However, some took their chances earlier by walking through the sludge, including acclaimed DJ Diplo and comedian Chris Rock, who walked for miles until a fan let them hitch a ride.
“Some kid recognised me on the road and said, ‘Hey, I’ll give you a ride for the next two miles.’ And of course, we gladly took it.” Diplo said, posting images on his social media account.
Meanwhile, many other revellers opted to stay hoping that the lines to get our were shorter by Tuesday, or to take part in the much anticipated conclusion of the event: the ceremonial burning of a 23-metre effigy.
“This is going to be one of those years when you look back and say, oh I was there in 2023,” festival goer Bobby White told CNN.
“It is kind of a bonding thing, and that’s kinda the whole thing about Burning Man: it’s the journey not the destination – and this is definitely part of the journey.”
Burning Man is a counterculture festival that began in 1986 and attracts tens of thousands of people each year, from ordinary partygoers and emerging artists, DJs and performers, to celebrities and influencers.
It has, however, faced criticism over the increasing number of cashed up people using petrol-guzzling RV and generators, and for the environmental impact of creating a temporary city for tens of thousands of people in the Nevada desert.
This year was no different, when a small group of climate protesters caused gridlock by blocking the road with a trailer and accused attendees of a privileged mindset.
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