Words: Lisa Morris | Photography: Jason Spafford and UNRally Participants
Tucked away in a desert in the western U.S., where sunsets paint sugar pink skies and stars shine diamond-silent overhead, the UNRally awaits—a vibrant “experiment in intentional disorganization.” Here, camaraderie thrives, adventures unfold, and the spirit of freedom reigns supreme. At an undisclosed desert location lies a four-day gathering unlike any other. It’s not marked by VIP guest lists or maroon velvet ropes. No, it’s a concealed Eden waiting for those intrepid enough to seek it out. Welcome to the UNRally 2024—a deliberate experiment where chaos meets camaraderie and adventure is the currency.
Embracing the UNRally’s Spirit
Nestled in the Great Basin Lakebed, the UNRally beckons free-spirited individuals from all corners of the globe. Now in its ninth iteration over eight years, this meet-up is capped at 200 invitees to preserve its intimate vibe and foster genuine connections.
Founded by Pete Day and spearheaded by a Counter Steering Committee, the UNRally aspires annually to “get better, not bigger.” It’s a convergence of kindred souls drawn together by a love for unbridled, next-level fun and community. Drawing inspiration from Burning Man’s DNA of radical self-expression through art, the UNRally invites attendees—affectionately known as UNRats—to shed inhibitions and embrace a weekend of creativity and shared experience within an inclusively safe space.
Exploring the Great Basin Lakebed
The location of the UNRally remains a closely guarded secret to the UNRats until just before the event, adding to its mystique. Situated in one of the least light-polluted areas of the United States, the location offers a canvas of melodramatic skies and rugged landscapes. One minute, honey-yellow sunshine will flood you to the bone in utter stillness, where the temperature rises like mercury in a thermometer. The next, a fury of sand—thick enough to choke on while launching a relentless assault on your ground tent—accompanies the raging desert storms.
Beware, it’s “Type 2” fun. But when Kurt Forget’s avocado margarita smoothies flow freely below great sweeps of orange and crimson and the gin fizzes like sunshine and lemons beside a crackling log fire, cares vanish. Paired with freshly ground Ethiopian coffee and breakfast pancakes to start each day and topped off with hearty evening meals for two nights, the UNRally practically satisfies every desire, want, and whim imaginable.
Expect to unwind amid sand dunes (including those inside your tent), hot springs, and ancient mountains. What unfurls is a forging of bonds over impromptu adventures and late-night conversations into the wee hours. All beneath a sprawling canopy of stars that twinkle among the brightest in the lower 48 states, courtesy of its dark sky conditions.
Guiding Principles: A Pact Beyond Rules
The UNRally's guiding principles are central to its ethos—more like a tacit agreement among participants than strict rules. These principles ensure that everyone contributes actively to the festival’s vibrancy. At the UNRally, you are the entertainment. Here, every UNRat becomes both performer and audience, bringing unique offerings of wisdom, tales, or cooking breakfast for one’s neighbor.
Flushed with sunlight one evening, I chatted to one-armed Woody, a local supplier of the event’s firewood. Spinning the straw of daily life into entertaining gold anecdotes, it was the kind of interaction to talk about the great mysteries.
Leave No Trace is paramount, urging visitors to clean up after themselves and pick up any 'Matter Out Of Place' (MOOP) left by others. Even when that meant running for half a mile across the playa to catch that elusive plastic bag! It’s a collective effort to leave the desert more pristine than we found it, demonstrating a deep respect for a cherished land and its resources.
Self-reliance is another cornerstone, emphasizing preparedness for the unpredictable challenges of the Great Basin Lakebed’s wilderness. Participants are encouraged to equip themselves with essentials like satellite communicators and navigational aids to ensure they can handle emergencies with minimal external assistance.
This spirit of self-sufficiency fosters a sense of responsibility and solidarity among the attendees, knowing that community support can make all the difference in the desert.
Celebrating Inclusivity
Despite its exclusivity in terms of numbers, the UNRally prides itself on inclusivity. Tickets are essential not to be excluded but to be managed responsibly under the Bureau of Land Management regulations and ensure a diverse community of enthusiasts can actively engage. However, to keep numbers contained, purchasing tickets online requires insider knowledge from someone already going.
This inclusiveness extends beyond demographics to encompass diverse interests and passions—from motorcycle aficionados to art enthusiasts and everything in between. It’s a melting pot where differences dissolve in favor of shared adventures and mutual respect.
The Essence of “Danger Fun”
At the UNRally, conformity takes a back seat. While there are no OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations, a Medic in a van is available throughout the day to tend to minor mishaps. Additionally, without corporate agendas, you can expect an absence of vendors, sales pitches, presentations, or tire-changing talks. Instead, it’s about pushing personal boundaries to experience something outside the comfort zone, embodying the spirit of adventure.
Picture a landscape dotted with manmade, mutant vehicles available to take out onto the lakebed for a spin. Check out Chair Force One—an illuminated, three-seater cream leather sofa mounted on a three-wheeled base that whirls at mind-boggling speeds. Then there's Sick Puppy, a vintage, sleek black Chevrolet Corvette, and the TV—a Prius with its upper half replaced by a makeshift television housing people inside.
Now, imagine a giant chair on wheels, a gas-powered rig called “Chairman of the Bored” able to accommodate two stories of people, casting surreal shadows under the setting sun. There's also a smaller version, the "Automan" (Ottoman), adorned with four protruding, fire-lit lamp shades.
Meanwhile, UNRats can cruise on Onewheels (electric skateboards), paramotors, Coleman mini bikes, and custom- built creations. These include a motorbike masquerading as a flashlight and a motorized speed boat on two wheels—each defying categorization.
These are just a few of the decorated, human-powered rigs, alongside neon-flashing, moving artworks set against the desert’s stark backdrop—a place where tranquility and excitement coalesce in perfect harmony. It’s a playground where adults rediscover the joy of child’s play, and actual children, from toddlers to teens, revel in the magic of an unrestricted world.
A Climatic Experience
As golden hour settles on the desert and the sky bleeds into a tapestry of warm colors, the community gathers at the heart of the playa for a ritual as unique as the event itself. This year, a large circle formed. With the signal of a chosen rider looping around us all, the assembly scattered out into the desert—a synchronized dance of liberation and unity.
What followed was a night of dance music from a veteran Burner’s playlist, self-expression art, and spontaneous revelry, where boundaries blurred, and connections deepened under the expansive desert sky. I was drunk on the night and my surroundings, every cell in my body singing. The triumph of the scattering was as tangible as a trophy, solid and gleaming gold in everyone’s souls. In the untamed spirit of the UNRally’s unconventional charm, experiencing its essence evoked the raw energy and unscripted moments that define this gathering. Such avalanchic fun!
A Deepening Desert Adventure
The UNRally is a state of mind—an invitation to break free from whatever constitutes your norm and imbibe the principles of self-expression and communal effort. You’ll likely talk remarkable nonsense about the meaning of human existence, giggle until you hiccup, and feel happy-broken by the end. I did.
For those who seek soul happiness and something lasting, it offers a sanctuary where authenticity shines, and spontaneity thrives. It’s where the desert becomes an immersion playground, and strangers become lifelong friends through shared experiences, acceptance, and mutual respect. So, dust off your sense of adventure, pack your curiosity and a dash of daring.
Join the UNRally next year, but secure your tickets early to experience this celebration as it continues to evolve without expanding in size. It’s one wild and extraordinary journey, where every desert moment promises more self-discovery and every encounter sparks joy. https://www.unrally.org/
