Sand Mountain

About 1985 we found a deal on a used ,three -wheeler A.T.V. Garian was eight, Karson was ten. It only took a few minutes to show both kids how to make it go. A couple of little mishaps later and were all experts. At the time we lived on South Shingle Road on just under two acres. Plenty of room to ride around, for awhile anyway.

Karson really enjoyed giving mom a ride. What kid wouldn't like this?

Garian was just a little timid at first. She only dumped the bike once off the little bridge that crossed the creek in the back yard. One rear wheel didn't make it to the bridge, and over it went. We were right there with her. Yes, she was wearing a helmet.

One of the guys I worked with, Rich Samples, had also bought a three wheeler, somewhat bigger than ours, and he had a close friend that we all called "Uncle Wally". Well, Uncle Wally was into the sand toys way before it got popular. He had a huge one -ton, four-door truck that pulled a three axle trailer that had a workshop in the front with welding stuff, an air compressor, and all kind of tools. He also had a full -sized sand rail and several other sand toys on board.

It wasn't too long before we had the Sand Mountain trip all planed. I had our truck set up with a camper, Rich borrowed his father in-laws class C motor home, and Uncle Wally had the huge big rig with everything else we would need. We all had C.B.'s so we could talk back and forth. Uncle Wally made room for Rich's and our three -wheelers in his trailer.

The day came and all three rigs headed up Highway 50 for Nevada. Uncle Wally leading, Rich behind him, and us in our 1965 Chevy pickup with a camper.

Somewhere about halfway through the American River Canyon on the narrow two lane road, Uncle Wally came on the C.B. and announced, "I'm losing power" and he came to a stop blocking Highway 50 eastbound. I asked what might be happening, I'm a mechanic. He said something about having a problem with a dirty fuel tank and a plugged fuel line. I poked the nose of my old pickup out from behind Rich's motor home. It was clear right then, I got on the C.B. and told Uncle Wally, "I'm coming around, I have a tow chain" . Uncle Wally said something about "no way can you pull this rig with that old pickup"

I backed up to Wallys' truck and hooked the chain to his front end and hooked the other end to my rear hitch. Wally was sitting in his rig to switch tanks and re-start while I was making the hook-up. Highway 50 was backing up real good by now. I got on the C.B. and told Wally to get in neutral, release his brakes and keep the chain tight. As both rigs started moving up the hill, Wally got on the C.B. and asked " just what in the H--- do you have in that old pickup?" I told him I had changed it to 3/4 ton, put in 5:64 rear end gears and also a three hundred horse motor. All he replied with was "Well, no wonder" About two miles ahead I found a wide spot where all three of us could pull in and fix Wallys' problem. He was a little impressed with the old Chevy pickup pulling his rig up the hill, and even shifting as we went. The rest of the trip went with any mishap.

If you look real close, there is a spot in the middle of the mountain about a third of the way up. That's Garian, "going for it" again.

Sand Mountain back in those days was different than what is going on these days. We just about had the whole place to ourselves. We even shot skeet while we were there. Garian took her turn trying to ride the three -wheeler to the top of the mountain. With her weight, she could go higher that anyone else could, but didn't quite understand the concept of turning around and going back down. So we would have to climb the mountain and rescue her just about every time she decided to "go for it" This is why we have children while were young. So we can chase the kids around. Karson being two years older did a little better about going up and down on the same trip.

If you go to Sand Mountain now, you will meet with the B.L.M. people, buy a pass, fight the crowds finding a place to park your rig, and now they frown if you ask about skeet shooting. The back trail to the Nevada weapons proving grounds is now also blocked off. It's still a fun place to go, but not as much fun as it was when the kids were little, and you could turn them loose, and see them any time you look up.