I've never been -- yet. But once I came close -- accidentally.
Years ago I decided to spend a long weekend at the Black Rock -- but forgetting that it was Burning Man week. Coming down from the north, driving the stretch from Cedarville to Gerlach on NV 447, I caught up with a car that flagged me down. A couple of guys with excited faces and glowing eyes asked me, "Is this the way to Burning Man?"
Oh...that's right -- this must be the end of Burning Man week. "Yep, it's thataway", I said. ("...if you can keep your car on the road...", I thought to myself).
When I got to the first playa access point north of Gerlach it was dark, but I could see the big glowing city out there to the east. It was quite the scene...news helicopters circling overhead and everything.
I continued on up the road and turned on to the playa at a distant access point and spent the weekend near Black Rock Point, hot springs, mostly all by myself. Two days later I drove back south down 34, and as I passed the access point for The City I saw hundreds -- or thousands, I suppose -- of cars, trucks, and RVs lined up to get off the playa. I continued on my way, happy to not be in that line. (the number of Class A motorhomes in the line suggested that these aren't just poor art-hippies out there)
Though I've never attended, I've always admired the very cool art installations that folks have put up at Burning Man, as shown on the
Burning Man website over the years.
Amazingly creative stuff!