Where People Sleep At Black Rock City

By the end of the week, people were already starting to dismantle their camps.  This was kind of sad, but also very interesting.  Fascinating to see what was behind the scenes of the public camp spaces to the places where people are actually sleeping and keeping their personal belongings.  

People need protection from the elements - the heat, cold, dust, rain, pelting wind, etc.

I really don't understand how people get these shipping containers to Black Rock City or how they remove them.  I did not see any big trucks anywhere or a forklift big enough to lift this thing, but I saw a lot of these in camps.  People were hanging out inside them, on the roof, etc.  It seems sort of creepy to me to sleep inside something like this, but people were doing it.

Aft

After this camp removed the large public structures out on the street, it was fascinating to see these traditional canvas yurts set up for living spaces.

 These fold up yurts seemed to be pretty common and popular.  They are just put together of sheets of rigid foam insulation that is foil wrapped.  These seem to be especially good for reflecting heat.  Not sure how well they kept the dust out, but hey, my RV was full of dust despite our preparations.  

These are just a few of the lodgings I was able to snap a photo of.  I know a lot of the "walk in campers" had regular camping tents.

Camping at Black Rock City

 Black Rock City is laid out in a circular grid before anyone arrives.  There are street names (alphabetical from Center Camp) and the cross streets are set up with times like a clock.  Most people who plan ahead to come will register for placement assignments.  This way, they can make sure all the people in their camp will have a spot for their camping equipment.  Some camps have a community kitchen.  Some even have power available for RVs.  These camps charge for the campers to be a part of the camp.  They also have job assignments for the campers.

We got our tickets just weeks before Burning Man, so we opted to camp in what is called Open Camping.  After we arrived, we just wandered a bit until we found a location we liked.  All the Open Camping is out on the perimeter of Black Rock City - quite a ways from most of the activity.  

We got to see a lot of parts of Black Rock City when we were walking or biking back from our activities.  It is really interesting to see how people establish their camps.  

Here is a photo taken from the top level of an art car as we rode back to their camp one afternoon:

Tomorrow, I will share some of the other camp set ups.  

Black Rock City - What it is built on

 Black Rock City is built on a dried up lakebed from millenia.  The surface dust is composed of silicon dioxide, organic matter, and aluminum oxide.  It has a very high alkalinity and the particles are very fine.  It sticks to everything and coats all surfaces.  It is very hard to remove.  People use vinegar, citric acid, witch hazel and Calgon to help clean up after Burning Man.  Here are a few of my dirt photos: 

When it gets deep and rutty like this, it became very difficult for me to ride my bike around.  My thighs were covered with bruises from being knocked around on my ebike.  After a while, I just stopped riding it and walked.  Walking had the advantage that people would pick me up and give me a ride around.  

About Mud at Burning Man

 Yes, we were warned about the possibility of rain during Burning Man Week.  Yes, it rained one night.  I had to get to the porta potty in the morning - this is what my rainboots looked like afterwards.

Here is what the camp looked like outside our van.

This gumbo really mucks up bicycle tires, so after it dried up a bit, we ventured out in our rainboots.  

It did dry up pretty quickly after the sun came this day.  The great advantage of this rain is it settled the dust for a couple of days.  

About the Dust at Burning Man

This is me at the temple on our first full day, Tuesday.  Also known as Tutu Tuesday.

We knew there would be dust.  We came prepared with goggles and dust masks.

But really, you can't really quite know what it will be like to experience it.

Here I am in the dust.  We rode our bikes out to the Deep Playa the first day, determined to see as much of the art as we could possibly see during our week at Black Rock City.

This is me at one of the temple entrances.  It was super dusty when we arrived at the Temple.

This sculpture is one that was actually enhanced by the dust - so ethereal!

Elizabeth posing in front of an art car.

 Here we are - ready to venture out onto the Deep Playa our first full day.  It was Tutu Tuesday and I am wearing my turquoise tutu and we are both covered in our goggles and dust masks.  It got worse and then it sort of cleared up later in the day.  We did not allow the dust to stop us as long as we could still see something - at least a bit.  There were white outs, though - times that everyone just had to stop moving because nobody can see anything.  You just stay put someplace until it passes over.  

Playa Penguins

The flock of penguins was a popular installation, new for 2026.

We were fortunate to meet the artist, a woman from Whitefish, Montana and it was great fun talking to her about her art.  She said they brought all these penguins with them in their RV - apparently they were piled on every surface.  

After the event, some were going to nearby Fry Ranch (owned by Burningman Inc.) and I think the others were going to find a home, as well.  

 

Smaller Sized Art at Burning Man 2026

I was very lucky to meet this artist at his art installation on this particular day.  He was there doing maintenance, which involved picking up vodka bottles some visitor had left behind the previous night.  No doubt, he was also checking on the lighting system and the batteries.  He is from San Francisco, is an illustrator, and he told me this piece is going into a gallery, where he has a solo show coming up soon.

Not every piece of art at Black Rock City is huge, but they do encourage art that is interactive.  This piece has all kinds of drawers with things hidden inside.  There are keys to unlock the cabinet doors.  It was fascinating talking to him about how he poured the concrete pads in place, bringing prebuilt forms from home.  The construction comes apart easily so it is easy to transport. I'm not sure how they were going to be removing the concrete afterwards, though - because everything has to be removed in order to comply with the "leave no trace" policy.  I expect the paid Black Rock City Maintenance crew comes in with large equipment for some of that.....

Big Burning Man Art

 

There were over 300 art installations at Burning Man 2026.  They are spread out over 3935 square acres.  These are just a few of the larger ones.

Every piece of art must be lit up at night.  There are no street lights out on the playa, and people are riding around on their bicycles and in art cars - everything must be lit up.  So, every artist - or their crew, must build and maintain a system of lighting for their art.  Most of them are lit up using solar energy.  Wires and pipes can be buried underground, but everything has to be removed after the event.  This is a "leave no trace" event.

Back from Burning Man 2026!!

I have not written in this blog for 10 years, but I feel it is time to revive it!

I have been home from Burning Man less than 3 weeks.  It was beyond amazing to experience.  Both very challenging and very inspiring.  The art and creativity of the participants was overwhelming!  The execution of the construction of the camps and the art and the art cars - all for just a week spent in Black Rock City - this was mind blowing.  I know what we went through just to get ourselves there and back!

The weather was also overwhelming - dust storms three days - these days it was, at times a complete white out that could go on for hours.   The wind blew and blew.  Dust got into the van in spite of our efforts to seal off doors and windows.  It crept into every nook and cranny and the dust is nearly impossible to remove entirely.  It is all minerals and the ionic properties cause it to bond with every surface.   

This weather / dust made for ethereal viewing of the art installations.  It also made the calm days feel precious.

At the end of the week, there is a celebration involving the burning of the man - the wooden structure at the center of the Playa.  This is a party unlike any other.  The fire dancers, the fireworks display, the circle of over 200 art cars around the Man - all lit up and playing music as loud as possible.  People dancing everywhere.  

Garden Visitor

 I was thrilled to catch a shot of this hummer flitting through the garden.

Naturalizing with Iris

These two clumps are looking good along the driveway.  They are never watered other than what falls from the sky.  I did pull the weeds that were invading them, but other than that - no care.  Awesome!  My plan is that whenever I need to divide or move an iris clump, I will plug it in somewhere and let it fend for itself!  Tough little plants.  Gotta love them.

Iced Wine - Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris

Iced Wine was introduced by Chuck Chapman in 1999. 

Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris - Cat's Eye

 This is a very showy iris across the garden.  Red iris are very rare and many hybridizers are trying to create one.  This one was introduced by Paul Black in 2002.  It has been sort of slow to establish and I am hoping for a nice clump someday.  I would plant it in other spots if I had enough increases - I really like the color.

Banded Tiger - Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris

I have two nice clumps of this one.  It is taller than some of the other dwarf iris and it makes a striking clump.  It was introduced by Schmieder in 2006.

Dwarf Bearded Iris - Rosalie Loving

Rosalie Loving is a Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris introduced by Spoon 2003.  It can be a rebloomer.  It is a strong grower for me in Montana Zone 4.

Dwarf Bearded Iris Zoomboomafoo

 Photos taken at two different times.  The light has a real impact on how an iris looks.  Bottom line - this colorful little iris looks great in any light!

Zoomboomafoo was introduced by Paul Black in 2007.  It is 14" tall.

Miniature Dwarf Bearded Iris - Delft Elf

 I have a little clump of "Delft Elf" near the door to my studio.   It struggles - mainly because in the heat of summer, my dog sometimes decides to dig a bed in the soil there.  I love the dainty little flowers!

Seedling Beds

 Last fall, I finished building the seedling beds below the driveway.  I am a little astonished by how quickly they fill up with a few little seeds!   I was hoping I could do with just this set of seedling beds, but I may have to build more.  Groan....

Germinating Iris Seeds

I've had these iris seeds in the refrigerator in moist peat moss for many weeks hoping they would sprout.  So excited to see these little babies germinating.  I have begun planting them in the seedling bed.

i. lutescens

 I really love this species iris, native to Crimea.  It is called i. lutescens.  I have naturalized with it all around the driveway.  One of the first iris to open in the early spring.  It was first identified in 1789.