NW Mist Blog
It takes over 2000 gallons of water for the week to run a mist tent on the Esplanade.
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Year 14 "Waking Dreams"
Burning Man 2022
Our camp photo from 2022, it was great to be back in the dust!
R2D2 made an appearance this year.
The Misty Pearl Art Car, all lit up at night.
The Misty Pearl Art Car, from the side.
The Lady Washington Art Car, with drone fireworks in the background.
The Lady Washington Art Car, from up high!
Year 13 "Metamorphoses"
Burning Man 2019
Details about our experience at Burning Man 2019 to come...
Our group in 2019!
Putting up the misting tent involves a ton of work. Here we are building it in 2019.
All the hard work pays off. Here's what the front of our camp looked like.
The Cougar Experience Center was on the prowl!
The Misty Pearl all decked out and ready to roll.
The Misty Pearl art car, going for a dusty ride.
Members of camp, gathering to watch a burn.
Year 12 "I, Robot"
3:45 & Esplanade - Burning Man 2018
It was our 12th year as Northwest Mist, and we were invited to be on the Esplanade for the second year in a row! Maybe this will be our home for years to come.
Our camp in 2018, as seen from above.
A few of our camp mates, ready to go out for the night!
Year 11 "Radical Ritual"
3:15 & Esplanade - Burning Man 2017
Our 11th year as Northwest Mist was "Radical". This year, without asking, we were invited to be on Esplanade. We can now say that Northwest Mist has become one of the great camps to have the privilege of being on Esplanade.
We had huge success with a gofundme this year to help fund the water needed for the misting tent on the Esplanade. We couldn't have done it without our generous supporters!
The Lady Washington art car all lit up and ready to go out for the night.
Year 10 "Da Vinci's Workshop"
3:00 & Guild - Burning Man 2016
Our 10th year as Northwest Mist was out towards the edge of the city. It’s been a great ride so far. Wade, Diana and Mike greatly appreciate all that our members have brought to the camp over the years.
While Jared, Brian and I were waiting in line at the DMV a gentleman drove by in his slipper car, stopped and presented us with a package as an award for excellence. So cool to be recognized for all our hard work. - Diana
Year 9 "Carnival of Mirrors"
3:00 & E - Burning Man 2015
Year 9 saw the addition of another mutant vehicle to the Northwest Mist fleet.
The Misty Pearl, a 14 person junk inspired boat with a large red sail and a dragon figure head made her debut.
Year 8 "Caravansary"
3:00 & A - Burning Man 2014
The year of the opening event - rain. Year two in the portal on 3 o'clock.
Year two of the Phoenix. The Lady providing transport for the Organic Produce camp.
Year 7 "Cargo Cult"
3:00 & A - Burning Man 2013
This year we were placed in the 3 o’clock keyhole on the corner of the pedestrian road. Our numbers swelled to 49 and the misting tent was crowded most of the week.
We also added a new, mutant vehicle to our camp called the Phoenix.
The Fanny Pack from England brought class to the playa.
We’ve been known to eat well.
Year 6 "Fertility 2.0"
2:45 & A - Burning Man 2012
After 2 years close in, Placement once again put us deep in the city on the outside of the 3 o’clock road. Again it was a quite year with little foot traffic. Wade decided we needed our own kitchen tent so a new white 60/30ft commissary tent was added to the infrastructure. Word was out about Northwest Mist and we had 37 members that year.
Year 5 "Rites of Passage"
3:15 & B - Burning Man 2011
The group grew to 27 in our fifth year. We had the best weather yet. No injuries or forgotten MV parts as well. A new much larger commissary/kitchen tent was borrowed for year 5.
On Sunday before the event we participated in “Feed the Artists” with white table cloths and all of us dressed for the occasion. And the Lady sailed again.
Sue and Sandis created the largest ice sculptures seen on the playa. And Mist decorated bodies.
Year 4 "Metropolis"
3:15 & C - Burning Man 2010
Year 4 had an eventful start. It was very cold set up weather with a major wind storm that rearranged our cooking tents and finished with rain on opening day.
Just when you think you have it all under control… Before we even started to set up camp, Wade became patient #1 at Rampart that year with a broken collar bone. Mike and Diana forgot a major part of the mast support for the Lady Washington and the speakers in the Misting Tent blew out requiring a trip into Reno.
Windy Saturday forced an on playa quick re-do of the kitchen layout. It was also time to get branded. Diana’s sister Joanne was commissioned to develop our logo.
Stormchylde added banners with Pacific Northwest drawings.It was also time to put together a more cohesive décor for the misting tent. Diana sewed 80 feet of tree trunks with the intent of creating the feeling of a grove of trees.
Year 4 had us investigating options for nighttime activities in the misting tent with “80's night at Northwest Mist”. And the Lady cruised the playa again.
Year 3 "Evolution"
2:45 & E - Burning Man 2009
After 2 years of close in addresses, Placement decided to put us further out and on the other side of the 3 o’clock main road. Our street traffic was significantly reduced and we ended up with lots of extra water. It was also the year of almost constant dust storms. The upside was the jam sessions that took place with the neighborhood musicians in the new red striped misting tent.
After several years with the Costco carports, it was time to update the misting tent. The old carports became part of the upgrade to the kitchen.
Year 2 "American Dream"
3:15 & D - Burning Man 2008
For our second year we were asked to join with other camps to form the “Redirection Connection Village”. Though reluctant to be absorbed by a much larger camp, we found that we could maintain our individual identity while enjoying the benefits of a neighborhood bar and another large mutant vehicle. The prior year, Gallivant was across the street from us and they decided that we had to be part of their village. We found out that resistance was futile. We also made lifetime friends.
With the first mutant vehicle dismantled, it was time for the debut appearance of “The Ghost of the Lady Washington”. Diana had sketched out her ideas while waiting in the exodus line the prior year and with the help of Mike, Phil, Cary, Wade and a host of others, she was introduced to the playa. Based on a 2 person golf cart, it was now an 8 foot wide, 16 foot long, 17 foot tall sailing ship that could handle up to 8 people and fold up to be transported in the back of a horse trailer.
Year 1 "The Green Man"
3:15 & C - Burning Man 2007
In the Beginning…
It all started one wet March night in Rosie’s hot tub. After several years of doing construction for another camp, Wade decided it was time to start his own. Mike and Diana had joined in the prior year and were on board with trying to put together their own theme camp as well. Several ideas were floated including a Northwest Brewery theme but while filling out the Burning Man theme camp application form they came across “misting” as an interactive activity and thus Northwest Mist was born.
The application was submitted and the invitation extended from the Burning Man organization so with 11 members, Northwest Mist arrived on the playa for its first year. With two Costco carports, 6- 55 gallon drums of water and a patio misting system strung under the ceiling, Northwest Mist opened its doors to any hot and dusty playa traveler who happened to walk by 3:15 and C. It didn’t take long before we knew we had a hit on our hands.
It was also the year for our first mutant vehicle. Mike and Diana had found their calling and a mobile living room called Solarus Motivus Maximus was brought to the playa. While it was a worthy first effort, it was not destined for a repeat appearance.