The infamous Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert in the US state of Nevada had to be shut down for two years due to the corona pandemic. But with the new edition, it cost its visitors a lot of nerves: on departure, many of them got stuck in a traffic jam lasting up to twelve hours – in the middle of the desert.
Actually, the festival went off without a hitch at first – but when the visitors tried to leave the Nevada desert at the same time, chaos ensued. Several Twitter profiles documented the difficulties of the departure.
Fuel ran out
“The wait time for the Exodus is currently about eight hours,” according to the Burning Man Project’s official Twitter account. “If you’re still in #BRC, wait a little longer before you leave. If you’re on Gate Road, park your vehicle to save gas and be patient. The teams are working to keep the roads safe and everyone safe to get home – refuel in Gerlach, because fuel is scarce in Empire.”
More than 80,000 people descended on the Black Rock Desert in Gerlach, Nevada to celebrate the return of Burning Man. “When we left at 8:38 pm last night, we were given six hours, but it took half of our group 10 hours and the other half of our group 12 hours to get to the gate. Departure system, estimations and communication definitely need to be improved,” wrote one visitor about the difficulties at departure.
Heat made it difficult for the visitors
Temperatures in the Nevada desert reached temperatures of well over 40 degrees Celsius during the week. The official Burning Man Traffic Twitter channel advised attendees to properly maintain their vehicle to withstand the extreme heat.
“Check your vehicle’s tires and air pressure after loading your vehicle. A local mechanic can check your radiator, tires, belts, brakes, hoses, lights and fluids.”
“We come back”
Despite all the problems at the departure, this could not spoil the mood of many visitors. “We’ll be back” or “It was worth it,” many announced that they would gladly go through such hardships one more time for the experience.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
