Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the bigger picture?

• Participation: The event is not for spectators or tourists. It is a celebration of participants. Anyone camping with Above The Limit is expected to participate. We are all about working together to contribute to a great camp member experience and to offer amazing things to the playa.
• Even though Burning Man is truly overwhelming to the first-time visitor, participation is an essential part of getting the most out of your experience at Burning Man. Think of ways each of you can contribute to everyone’s experience at the event. This could range from intense sharing of ideas, the handing out of small and thoughtful gifts for people (this can range from crafted glass trinkets through fresh ice cream cones), helping people assemble or repair their camp, volunteering (we have a great relationship with the Volunteer Resources Team to provide camp members with the opportunity of working with other projects), giving a ride to a bicyclist with a flat tire (there’s a repair camp), and/or just making sure that every member and visitor at Above The Limit is cordially welcomed as you would a guest in your own home. Be kind, contribute, and participate!

What "is" Burning Man?

• What is Burning Man?
• The Burning Man Ten Principles
• Burning Man Introduction on Wikipedia

What do I need to know as a First Time Burner?

• First Timer's Guide: If you're going, read it all!!!
• Survival Guide: Required reading each year!
• Tickets: If you have not already purchased your tickets to the event, please do so soonest. The deadline for online ticketing is July 31. Any tickets ordered after that are subject to will-call delays, which can add hours to your Customs & Immigration experience (unless you're arriving by air). If you haven’t already ordered your ticket, please email us when you ordered it. Tickets can be purchased online here.
• Early Arrivals: Anyone on the Early Arrivals list must have a ticket and a bar-coded Early Arrivals document before leaving for the playa, or you will not be allowed entrance before the gates officially open at one minute past midnight Monday morning.
• Travel between Reno and the Event: For those of you driving, travel time from Reno is approximately two hours + customs & immigration formalities when heading to the Burn and up to six or more hours returning due to Exodus delays. For those of you flying into Reno, you may be able to rent a car, arrange space in advance on the Airport Bus, or for the ultimate Rock Star entrance, you may be able to book passage on the Air Shuttle (we can help with this). Note that rental car agencies may charge up to $250 in cleaning fees on the return of your vehicle unless it has been completely de-playafied! Allow at least two hours at a car wash to accomplish this.
• Equipment: Burning Man is a Radical Self-Reliance event here is a guide on what to bring: Please note that Camp Above The Limit’s Minimum Equipment List requires that you bring goggles, Chap Stick/lip balm, and headlamps. Lightweight motorcycle goggles are strongly recommended; just be sure that your eyes can be completely shielded in the event of a dust storm. Bandanas make great dust masks! Also highly recommended: a Camelback or equivalent liquid container that you can take with you as you wander about, loaded with protein bars, snacks, and Emergen-C.
• Water: Burning Man takes place in a desert so plan accordingly. The formula for how much water you need for drinking, cleaning, and showering is roughly 1.5 gallons per person per day. So for the mathematically challenged in camp that would be:
  
  
  • 1 person + 3 days on playa = about 4.5 gal
  • 1 person + 4 days on playa = about 6 gal
  • 1 person + 5 days on playa = about 7.5 gal
  • 1 person + 6 days on playa = about 9 gal
  • 1 person + 7 days on playa = about 10.5 gal
  
  Water is both valuable and heavy, you do not want to haul water you don’t need to camp. Do NOT bring water in disposable plastic bottles, they are expensive and generate excess trash that will need to be hauled off-playa once the event is over (not to mention they would probably sit in a landfill for the next 1,000+ years). Instead get lager capacity jugs for transport and storage, and refillable bottles (like nalgene bottles) to drink from.
• Cell phones: There is no cell phone service on the playa! The nearest pay phone is in the town of Empire 20 miles away, and that requiresa $20 exit/return fee.
• Bikes at Burning Man: Bikes are the most common mode mode of transport on the playa, and all participants are strongly encouraged to bring one. However, the playa does tend to destroy most mechanical/metal things, so a "nice" bike is not recommended. What ever you bring should: a) be in good working order, b) have a comfy seat (being saddle sore in the desert is not a good time), and c) have wide tires (road bikes are generally not recommended). Since this is a "Radical Self Reliance" event, anyone who brings a bike should also bring or otherwise arrange in advance to have some spare tubes, a pump, and the knowledge of how to change a bike tire. Other camp members will probably be more than willing to help with repairs if asked, but don't rely the kindness of others to keep your bike running. Find out more here.
• Night Illumination: YOU MUST LIGHT YOUR BIKE AND YOUR BODY AT NIGHT! When you walk or ride around at night, don’t be a Darktard! You run serious risk of injury if you don’t have lights front and back. Countless accidents have taken place because people weren’t wearing lights and someone rode/drove/ran into (or over) them. It costs over $2,000 to be airlifted off the playa to the nearest hospitals (Reno), and injured parties usually miss the rest of the event. Be safe—be seen!
• ELWire, ELTape, Blinkies, Glow Sticks, and Illumination: Some of the most amazing personal art effects are achieved through the use of battery-powered electro-luminescent wire or tape. You don’t have to spend a fortune on this, but it is quite possible to do so. Lots of participants will also have Blinkies (often re-usable) and Glow Sticks (one use only) of all colors and sizes; they’re very important for being seen at night, not to mention a general fashion statement of their own. Remember, Glow Sticks only last one night each, so stock accordingly! It’s very cool to adorn bikes with EL wire, blinkies, and/or three glow sticks and a few glow strands for the spokes for maximum visibility. Just don't shed your glow, as it's bad MOOP! Here are some links for glow supplies.
• Theme Camps: Here’s the 2009 Theme Camp Directory. Yes, there were over 700. A few words about Theme Camps in general. Before leaving for the playa, many Burners often print out the list of the theme camps they'd like to visit.
• Playa Calendar: Once it's opened each year, this list features a day-by-day, hour-by-hour list of the thousands of events going on around the clock. Events are constantly being added up to the event. Before leaving for the playa, many Burners often print out the list of events and highlight the ones of special interest.
• Vehicle protocols
• Securing your structure This includes sections on tents and rebar.
• Heloise of the Playa: (very important comfort tips here)
• Art Theme: This year’s Burning Man theme is: Metropolis: The Life of Cities
• Playa Names. Sometimes they are chosen for us (not always with results we appreciate), sometimes we choose them for ourselves (generally preferable), but having playa names promotes the general spirit of wild anonymous abandon on the desert.

What do I need to know about Camp Above The Limit?

• Becoming a member of Above The Limit
• Sponsors: Each new person participating in Above The Limit is sponsored by a senior camp member. This individual will be responsible for helping you as a new member of the camp to get the most from your experience.
• Camp Contribution: Every camp member contributes. For members who are not contributing to the camp infrastructure and building the camp, we accept a per-person donation to cover water, kitchen facilities, shower facilities, grey water evaporation, trash facilities, generators, fuel, mutant vehicle expenses, structures, equipment transportation, beer, bar supplies, equipment shipment, and storage. Please note that every member of the camp is expected to work daily to keep the camp clean.
• Art Theme: We’ll be supporting this year’s art theme of Metropolis through the introduction of the Cityscape Bar and Skyline Lounge. We suggest that you include Metropolis-related themes in your costuming and planning.
• Bicycles: Bikes are strongly recommended for all camp participants, as the distances are too vast to walk. The camp has some spare bicycles that are available by advance arrangement.
• Costco Barns: These are extremely useful for camping at the event. They are 10’ wide x 20’ long x 9’ high, and two people can assemble them in an hour. One can make a self-contained living space shielded from the wind into which one can put a tent, chairs, and personal belongings. They cost around $180. Above The Limit maintains around ten of these that are available by advance arrangement.
• Alcohol: Above The Limit members are required to bring one bottle of the alcohol of their choice to the event.
• Serving Alcohol to Minors: Just as anywhere else in the USA, it is illegal to serve alcohol to minors. Big Brother--as in law enforcement, both in uniform and undercover--is watching. Above The Limit does not serve alcohol to minors, and serving staff are required to card anyone who appears underage. Even if a guest to camp shows up with no pockets (e.g wearing their birthday suit), if they look underage they still need ID.
• Personal Responsibility: You are personally responsible for everything you do while you are at Burning Man and participating in Above The Limit. Above The Limit is a collection of independent parties. You are responsible for yourself at all times, in every regard, as you approach, once you enter, and as you leave Black Rock City. Above and beyond the provision for individual survival, every camp member is required to help ensure our collective survival by following common sense rules relating to public safety and community well-being. Every participant at the event is expected to abide by these standards. Community membership in Above The Limit is a privilege, as is attendance at Burning Man. Violation of these requirements could result in ejection from the community. Individuals camping at Above The Limit accept no liability for anyone or anything other than themselves and their individual actions. All individuals camping with Above The Limit agree to be bound by these terms. Burning Man Participant Survival Responsibilities.
• Illegal Drugs: While on the playa, ALL STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS APPLY. Big Brother--as in law enforcement, both in uniform and undercover--is watching. The camp collectively and camp members individually take no responsibility for any importation or use of illegal drugs in our camp. We do alcohol, OK?
• Costumes and Attire: Black Rock fashion ranges from the simplest (Sneakers and a Smile) to the most elaborate and outrageous imaginable. Camp members may wish to attire themselves according to any theme they desire. Plush, fur, Goth, disco, Steampunk, Bedouin, and desert rat grungy are all common. Do keep in mind that the sun is very, very hot, and SPF 30+ sunscreen only lasts so long. At night, anything goes. A variety of outfits and different hats is recommended. Comfortable walking shoes are STRONGLY recommended at all times; sandals aren’t, and bare feet are right out! Remember, anything you take out there will get very, very dusty.