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September 11, 2006
Nature's Sand Box is Fun to Play In
Sand Mountain
Ripping across Sand Mountain on an ATV
Perhaps the best way to look at Sand Mountain is as a giant sand box--and you get to play there.
Located about 90 miles east of Reno via U.S. 50, Sand Mountain is a massive sand dune that rises about 600 feet above the surrounding desert floor.
The dune was formed from sand from the surrounding flats, which were once part of an ancient inland sea called Lake Lahontan. About 4,000 years ago, the lake dried up, leaving behind the sandy lake bottom.
Over centuries, the dried sand was blown against nearby Stillwater Range, accumulating into a huge mound.
In other words, Sand Mountain is a great, big beach without an ocean.
Not surprisingly, the mountain and surrounding area has become a recreational playland, which is why we decided to head out to the big dune last weekend.
After heading east of Fallon for about 30 miles, we spotted the big beige mound. We could see that the mountain was dotted with off-roaders on sand bikes, dune buggies and ATVs. They raced up the steep slopes of the mountain, sometimes appearing to be nearly vertical as they rapidly climb above the valley floor.
As they neared the crest of the mountain, a few proved to be not quite powerful enough. They lost momentum and began to slide backward. Others, however, flew over the narrow ridge at the top of the mountain and descended down the backside.
We also spotted a few folks who were sandboarding. This is a sport that involves riding down the dune's slopes on a smooth-bottomed sandboard at very high speeds--kind of like snowboarding on sand.
Since we didn't have a sandboard, we had fun climbing to the top to enjoy the view. Sand Mountain has a unique physical property. It produces a booming sound when you walk on it (the sound is said to be a result of air being pushed through the sand by your weight) and at night when the wind blows across the sand the mountain is said to be singing.
The Sand Mountain Recreation Area encompasses 4,795 acres and is managed by the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, which charges use fees.
Camping, including in RVs, is allowed in a designated area near the base of the mountain. Services are quite limited although there is a vault toilet and a solar-powered pay telephone near the highway (it's known as "the Loneliest Phone on the Loneliest Road").
Visitors should bring their own water for washing and drinking. While fires are allowed, no wood is available.
For more information about Sand Mountain contact the Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District Office, 1535 Hot Springs Road, Suite 300, Carson City, NV 89706-0638, 775-885-6000.----Richard Moreno
Posted by Rich Moreno at September 11, 2006 07:12 PM