Sunday, October 19, 2014

The Fall of the Rise Lantern Festival

Never ever again! I hope the organizers are ready for a lawsuit! It took about 1 hour in line to get to a bus out of Gold Strike. At the dry lakebed (N 35° 47' 33.4 W -115° 15' 37.2) in the Mojave Desert in Jean, NV, there were long lines to concession stands and bathrooms. We didn't bring any food because this was not allowed -- they wanted to make more money off of us by buying from their concession stands. We did the lanterns and watched them all fly, free fireworks took over the show --great positive feelings about this part. 

At about 30 minutes in, we decided we needed to go because many people started leaving. Trudged back to get a shuttle back to Gold Strike, but never got one there because all the people that left are all now thinking of the same thing. The trudge to the pick up point was horrendous as we were all in a cloud of dust, and I was coughing hard by the time I got to the end of what I thought was a line of 500 people. We all converge in one area watching all the folks going to Rio get a bus, and all those in line for Gold Strike lose their spots as more people cut in line. This went on for more than an hour and only very little movement (like three steps) to get to wherever the hell the front of the line was. People were becoming aggressive, and the people in the original batch were shouting to tell the newcomers to line up like everyone else. The fun suddenly turned for the south when people started fighting, and the threat of a riot or stampede was in sight. People just kept coming, and what was once two lines became thousands of lines converging from either side. 


Never seeing the end of it, a bunch of us decided to walk back to Gold Strike. We couldn't really see what was behind or in front of us. Only lights from vehicles or people with flash lights were allowing us to hopefully find refuge in the middle of a dry desert. We were walking four miles and at this point, I am delirious. I was beginning to swerve as my legs turn into jello, I lose my voice and my throat is so parched, but I was too tired to even lift my arm to drink. I was already thinking we were the last ones walking. We slid to the back, as more hikers passed us. I thought I was going to die as there was no sign of hope to getting close to see any lights to any house or casino. I don't know how, but at 1230pm, two buses finally found us, and took us to Gold Strike. 


Cars should have been allowed at the event, so people could make their own way home vs leaving them without easy transportation in the middle of the desert. Instead of a free for all after the first launch, the successive launches should have been done in batches, so people that were done can leave. There should have been many drop off and pick up points, so as more people finished, they are ushered to the pick up point where a bus should have been ready and waiting. The materials should have been handed at registration of the event on site. We just found our mat and lanters on the side of a post at section 3G. The trudge to and from the pickup point should have been shorter. I wore sneakers, and my feet still hurt!





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