Burning Man reveler slams media and claims ‘we’re dancing in the rain’ despite one person dying after deluge left 75,000 stranded in Nevada desert – as officials hope to finally open road TODAY
A reveler trapped in the faded Burning Man has criticized the media for ‘exaggerating’ the chaos, claiming stubborn festival-goers keep the festival spirit alive and ‘dance in the rain’.
A social media influencer took to Facebook to offer a glimpse into the muddy terrain, dismissing rumors that an “Ebola outbreak” had occurred or that the National Guard had been sent to help stranded partygoers.
“The streets, muddy as they are, are full of good-natured revelers and survivalists making the most of it,” wrote the visitor, a travel influencer known online as “Wonderhussy.”
“Some build mud sculptures, some play music… and some just dance in the rain.”
The White House said President Biden was briefed on Saturday about the situation, which arose after a participant died from causes “unrelated to the weather” and up to 75,000 people were trapped in the swampy desert.
The downplaying of the disastrous festival comes as swampy roads in and out of the roads – which have been closed for three days due to the treacherous conditions – could open Monday afternoon.
As the freezing storms devastated the festival, some revelers are determined to keep the Burning Man spirit alive. Pictured: Chicago’s Shai Peza frolicking in the mud
Several cars got stuck in the mud as festival-goers tried to flee this weekend
A Burning Man contestant makes his way through the mud in Black Rock City
A social media influencer, who goes by the name of “Wonderhussy” online, offered a glimpse into the muddy desert
The claims from attendees about the party atmosphere at the boggy festival come as many online mocked those who said the muddy conditions were ‘distressing’.
Shocking aerial footage showed long lines of RVs and cars failing to break through the swampy roads.
But while some argue the festival has become a frigid, soggy hell, the travel influencer said the crisis is “slightly exaggerated.”
“I’m sure there are plenty of people sitting in their RVs and tents wondering what a disaster this is,” she said, noting that the streets are packed with people “making the most of the fiasco.”
“Some break camp, share their leftover food, and light communal fires with scrap wood… the roads are still too filthy for most vehicles to navigate, and many cars and RVs are stuck for the foreseeable future.”
She then noted a bizarre episode in which she was preparing to camp for the night when she “heard the sound of a drooping, sad tuba coming down the street.”
“The fact that some unyielding soul slogged through the rain and mud with a crazy TUBA just to create the doggy vibe has re-instilled my faith in this mess of a festival,” she continued.
“Despite reports to the contrary… the spirit of Burning Man is alive and well.”
She added that the low-key atmosphere at the event has been enhanced by the lack of “frat bros” and “Instagram models,” and is instead littered with “a bunch of muddy lunatics.”
A social media influencer took to Facebook to downplay the Burning Man crisis, saying people are still making the most of it and ‘dancing in the rain’
After the storms rolled through the event as the weekend rolled in, people were seen enjoying the muddy conditions
Burners try to walk out of Burning Man after torrential rain on Friday night, and a fleet of vehicles were stuck in mud after the storms made it ‘virtually impossible’ to drive through
Long queues of cars formed on Saturday and Sunday ahead of another downpour
Visitors wait for shuttles away from the desert and the cold weather sets in outside a playground in Gerlach, NV, on Sunday
Roads in and out of the Black Rock Desert have been closed since Saturday, leading officials to ominously warn attendees to conserve food and water.
The flood made the exit routes “virtually impossible” to drive through, and some attendees resorted to walking out of the swamp and across the desert to nearby towns.
Before officials were expected to announce plans to reopen the roads, organizers said Sunday evening that “conditions on the playa are improving” despite an “afternoon drizzle.”
With clear skies expected from Monday, organizers said they “expect Exodus to start on Monday morning, September 4, as long as conditions improve.”
Among those trying to walk away from the event was DJ Diplo, who shared on Instagram how he and comedian Chris Rock were finally able to hitch a ride on a pickup truck.
Diplo (left) and Chris Rock (right) found themselves amid the muddy chaos that descended on the Burning Man festival grounds and piggybacked off the chaos on Saturday
The travel influencer shared her insights from the event and continued her post by noting that “the cleanup process will be significantly more difficult this year” after the Flood.
“Mud-clogged bikes are left everywhere, bits and pieces of MOOP are buried in the already drying mud, and the surface of the playa is a mess,” she said.
Officials estimated on Sunday evening that the number of people left in the desert is about 72,000 people.
The traditional ‘burning of the man’ – in which a huge wooden statue is set on fire to conclude the festival – will now also take place on Monday.
A Burning Man visitor lies in the mud and water during the event
The crisis was triggered by a fierce storm system that swept across the west coast last week, hitting the normally burnt-out region on Friday evening with up to three months of rain in less than 24 hours.
The desert floor was turned into a thick, clayey mud that has caused travel chaos for tens of thousands of revelers.
Although officials at the festival announced a tragic death when the storms hit on Friday, they said the death was “unrelated to the weather.”
The organizers only confirmed that aid workers rushed to the desert after reports that a 40-year-old was in some form of medical emergency. They added that he could not be resuscitated but gave no further details.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating the death.