There are very few places in the world that offer desolation and quiet beauty within 20 minutes of a bustling town. Yesterday, Ace and I discovered such a place off the loneliest highway in America. Holding court above the sage brush and under the blue desert sky next to the road. Sand Mountain. Something out of a movie. A 600 foot high mountain of singing sand with only a handful of people enjoying the day at her base.
Only miles from Winterpast, the remnants of an ancient sea remain. The entire area was covered by an ocean at one point. The fossilized remains of an ichthyosaur await my visit still. Just a little further than I want to travel alone, these marine fossils are embedded in the mountains. When the Pacific is just too far away, the call of an ancient ocean can be just as strong.
While enjoying breakfast at Angela’s and considering options for a little adventure, Ace told me of an ancient mountain made of sand. Googling it, we found the following information on the BLM site. Remember, the real BLM, not the made up one. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. The one our tax dollars support.
“The 4,795 acre Sand Mountain Recreation Area is a designated OHV fee site located in the high desert of west central Nevada. Created by the migration and deposition of windblown sand as it is stopped by the rising Stillwater Mountains bordering to the north, east and west, the most dominant feature of the dune system is Sand Mountain which is approximately 3.5 miles long, 1 mile wide and 600 feet in height, making it the largest single dune in the Great Basin. The recreation area also includes the Sand Springs Pony Express Station historical site (1860) and the Sand Springs Desert Study Area.
In addition to off road vehicle riding on the open dunes, there are 23 miles of riding available on the designated trail system that was established in 2008 to preserve the Kearny Buckwheat habitat and protect the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly which is endemic only to the Sand Mountain area.
Visitation averages 50,000-70,000 visitors a year with the primary activity comprised of riding ATV’s, motorcycles, sand rails, dune buggies and side by sides. Sand sailing and sand boarding are also practiced by those adventurous enough to brave the OHVs and the climb to the top of the dune. Primitive camping is available at the base of the dunes and facilities are limited to six fault toilets. Water is not available on site.”
Being only a stone’s throw away, we decided to drive there to see this movable mountain for ourselves. Where else can you find salt flats, a pony express stop, nearly extinct butterflies, and a singing sand mountain???? Only in Nevada.
Spending time with Ace is always fun. Knowing each other a year now, the times we spend together still provide new and hilarious stories that keep us talking for hours. I can resort to being a simple wingman and enjoy the wide open spaces of a desolate landscape. It’s always better to hold hands with a friend while venturing into the unknown. You just never know what dangers await.
The further we traveled East, it seemed there was no mountain of sand to see. At first, there was an agricultural oasis dotted with country homes. The more we drove, the less homes were around. The stark outlines of the rock mountains against the blue desert sky were like a western painting. Zipping by Rattlesnake Raceway and Grime’s Point Petroglyphs, we were soon in the land of nothing. No other people or cars. No mustangs. No cattle. Nothing. Just miles and miles of sage brush and towering mountains on either side of the interstate.
Until we came to the salt flats.
Resembling fresh snow, salt grows out of the ground to be harvested. This calls to a certain type of person to find rocks in which to leave messages. This phenomenon can be seen in the salt flats outside of Wendover, as well. The strangest things are written in rock along side the road on the salt. Yesterday took the cake.
The Preamble of the United States Constitution. My goodness. Even typing that took a bit.
For as long as it took the words to stretch, someone or ones had taken rocks and spelled out every word in a straight line. At first, it just seemed like a line of rocks until I started looking at the words. Some people have way too much time on their hands. These words were big enough for easy highway reading in block letters.
Finally, 25 miles east from where we started, there it was. Sand Mountain. With a handful of hearty RVers, the 600 foot mountain of sand stands, singing on occasion. Ace and I were quick to think of camping possibilities on a moonless night. There are no lights for miles around, so the stars must be amazing on those nights. No light pollution there. Under a full moon, the landscape must almost glow with the reflection of the salt flats.
Avoiding disaster, Ace backed us out of the sand when it was obvious we started to sink. In situations like that, it’s a good thing to be with a car guy. They know things. A new desert lesson. Don’t try driving in sand, even with a 4-wheel-drive jeep. It just isn’t a smart thing to do.
After seeing enough of this natural beauty, it was time to retrace our steps, get an ice cream, and head home to Winterpast.
Adventures don’t need to be costly or time consuming. Exotic beaches are nice, but so are the simple and quiet places that you find everywhere in our beautiful country. Sand Mountain. She’s a beauty.
More tomorrow.