After day 2 ended with a big wind storm, I could not wait to get out and see how the dunes had changed. as we mounted up and met at the small dune just out the access from Sand Hills Resort (www.thesandhillsresort.com) , we were running a little later than the 10am meet time and the sun was up and warm. The Quartzite sand peaks glistened in the bright morning sunshine.
We headed west through the middle of the dunes hitting what felt like endless bowl after bowl, with a mix of exciting lips and transitions into and out of the bowls. The smile inside my helmet would not go away, even when I was running as high as possible in a bowl and blew out the lip with the left front, causing the Big Brute to make an immediate hard left at high speed and launch out of the bowl , rev limiter popping, with a surprisingly smooth slight down hill landing after an unsettling amount of air ( someone suggested that I do it again for a photo op… I declined).
It was an incredible sight to see all the Side by Sides and quads running in a extra large version of follow the leader up dunes, over lips, and right side bowls to left side bowls, for what seemed like miles, with the leader occasionally looping back around the whole group to make sure we were all there. Giving those of us with on board cameras some fun group shots.
We reached our fist stop at Thunder Mountain. and once again several in the group made assaults at the large hill, reaching the top in some cases , side hill crabbing in some cases and high marking each other. “OH-Oh , I think he’s stuck ” , came the call. A gaze upward confirmed that indeed one of our group was bogged down almost at the top of the gigantic dune. I held my breath as he started to back up and slide sideways, When he had the machine almost completely cross ways to the top, a generous whack of the throttle and he was headed down.
We re-grouped and headed off, rolling through the mid-day heat. Rolling edges , taking in the incredible scenery and leaving our mark on some more big bowls, rolling through the steep sides and popping out the often uneven exit, then uphill and a right or left and downhill on to the next approach.
Our next stop was on a dune overlooking Egin Lake, and what an amazing view ! Egin Lake has a BLM campground, a small store and public bathrooms. Although we did not stop in this time, we did hit the store and bathrooms on a few occasions.
As the group was stopped and visiting, a few machines peeled off and down to our left, where there was a spot that provided a good little jump for the SxS’s. I was watching the action instead of taking pictures, but did manage a few shots of one of our friends from Washington, putting his stock Commander through the paces.
The group split from there, as some had to head back for a town run. I followed the group heading back (4 of us) and we ran a majority of the “designated” route. We ran some great sidehills, smaller bowls, and trails all the way back to the Resort.
Later that afternoon a couple of the ladies wanted to make the run back to the Egin Lake store to pick up a couple souvenirs,
and Jennifer wanted to get her banshee (The Joker) out for a ride, so off we went 2 XP900’s a banshee and a bruteforce.
Running somewhere along the “designated route” markers we just took it easy and cruised for the most part. As the girls were getting their memento’s, we got talking about geocaching. “There are a couple really close to here, if you wanted to check them out” offered up Ed (he and his wife Pat do a lot of geocaching.
Absolutely was the group reply, so off we went around the shores of the lake following the GPS, finding one on an obscure hump under a tree. I have to admit it was pretty exciting as they searched and found it.
That evening we had a potluck BBQ and birthday party, for our friend Gary, Who due to an unfortunate mechanical problem, was not able to make the trip, But many best wishes were sent his way via the Internet, and HEY the party must go on !
Day four, Saturday, our last day at St. Anthony’s. Several in the group had to head home today, and pulled out early. We got up to the sun shining and the promise of another fantastic day.
As we the remainder of us gathered for a morning ride, we were down to RZR 800S, and me with the BruteForce.
We headed west toward the bigger bowls and dunes taking a northwest trail approach this time, right along the edge of the rock and desert grass, this approach provided some challenges to the group as some of the northwest trails end in rock crossings (lava rock + paddles = NO). So we had a few group reroutes on the way. Finding some fun along the way
We had a great time just playing follow the leader through fast trails, and sidehills and some bowls, making a big loop crossing the central dunes where the majority of the bigger bowls are. Transitioning from bowl to bowl, and heading back in the direction of camp.
Late that afternoon we headed back out straight up the gut middle of the dunes, to Thunder Mountain, for some final play time before we had to leave.
As the sun began to set on this fantastic adventure, it provided some great photo op’s.
“HEY JAY “…. “Move your head to the right just a bit”… “got it, thanks”.
As we headed back with the sun setting on our backs, I took one last opportunity to catch some action at sunset, The sun and dunes were more than happy to co-operate and provided some incredible backdrops. Complete with smoke from a local fire creeping through the valley’s and peaks of the dunes.
As we said goodnight and goodbye to St. Anthony’s Dunes Tour 2012, we could not stop playing…. or smiling.
MAddOG Morrel Motorsports would like to extend a very special thank you to
Chad and Jennifer, without you this trip would not have happened !
Ed and Pat , For having the coffee ready every morning… and sharing.
Kevin, for the instant coffee to hold me over.
Cliff and the RZRForum.net group for letting me ride along, report, video, and stop to take pictures.
Jeff Hausmann, for the example of caring and compassion he set for all of us.
Also
Thanks to all our sponsors, who keep us doing what we do !
