We were going to go to Olds on Sat night, and loaded up the truck and were going to dune it to olds, knowing full well that it was barricaded with the intention of coming in the backside. Well long story short, our navgation failed and we came up just short. The BLM Ranger we talked to basically told us that if you can get around our barricade you're clear.

We lost interest before trying to head back through the dunes. But I'm curious if there were any trucks there Fri/Sat night??

If you're smarter than the average bear and track through the dunes with a truck, are they going to give you a hard time?

I was initally against the idea of shutting trucks out, my bike doesn't and will never have lights on it, but I enjoy going out in my truck and seeing what's going on...but I think the BLM did a great thing by closing trucks out. From what I've heard it was very mellow and a great place to be those nights. What's your take?? Are we going to see more of this? Should we?? Am I going to get lynched for rolling up in my truck through the dunes?

The place is for OHV only. If you can get thru the dunes with a vehicle, I believe you should go where ever you want to go. If sand highway is the only way you can get to the hills, then you should be banned from the hills. Most of the (riff raff) if you will, comes from taxi-ing hords of people, glass bottles, pallets with nails loaded in it, gas cans to cover the hill, shovels to dig the ditches, engines to burn, and spot lights to spot all topless girls entertaining the crowd. If your buggie is broke down and your family had plans to go to the hill that night, too bad. Fix the buggie and take them next time. The majority of the problems at the hills will be solved. Peace

There were trucks there. Saw like 4-5 of them on Fri night.
There were no rangers there fri night either that we saw.. Mabey 1.5 rows worth of people but spread out all over the base of the hill. Looked like a normal off weekend to us.

no there were rangers ther fri night, we had one drive up to us and shoot the shiat with us for about 30 minutes. basically heard the same thing, if you can dune it in your fine.

They should have done this at Comp 3 years ago...

Geez, this is a hard call to make. And right now I sure wish I had an alias I could post under because there is no "official" DUNERS standpoint regarding street legal vehicles in the dunes and I don't want anyone thinking I'm speaking for DUNERS.

My own PERSONAL viewpoint is conflicted. I see the logic in the "punks in trucks" stance.

But sometimes I think eliminating the trucks doesn't eliminate the illegal activity, it just moves it. Kinda like the comp curfew moved the party to Olds. Pinch points, eliminating underage drunks, those things might have been more of a cure than a bandaid but gosh, now the BLM can say Competition Hill has been cleaned of the riff raff.

Then I read everyone praising this decision and I wonder if it really would be best for Glamis. Certainly would be easier on the LEOs. They won't have to work to discern the family truck owner from the punk in the truck.

But I sure don't like the slippery slope this takes us down. Will it just be trucks? Truggies? Jeeps? Why not passenger rails? No more coolers on bikes? The trucks aren't digging ditches, lighting each other on fire, lobbing beer cans at officers... it's the idiots behind the wheels, not the wheels themselves doing the damage.

On the other hand, does eliminating street legal vehicles bring the accident rate down? Is this something that would make us safer? Of the accidents that occurred over this last weekend, how many were truck-related?

All that aside, I guess the one thing that hurts the most when considering such a drastic stance is remembering last season when our son was off his bike due to complications from a compound fracture to his arm... he was having such a hard time with this injury and for a while the only way he could see any sand outside of camp was in a truck. Being kept off the dunes entirely would have really been torture for him.

And all because we cannot seem to get a handle on what the idiots behind the wheels are doing.

*shrug*

But it sure would be easier.

Vicki

Vicki, so was that an "I haven't decided"?

The way I look at is they didn't stop trucks from going to Olds, they simply told them to dune it in there. A detour so to speak.

I drive a street legal Jeep so I would have to say a big NO to restricting street legal vehicle from ISDRA. I have no problem with a truck detour through the dunes to Olds. I used to dune my truck all the time.

BTW - During the TRT call today, the BLM did confirm that trucks were welcome to dune into Olds. I asked about a comment that someone in a truck had been turned away in the dunes by an LEO. The BLM said it could have happened, but that it was not likely as it was not the policy, but it was possible it happened.

As long as it doesn't become a "permanent" rule, I think it's a good thing. I believe that Vicki has some very valid points. But I'm sure this sends a message to the "truck punks" that their behavior is just not welcome. Hopefully, after the truck punks and trouble makers get so frustrated that they just quit even trying, and leave, this sort of restriction will just go away due to lack of need.

It is very sad though that many law abiding, courteous, fun loving people who just happen to drive a truck/suv have to miss out on something they want to do because of these idiots. But, that is unfortunately the way life goes sometimes.

(just for clarification, in my book a "truck punk" is the drunken idiotic type who's only out there to drink, make noise, cause trouble, and leave their trash all over the place.)

Would "punk" suffice?

I wasn't there but from what everyone writes, Olds was pretty mellow. Just duners. The trucks weren't allowed in and it stayed quiet. hmmm...

It is too bad that many law abiding families couldn't get in via truck/suv.

Is sacricficing that worth the peace? Not sure.

I hear a lot of people complain about the crazies on the hill.
Then pile in the truck and go to watch. It all adds to the crowd and mayhem.

WE DUNED ALL THE WAT THERE NO PROBLEM IN A TRUCK. KEEP THE HILL FOR THOSE OF US THAT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE BUT JUST LET THE GIRLS KNOW THAT IF THEY NEED A RIDE I CAN TAKE THEM.

I'm taking somewhat of a neutral stance on this.......I have a Raptor, but I also love driving my truck in the sand. With that said, here's my idea, which is how it should be anyway.....

Only allow as many people in a truck as is allowed by seatbelts.

I was at Olds alot over the weekend and I saw an assload of trucks with all kinds of people in the bed. Thursday night I followed, from Gecko Road to Olds down the 78, a truck with three people in the bed. This just needs to be enforced.

I consider myself fairly responsible and think that as long as I do so responsibly, I should be able to drive my truck anywhere it will go.

I think Vicki raises a interesting point. This will make or break the claims that it's punks in trucks...if they have no way to get out there, this will solve the problem. On the other hand, if the problem of litter, fights, engine block fires, etc... aren't solved here, we'll need to start taking a more introspective look at fellow duners. I guess either way it's an improvement over the way things were going.

Let me et this right. You pay $90 freaking bucks to "have the privilage" to be in Glamis now. But you cannot take the vehicle to olds at night! WTF is this all about? make me pay an all inclusive pass and F**K me out of driving my truck to see the action. That is bulls**t and I'll have the balls to voice it. This especially pisses me off right now when I cannot ride a toy in the dunes due to my own circumstances of a broken leg. What about all of the other responsible people who do go out in their trucks that go watch whats happening and see the sights?

Dude,
You can go to the hill. Its just that the rode to Olds was closed is all.
Its another closure like the Comp one.
Soon the drags will be closed.

The GOOD news though - OLDs is and was open to anyone who drove there using anypath but the closed one.

With all of these new rules and regulations being imposed, maybe Blue is right, Shut the whole efing place down. What good is public domain with private stipulants?

IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO GET TO OLDS. WE WENT FROM THE WASHES AND FOLLOWED THE TREES AND IT IS ACUTALLY EASIER THAN THE REGULAR ROAD THAT EVERYONE ELSE TRAVELS WITH ALL THOSE WHOOPS. YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW THE AREA REAL WELL. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE WENT THAT WAY AND WILL ALWAYS GO THAT WAY NOW. JUST SCOPE OUT A WAY DURING THE DAY AND YOU WILL GET THERE PRETTY EASY AT NIGHT. THERE ARE JUST A FEW SMALL DUNES THEN IT IS JUST LIKE DRIVING NEAR THE DRAGS THROUGH THE BUSH. WE MADE IT MOST OF THE TIME IN 2WD.

MACKMAN - we have taken a bunch of trucks through there. It is a nice road if you know what your doing.. Lets you out right at the double. Fun drive also..

YES IT IS A REAL NICE DRIVE AND WE ALWAYS END UP RIGHT NEXT TO THE DOUBLE AND IT IS FUN TO DO ESPECIALLY IF YOU GOT A GOOD DRIVER AND TRIES A FEW OF THE BIGGER DUNES ON THE WAY JUST FOR SHITS ANG GIGGLES. JUST GO THROUGH IT A COUPLE TIMES AND ALL THE TREES FROM THERE LEAD TO OLDS THATS WHAT MAKES IT SO EASY TO GET THERE.

You still dont get the point!

I get the point, if you want to get to the hill so bad find a way to get there just like I did and I will gladly show you how to get there and you will be saying to everyone else you know how easy it really is and there will be more that will do the same.

Nope, You still dont get it. It is not a matter of how bad you want to get there. It is the fact that they make another law to enforce, instead of enforcing the original laws. This is where it will never end! I see more A$$holes doing stupid sh*t in rails and quads that i do in trucks.

I like to think of it as weeding out the stupid ones...A philosophy near and dear to my heart anyways. Maybe some are genetically predisposed to not go to Olds.

I contend that the laws in place now are unenforceable within the constraints of resources and reality. You'd need a ratio of 1 LEO for every 2 or 3 people to adaquately keep people from doing what they're not supposed to...and I know we don't want to pay for that.

This is effiecency at it's best. No new law was created or tweaked. Someone just put they're perfectly good 4 pound paper weight to use and poof...very little LEO presence at the hill on a major weekend, and the ones that were there sound to be quite cool about the whole thing.

What's more important to you...Being able to drive down the sand highway to Olds and have the place crawling with cops in a ratio high enough to enforce all the rules, or have to pick through the dunes and have a minimal police presence. I love the land where reality has no basis too...but I'm stuck in a world full of stupid people that have to contended with everyday, this seems like an adequate way to me.

As long as the people that have the facilties and means to pick through the dunes act responsibly (only time will tell I guess), I think we can avoid the slippery slope that Vicki mentioned, and if not...we might have big problems.

"REFORM, v. A thing that mostly satisfies reformers opposed to reformation."
- Ambrose Bierce

This looks as if the show might start with people trying to make there way into Olds. Just park your buggy or quad on top of a dune and watch the people getting there trucks stuck.

I have some mixed feelings on this issue also but I gotta say, it sure was nice not to see pallet fires everywhere at the bottom of Olds on Saturday night because I doubt any of those IDIOTS magnet up all the nails before they leave. And I've never seen any buggies or quads or bikes carrying pallets in to burn. Just like the burnt up couches I've seen there. Ya don't carry those in on a buggy or quad.

hmm... the reason i bought me a 4wd pickup was so i could get to the hill at night because my lady doesnt have a ride... NOW on HUGE weekends like t-day this did not bother me one bit not being able to go... as a matter of fact i CHOSE not to go simply to avoid all the riff-raff and what not... Now if it is an off weekend and half the amount of people in the dunes and they still wanna close the olds road i guess im gonna have to put the 4wd to good use... wash 6 here i come.. ( i wonder if my truck will clear the doubles?? )

I take a camera Nick.

Get some good shots

We counted a truck every 100 feet when we were crusising by..

Closing a road is not a new law.. I agree in that it took 12 or so cops to close the road. That leaves a few at the hill that dont have to worry about beer cans being tossed at them. That also avoids the RAVE party where the cops and the medical people cannot get in to. It avoids the ditches dug and filled with gas to catch the next passing buggy or quad.

Fact is.. NONE of that happened at Olds over TG weekend. Only thing different then on Holloween or last year was the absence of trucks.

You really have to wonder where the problem begins at that point. No trucks = no problems. hmmmmm.

Should we add to the equation of underage drinking to the problems as well?

Should the Leo's be enforceing that issue while your in camp?

I don't see an alcohal ban far from now. They did it at Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. There were masses there too. I know it was the residents, but it still went through. They always start out as a test run, a year or so, eventually people adapt and then they say it has helped crime decreases along with accidents and so on. then it sticks and is put into law. Unfortunately none of us own this land, so we can't make the rules.

People always said,"they could never shut down the hill at night" well it has been done!!!!!

Don't be surprised???


Jason

No Mob = no Mob mentality

Your camp and your MH is recognized as your domicile.
the same laws would apply as if you were in your own home.

I don't think its legal for a underage kid to drink in his home. I read where the cops had a warrent to search a home for drugs, did not find drugs, but arrested the parents for allowing their 16 and 17 year old kids to drink in the house, contributeing to the delinquincy of a minor. The kids were smoking and drinking a beer when the cops arived. Also arrested the kids for minor in possession of alcohol. Heard that the were convicted and sentenced to 6 months in jail and a stiff fine.

It is illegal for a minor, under 21, to drink alcohal period in the state of California, or the US for that matter. Unless your in Mexico, expect to get a ticket and possibly even arrested!!!!

I had a Ranger tell me that I couldn't have alcohal in my camp if there were minors without there legal guardians present. I told him that was BS, but he stuck by it. There were two underage friends present at the time, NOT DRINKING, and the were told that they had to submit a breathalyser. They did, and then the ranger checked out the bikes for current registration. This was an off weekend and we had just got back from a ride, so there was none in camp to provoke the rangers or give them any reason to stop by other than to mess with us.

He asked me to surrender the alcohal and I told him he needs to call his supervisor, which he did. Supervisor shows up and I explained to him that he would have to prove that they were in OUR CAMP. Define CAMP. I told him they were just real close, but not with us if he wanted to get technical. He said he could cite them for posession of alcohal when it was in MY cooler.

Long story short they left and told us to be careful and to not drink and drive. 10-4 there good buddy.

Jason

THey should make the road to olds closed as a road and make it camp grounds. Cause thats what was along that road last weekend.

Closing a road is nothing compared to closing an entire hill after the fact.
And the fact is, only the road was closed to anyone who was not camping there.
There were trucks there (olds) - so its not stopping them from getting there, its making them take an alternate route.. The DUNES are all about alternate routes.
I will stand for this small closure of the road for a couple of reasons:
Mob was gone.
Saftey was restored
Camps along the road were given their peace back.
Attitude of the LEOs when not facing 20K lunitics was amazing.

I like it when I can approach a LEO and say HEY! hows it going. I dont like it when I feel I have to turn and go another direction as soon as I see them.

I think it is a great idea. If you can dune there you can stay there no hassles. And anyone who thinks trucks full of kids drinking is not the problem you are blind.

Again, if this is truly a temporary measure designed to drive away those who are unable to control themselves and only want to cause trouble and trash the dunes, then I think it's truly a small sacrifice for those with trucks that don't fit that description.

BUT lets suppose this forces the party punks to learn how to drive their trucks in the dunes. Then there will be no "safe" place from them and their stupidity. Anyone ever think about that?

I like it.