DEEP HOUSE, mental sunrises, and soul throbbing vibes. burning man is anything and EVERYTHING you want it to be.

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it's only by this meeting that a new world is born." - Anaïs Nin

I’m not here to repeat what everyone says about Burning Man, “I can’t even describe it, you just have to go…” As much truth as there is in that statement, I am going to do my best to explain why I think that you SHOULD go to Burning Man at least once in your life.

In this blog post, I cover:

Why you should go to Burning Man
3 Myths about Burning Man that I Bust
The Packing Guide for Burning Man: 9 Things you NEED to Survive Burning Man

Why you should come to Burning Man

Burning Man is unlike any place in the entire world! Here’s how I can explain Burning Man simply. Burning Man is a place in the middle of the desert where you go to practice radical self-reliance and self-expression. It’s a place where you can show your creativity, give back, spread kindness and happiness, and where you can be anyone or anything you want to be. It’s almost an alternate reality. There is no cell phone service or concept of time, which allows you to find inner peace and serenity in the present moment.

Here's a video that Chris shot of our Burning Man experience in 2015. If this doesn't convince you to go to Burning Man, I don't know what will!

3 Myths about Burning Man

Below are three false accusations and myths that people who haven’t been to Burning Man assume about it.

Myth #1: “You need to know or be a part of a camp to go to Burning Man.” –

This is false! Grab a group of friends and send it! There are designated camps and it is a lot of fun to be a part of an official Burning Man camp, but it is definitely not required and should not prevent you from going. It is just desert camping. Once you enter The Playa, you are free to camp anywhere that is not a part of an official camp.

I was not involved with an official camp the first year at Burning Man. Chris and I parked our van next to four of our closest friends and we made our own little spot behind a camp called, “Camp Suburbia”. We ended up becoming good friends with them and joined their official camp the next year! Do not be discouraged if you are not involved with an official camp, grab your crew and send it!

Myth #2: “Burning Man is a barter system, I don’t know what to bring to trade."

Burning Man is not a barter system. You do not trade one thing for another. Instead, think of Burning Man as a gifting society. Everyone wants to spread kindness and do things for others. It is the foundation on which Burning Man was founded. For instance, Distrikt camp throws a daily, massive sunset dance party. They build an incredible stage, host incredible DJ's, and offer cold, blended alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They don't expect you to bring something in exchange for their gift. Distrikt's sunset party is what they provide for The Playa. Think of something to give or some way to give back to The Playa. Don't be a spectator, instead, participate! Burning man thrives on contribution. If everyone was a spectator, the experience would fall apart.

How do I contribute? I provide polaroid photos for The Playa each year. I walk around with a polaroid camera and a sharpie and take photos for people and write down beautiful quotes for them. Chris and I also make “Love Sandwiches” at sunrise, which are bacon and Nutella sandwiches. Don’t judge until you’ve tried them. They are to die for!

Myth #3: “Everyone is on drugs at Burning Man.”

Not everyone at Burning Man is on drugs. Yes, there are people who take drugs for the reason of their choosing; spiritual, recreational, both… but I like to describe Burning Man as a place where you can have whatever experience you want! Some people bring their children to Burning Man. Chris brings his parents! Some people like to see all of the art instillations. Some people like to go just for the sake of running a funky camp like “Roller Disco” or “Slut Put”. Others enjoy sex parties. But the best part about it all is you can choose your Burning Man experience, if you don’t want to be involved in a something, you will never see it.

Here’s a picture of a feeling, perhaps one of my favorite experiences at Burning Man. I’m on top of the on the stage at Distrikt, dancing my heart out to deep house, the hot sun is off to bed, and the desert sky lights up beautiful shades of orange and pink. I look out in the crowd and everyone is wearing the most outrageous outfits and colors and they are all covered in the same beautiful white playa dust that makes them look absolutely breathtaking. Both men and women look at you and smile not only with their mouth but with their eyes too. And in that moment, you feel like you are the most beautiful creature in the world, not just on the outside but the inside too. And as I look around, while I am dancing on top of the stage at Distrikt, I think to myself, “This place is f*cking out of this world.”

Another epic experience we had at Burning Man 2017 was tarp surfing in the middle of the desert. YES. Tarp Surfing. The BOUNCE Art Car brought this huge blue tarp out to the middle of the playa along with dirt skateboards and manually created a wave in the middle of the desert. We got totally pitted. IT. WAS. AWESOME.

Come and burn with me. Send me a message below.

Xx - Erin

The Packing Guide for Burning MaN:

9 Things you NEED to Survive Burning Man

Walmart or Target has the best bikes! Don't be afraid to decorate your bike!

If you could only bring 9 things to Burning Man besides your basics; food, water, and shelter, here’s what you will need to survive AND thrive!

1) A Bicycle

You need a Bike to get around Burning Man. You will be left behind everyday if you do not have a Bike. Feel free to decorate your bike with fur and all of the LED lights! The more you are lit up at night the better! I recommend getting a Beach Cruiser from Walmart (they are the most comfortable) and LED lights from Amazon for your bike!

2) LED Lights + Fur Coat

LED Lights are a MUST! You need to be very lit up at night so that those who are driving art cars, riding their bikes, or even walking can see you! You will also need a fur coat to keep you warm at night. Temperatures drop very low, remember you are in a desert and nights can get extremely cold! I recommend buying LED lights and sewing them into your Fur Coat. I’ve also included links to my recommended LED lights that you can wear as well as my favorite Fur Coats.

In our Spirit Hoods riding around The Playa at sunset!

Fun LED’s
Fur Coats:
- Spirit Hoods (sew in LED lights)
- J Valentine's Light-Up Hood

3)

Water Bottle + I.D.

You will need an insulated water bottle with a lid and a carabineer for Burning Man. Bring this with you when you go exploring during the day or at night in order to get drinks at the bars. Bar’s will not give you cups so you need to bring your own. Also don’t forget to bring your ID to prove you are 21 years old. A copy of your I.D. or passport will do.

4) Wet Wipes or Make Up Remover Wipes

Wet Wipes or Make Up Remover Wipes will be your savior and also your shower for 7-10 days. So don’t forget them. My favorite is the Neutrogena MakeUp Remover 5-pack from Costco!

5) Camelback

The Camelback is extremely important for staying hydrated with water every day. Remember that you are in the middle of the desert. The days can be extremely hot, windy, and dusty, and the nights can be very cold. Not to mention you are moving a lot, whether you are biking, walking, or dancing. I make sure my camelback is topped off every time I leave camp.

Here are some things I like to keep in my Camelback Backpack:

Noka Superfood Packs (great if you get dehydrated or hungry, they are little energy packs)
Gushers
GoPro HERO6 + Shorty Mount
Polaroid Camera
I.D.
Water bottle with Carabineer

6) Sunglasses, Goggles, and Face Mask

This seems like an obvious one but it's important to have Sunglasses (can be cheap ones) to protect your eyes from the desert sun and harsh wind/ dust storms. As for goggles, I don’t personally wear my goggles very much but if you wear contacts you will need goggles to protect your eyes during Burning Man’s famous dust storms. Lastly, a face mask is an important survival item in the dust storms. A face mask can be a bandana, infinity scarf, or any piece of fabric that can be used to cover your nose and mouth.

7) Substantial Shelter

In my opinion, a Camper Van or an RV is the best shelter for burning man for multiple reasons. Camper vans and RV’s can withstand wind and dust storms very well. They also have luxuries like a refrigerator, stove, microwave and air-conditioning, which can be very nice after a couple days of dancing it up.

Be mindful that a camper van and RV is a luxury and not necessary for having a good time at The Burn. If you don’t have a Van/ RV, I would recommend buying or building a Yurt or a military tent. Yurts are preferred because they reflect the sun and heat and are really good at keeping the dust out during dust storms. Do not plan on going to Burning Man with a camping tent from Walmart, all of your belongings will get covered in an incredible amount of playa dust within 24 hours, you will not be able to sleep past sunrise, and you will end up finding shelter elsewhere.

8) Ice Chest, Solar or Propane Refrigerator

Keeping your food and drinks cold is a must. Think of burning man as extreme desert camping! Pack what you would if you were going backpacking in Utah towards the end of summer. If you are tent camping, buy a big ice chest and fill it up with dry ice in Reno. The dry ice will last a couple days and will allow your normal ice to last longer than normal as well. Once you are at Burning Man the two things you can buy with cash are ice and coffee, so make sure to bring cash for ice!

9) Hang Out Zone Essentials – Table, Camper Chairs, Awning or Tent (if you are not a part of a camp)

A lot of time at Burning Man is spent at your camp, think of it as your home base. Whether you are with an official camp or making your own camp, I recommend the below items to create a nice hang out zone.

Fold Up Camping Table
Camping Chairs or if you have the space, an old couch (you can find some for free on craigslist)
Awning
Rug or Tarp (that you don’t care about getting dusty)
Camping stove (if you don’t have a van or RV with a stove)

I hope this guide helps those who are coming to burning man for the first time and I hope to see you on the playa this year. Contact me on Instagram and let me know where you are camping and as always let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!

Xx,

Erin

Burning Man. Come Burn With Me.