Burning Man: Inside the bizarre annual festival in the Nevada desert

By TORREY ANDERSONSCHOEPE

Every year during the last week of August more than 60,000 people from across the globe flock to Nevada's hot, dusty, Black Rock Desert, suddenly transforming it into a bustling city centered on radical self-reliance and self-expression that's part art show, rave and music festival -- complete with giant fire-shooting robots. Nine days later, it all disappears with no trace of humans left behind.

Burning Man was started in 1986 by Larry Harvey and Jerry James, who held an annual fire party at Baker Beach in San Francisco. When police eventually kicked them out, they took their tradition to the desert. Since then it has turned into a massive event attended by people from all over the world.

Take a glimpse inside Burning Man festivals of years past:

The name Burning Man comes from the giant wooden structure, among many other large sculptures that pepper the barren landscape, and disappears into a roaring fire that marks the end of the festival.

"You leave no trace. Anything you bring comes back with you," says Anton Tumas, a 34-year-old DJ who is going to the festival for the seventh time this year. "There's no trash cans, there's nothing. It radically changes how you see things and how you approach things."

Self-reliance and self-expression are at the core of the experience.

The veteran "Burner," as attendees are called, explains, "People go there with the mindset to completely let go of their everyday world and be in that space and share that space with others. You go past your comfort zone ... see how much more of yourself you can share and how many different ways."

But going to the desert event takes a lot of preparation. The only things sold at the festival are ice and coffee so you have to be fully self-sustainable.

"The elements are rough out there ... you have to take care of yourself," Tumas says. "There could be a huge sand storm or dust storm any moment and you have to be ready for that. You don't leave your camp without water, a dust mask and goggles."

You also have to be ready to see some really bizarre things. Everyone there is encouraged to express themselves however they want.

"The human expression in all forms, what that can look like in that setting never ceases to amaze me," Tumas says.

Here are some snapshots he took from his past trips:

Esther Hwang, a 27-year-old marketing manager, is going to the festival for the first time this year.

"I have only heard great things about burning man and how it changes your perspective on life. I'm going because it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience with freedom of self expression without any judgement," she says.

"The principle of self reliance is something I need to get adjusted to, but I see it as a fun challenge ... A friend had given me advice to accept and embrace every moment whether I am with my friends, strangers, or even unexpectedly alone."

Out in the desert, anything can happen. So if you plan on becoming a Burner, get your light-up hula-hoops, glow sticks and wings ready, and make sure you're prepared for temperatures that can range from triple digits during the day to near-freezing temperatures at night.

And above all, prepare yourself for a bizarre and likely life-changing experience -- and don't leave anything behind.

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