ABSTRACT
Leaving no trace in almost any situation is an ideal that can never be fully realized in practice; even attempting to avoid leaving obvious, physical traces could be considered an exercise in futility. As such, the Leave No Trace principle must be read with a wide caveat; it is usually understood to mean that burners must take care of Black Rock City and do their best to leave it in a condition resembling its pre-event state as closely as possible. However, while Burning Man professes to be the largest Leave No Trace event in the world, it does not claim to be a sustainable event. It is difficult to reconcile a culture so drenched in excess with one that aspires to Leave No Trace. While purchase and exchange of goods and services is banned within the city, Burning Man depends upon excessive consumption before the event takes place. As such, the illusory world of living without commercial transactions for one week may well contribute to leaving a significantly larger trace. However, the rare experience for a contemporary capitalist to go an entire week without buying something that will generate waste, and to personally transport trash farther than to the nearest curb to dispose of it, just might validate micro steps toward changing attitudes toward the environment that sustains us.
