to be doing. Hanging out and experiencing the marvels of the playa and it’s people builds Relationships among old friends and new alike. Learning to manage without cash, credit, stores or garbage collection is a lesson in Resources management. Being in a large community among fire, machinery and revelry is an exercise in Responsibility. Pretty much everything that goes on at Burning Man is an example of Creativity to the fullest. Being in BRC for five days reminded me that lessons in how to make and live personal policies come from anywhere.
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