More than 70,000 people, trapped in the desert with no escape for three days. That was the reality for Burning Man festival attendees in 2023. 

Here's how it happened.

The weather conditions that spelled trouble

The equivalent of several months of rain fell over the Black Rock Desert — and it happened during the driest time of the year.

The Black Rock Playa sits on the ancient lakebed of Lake Lahontan. Normally its surface is hard-packed and dusty.

But the clay in that soil expands when it gets wet. Add enough rain, and the ground turns into a thick, muddy mess that's nearly impossible to traverse.

It was so difficult that most vehicles couldn't navigate it. Many that tried got stuck — making it even harder for anyone else to leave.

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Then, to top it off, sunshine and warmth would have dried things out faster. Instead, overcast skies and steady rain kept the ground wet — extending the clock. 

The impacts and aftermath

Festival attendees were told to ration and conserve their food, water and fuel, as instructed through the "2023 Wet Playa Survival Guide" created by event organizers.

DJ and producer Diplo had to hitch a ride out of Black Rock City in the back of a pickup truck with comedian Chris Rock on Saturday.

"I legit walked the side of the road for hours with my thumb out cuz I have a show in DC tonight and didn't want to let y'all down," he captioned a post on his Instagram, documenting his experience.

Eventually, "exodus operations" began, with people still trying to leave days after the festival was supposed to end.

Content writer Ada Wood enjoys exploring the stories that science and climate teach us about our natural world and how it influences the way we live in it.