Burning Man festival road reopens, freeing many from muddy trap.

(This ⁣Sept. 4 story has been corrected to say burning of⁤ man effigy was delayed by two days, not one day, ‌in paragraphs 2 ‌and⁣ 17)

By Matt McKnight‍ and ⁤Anna Tong

BLACK ROCK CITY, Nevada (Reuters) – Burning Man Festival:⁤ Mud, Delayed Effigy, and an Epic Exodus

After days of⁢ being trapped by mud, tens of thousands of ​Burning‌ Man attendees finally have the ⁢chance to ‍escape the remote Nevada desert⁢ festival. However,‍ despite the⁤ delay, many of the remaining 64,000 people ‍may choose to stay one more night to witness the ‌festival’s grand finale – the burning of the giant effigy.

What ⁣was supposed⁤ to be⁣ a weeklong counterculture arts festival turned‍ into a muddy nightmare due to‍ unexpected summer rain. The closure of roads left up to⁤ 70,000 people stranded, conserving food ‌and water while waiting for the situation⁢ to improve.

Now, as⁢ the road reopens, a long​ line of vehicles ‍snakes through the⁤ desert, creating an epic ⁣traffic jam. Event organizers urge drivers to take it slow and consider delaying their departure until Tuesday‌ to reduce traffic congestion.

As​ the traffic forms into an organized exodus, an armada of recreational vehicles and cars embarks on the ‌5-mile dirt road ⁢journey to the nearest highway. The estimated travel time for this “exodus” is around 5-1/2 hours.

The festival takes⁣ place in Nevada’s Black ⁤Rock Desert, a remote location about 15 miles from the nearest town and 110 miles north of⁣ Reno. The site sits atop the former Lake Lahontan, adding to the challenges faced by attendees.

Despite the difficulties, the ⁢Burning Man ‍community⁢ has come together to support each other. Attendee David Date states, “We have food. We have provisions. We have shelter. So it’s really kind of a group effort to⁤ get through this.”

Unfortunately, one‍ person has died at the event, and an investigation is‌ underway. The festival’s ⁤volunteer, Evi Airy, describes the scene as “apocalyptic,” with ‍people, including young⁢ children, ‌enduring the cold and harsh conditions.

The festival’s iconic burning of the man effigy, originally scheduled for Saturday night, has been rescheduled for Monday night at 9 p.m. ​PDT. This event, accompanied by a fireworks show, marks the penultimate night of the festival.

Despite the challenges faced this year, Burning Man continues to attract tens of thousands of​ people who seek a unique experience⁣ of art, self-sufficiency, and community. As the festival draws to a close, attendees eagerly anticipate ⁢the‍ symbolic burning of the effigy,​ a moment that embodies the spirit of Burning ‍Man.

(Reporting by Matt McKnight and Anna Tong ⁣at Black Rock City, ⁢Rich McKay in Atlanta, and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Rosalba⁣ O’Brien, Nick Zieminski and⁣ Sandra Maler)

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