What Was Burningman 2023 Really Like
September 7, 2023 · 22 min · 62K views · Black Rock City
What this video covers
Burning Man 2023, held on a dry lake bed near Gerlach, Nevada, experienced approximately 10 to 12 hours of heavy rain that turned the playa into thick, impassable mud.7:57 The event, which hosts roughly 70,000 participants, faced a temporary shutdown of exit roads for approximately 40 hours.10:38 Despite media reports characterizing the situation as a humanitarian crisis, participants relied on the principle of radical self-reliance, maintaining sufficient food and water supplies to sustain themselves well beyond the delay.16:30
Camp infrastructure, including RVs, shade structures, and sound systems, remained functional throughout the weather event.11:30 While some attendees, including celebrities, hiked several miles to the highway to exit early, most camps utilized Starlink satellite internet to coordinate travel adjustments and assist neighbors.19:01 The exit process resumed Monday morning once the playa surface dried sufficiently for vehicle traffic.15:00 The rain actually reduced dust levels for the duration of the festival, making post-event cleanup of gear and vehicles easier than in previous, drier years.16:08
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