Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Sand Mountain

Sand Mountain isn't really a mountain at all.  As the name might  suggest to you it is a really  tall sand dune.  Visible for miles along US-50, I turned off the highway to get a closer look.  I arrived on the right day.  The Bureau of Land Management operates the site as a recreation area.  Most days, the only way to gain access is to buy a $40 weekly pass.  From the many tire tracks it is obvious the place is popular with off road vehicles.  For whatever reason Tuesday & Wednesday are free days.

Like a moth to a flame, when I see a sand dune, I'm compelled to climb it.  And climb, I did...all 400 feet.  The view up top was grand, but of course coming down was the real prize.  I peeked at my GPS & saw I broke 8 MPH.  In retrospect, I like to think that I could have broken 10 if I really wanted, but at the time all that was on my mind maintaining some degree of control as I hurtled down the slope.

Not far from the dune is a short trail to the remains of a Pony Express Station.  It was just one of several sites/markers I would see on that topic throughout the day.




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