09/11/2023
Gerlach 10-day weather forecast: mostly sunny, highs in the mid-80s, probability of precipitation 0-3%. What a difference a week makes.
And what a difference we made. Camp Conception, and our 28 intrepid campers, brought our gift to Burning Man Animalia 2023. Our camp looked as good as it ever has, and our events were popular and well-attended (only our Cha Cha Bi***es had to ditch stilettoes for Ziploc Slippers). That’s something to be proud of, especially in a year that threw up obstacles at every turn. We conquered adversity to ‘bring it’ to The Playa, or at least we thought we had. Mother Nature had plans of her own.
Getting onto The Playa this year was an ordeal: getting off was a nightmare. But even nightmares are short-lived, and day breaks – as it did for us. We pulled together, and we did what had to be done. It sucked, but we did it. And there were smiles and laughs along the way.
So, this is a BIG THANK YOU to all our 2023 Conception Campers, many of whom camped with us for the first time, and many of whom came from lands far-far-away to do so. Everyone’s participation and efforts made BM 2023 what it was. A big thanks as well to the greater Camp Conception community who provided: words of wisdom and support; critical Playa gear for our overseas campers; and help with the PIT and other Seattle tasks.
No one knows what the future holds for Burning Man at Black Rock City. No doubt changes will come – as they will for Camp Conception. But we have every confidence that wherever the Man Burns, Camp Conception will be there.