Getting to Burning Man
This is based on an email to Emmet Shine in 2013.
If you're outside of driving distance from Reno Nevada, and don't have a huge understanding of what the burn is, this is a simple (10 step) guide for getting into the desert and staying alive. Granted there are a lot of other niceties and supplies one might want, but this was about getting there and experiencing it first and foremost, quick and easy.
Buy a ticket ($380)
If you can't get one officially then around mid-July start watching Craigslist (constantly, because tickets move FAST). Also ask on Facebook if anyone you know has a ticket, generally friends help friends find tickets.
Plane ticket to Reno and back
Pretty self explanatory, depends on how long you want to be at the burn. Just make sure you know that getting to Reno from the burn can take 12 hours. Don't miss your plane! These are the official gate opening and closing times for 2014.
Rent a car in Reno
Some car rental companies can be stingy about this. If you wanna save some money then head to one of the Reno Walmarts and look for burners to hitchhike in with (pitch money for gas). Just be sure to buy your essentials at Walmart really quickly so your ride doesn't have to wait super long on you.
Proper attire
It's incredibly hot during the day (sunscreen!), and freezing at night. Fur coats are great, camelbacks for water make your life so much easier. Bring a headlamp or flashlight, and other blinking lights so you can walk around and night and not be hit by bikes/cars/runners.
Sustinance
Hydration is incredibly important, if you want to stay alive, drink MINIMUM 1.5 gallons of water a day. I advise 2 if you want to stay happy any full of energy. You'll need food too—the simplest option is cliff bars or some other kind of protein bar + fruits. It will be boring as hell but you'll stay alive.
Where to Camp
One of the main benefits of camping with an established camp is that you'll get to camp with awesome people, be fed, and participate in making their camp run. Camp dues are generall ~$150, or ~$300 if you don't want to work. If you are willing to put some time in, you can help clean the camp, and tear it down before you leave. The following picture is one of the boom boom camps Opulent Temple which brought their music and crew to BM the last 10 years.
Bikes
Bikes are awesome, but walking isn't the end of the world. There are free bikes anyone can use called "Yellow bike" but they are painted green. They can be hard to find and you can't keep them all day. If you have chronic pain (knee or ankle) it's probably worth investing in a bike, there's a lot of ground to cover.
The Line
If you only want to come for part of the week I recommend arriving in Reno on Wednesday morning as early as possible. Get your car, and supplies from Walmart. Then drive into the desert. The line to get in is around 8 hours long, turn off your car when you're not moving, meet people in line.
The Man
The Man burns on Saturday night. Some people lose their shit. The man is a lot of different things to different people. I see it as a celebration of life and living.
The Temple
The Temple burns Sunday night. The Temple represents letting go, moving on, and remembering.
Good luck, have fun, don't die.