Burning Man This Year: Camp Roll Call

listed with playa name, and nationality/residence. number indicates years at Burning Man (1=virgin)

1. Okki "Okkistyle" (Sweden/Boulder) -- 3

The spiritual leader of our group, a force of nature.

2. Ash  "Phoenix" (England/Boulder) -- 1

The Virgin of the Year, I called him. He and Okki used his minivan to drive to Nevada from Boulder. Under Okki's tutelage he came outfitted with just about everything he needed both for survival and fun.  Nevertheless he had the typical kind of sharp realization on Day 2 "OH MY GOD WE ARE ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREAKING DESERT."

Ash was stunning at his ability to open and meet people. He completely embraced this part of Burning Man like no one else. He spent long moments in lengthly interviews with people we met. He also had a habit of breaking off by himself without notice at night, and then showing up at camp at 6 a.m.

3. Stefan (Sweden/Zurich) -- 2

The tall melancholic Swede who flies halfway around the world to be here. He avoided substance overuse this year and had a much better time. He and Okki knew each other back in Aspen. I love him like a brother.

4. Sean (Ireland/Aspen) --3+

One of my best friends on the playa. We have lots of mutual interests. At night on the playa, the two of us often find ourselves in the leadership position, making the decisions. Basically that means running things by Okki to see what sounds best, and then marshaling the group afterwards.

5. Michele (England/Aspen) -- 3+

Sean's wife. The sole female in our group this year. She kept things practical and served as the wise counselor on playa rules for the virgins.

6. Kevin (England/Aspen) -- 6?

The 51-year-old seasoned party veteran of our camp. He can outdance many twenty-one year-olds. Like Okki, he is a force of nature, but in a quieter way.

7. Neil (Wales/Aspen) -- 6?

Kevin's on-and-off friend who impressed Ash at how efficient his set-up was---a monkey hut, with a tent inside, and a tarp connecting to his car, which was completely shrouded in a cover. He almost never went out with the group but used the schedule to do his own thing, stumbling into camp, often drunk, at all hours of the day and night to change clothes and take a nap.

8. Christer (Sweden/Goteborg) - 1

The first of the "four Swedes" from Goteborg (all virgins) who were friends of Stefan, and who came up from the Bay Area in an RV. He was the tallest one, and the leader of the group. His English sounded almost American. Towards the end of the week he took to wearing a mankini around camp in the afternoon.

9. Roger (Sweden/Goteborg) - 1

The second of the four Swedes. He also spoke English very well.

10. Olaf (Sweden/San Francisco) -- 1

Gustaf's brother. An old-style heavy metal rocker hellraiser type who lives in the Bay Area, works in I.T., and speaks English very slowly.

11. Gustaf (Sweden/Goteborg) -- 1

Olaf's brother.  Speaks English even more slowly.

12. Yours Truly "The Sheik" (U.S.A./Portland) --2

Fireman Dan of the Tualatin Valley couldn't make this  year, so I turned out to be the Oregon contingent of our group. I tried to be as helpful as he was, but there was no match for his level of friendliness.