Any unwitting hiker fated to come across a particular site at the base of a glacier far up Squamish Valley Road last weekend would undoubtedly have been shocked by what he saw.
From July 15 to 17, hundreds of costumed campers danced, soaked in a hot tub or recited spoken word diatribes during the fourth annual Burn in the Forest.
But the stranger may well have found himself swept up by the open-arm welcome, and spent the rest of the weekend dancing, singing or performing alongside the young and old "Burners" - or participants of the legendary Burning Man Festival held in Nevada every year. Burn in the Forest is meant to keep die-hard Burners in touch with each other and their own creativity between massive annual gatherings in the Black Rock desert of Nevada. It's one of two large Burning Man reunions held in the province each year.
The original Burning Man began on the summer solstice in 1986 when Larry Harvey, Jerry James, and a few friends met on Baker Beach in San Francisco and burned an eight-foot tall wooden man as well as a smaller wooden dog. The inspiration for burning these effigy figures has been shrouded in mystery by Harvey, who described it as "a spontaneous act of radical self-expression."
Burning Man grows every year, but a vast amount of North America's mainstream society has never heard of it. That's because the philosophy is completely participant and experience-oriented and shuns commercialism and advertising.
A self-proclaimed cult - said only tongue-in-cheek - Burning Man groupies have created a philosophy out of experiences shared at the event, and one such belief promotes "radical inclusion," a respect and welcoming of strangers.
"Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic," states a Burning Man website. "Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play."
Hundreds of people gathered from all over the province and beyond in the Squamish Valley forest with lighting, sound systems, costumes, food, and combined it all to share in the experience.
"Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture," states the website. "Our community is committed to a racially participatory ethic. We make the world real through actions that open the heart."
Participants give and receive gifts of experience such as setting up speakers in outhouses to whisper messages to unsuspecting Burners. Others work all day to dig mud pits and run copper tubing to create a giant communal hot tub.
Admission is free, but donations are happily accepted and put into the Burning Man Vancouver community fund.
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