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NEPHI — As ATV enthusiasts start their engines at Little Sahara Recreation Area, the setup for the biggest weekend of the year is underway.
Vendors' row is filling up. The food trucks are arriving, and crews are installing temporary cellphone towers to accommodate what will become a small city here this weekend.
“Towards the weekend, a lot of people start rolling in, and that is when we sit back and watch,” said Zack Mansir.
Mansir arrived early at the recreation area this year. He said he's seen for himself that the Easter crowds can be dangerous in "just all the YouTube videos you see of the head-on (collisions) and all that."
With serious accidents occurring regularly at Little Sahara, a helipad for medical helicopters was built nearby. Riders are required to have a flag on their ATV to increase visibility.
Officials at the Bureau of Land Management are also worried people can become dehydrated quickly, so they're reminding people to have at least a gallon of water per person, per day while at the dunes.
“Just get out, enjoy camping and sitting around the campfire,” said Michael Andrews, who was in town from Rock Springs, Wyoming, Monday. He's there to enjoy what he says is the best sand for riding at the right time of the year.
“The weather is just right — not too cold, not too hot," Andrews said. "The machines don't like it in June or July ... so right now (it's) sometimes a little cool in the evening, but during the daytime it is perfect weather for riding."
In addition to safety concerns, illegal alcohol use is also a concern at Little Sahara — particularly underage drinking and people who are operating ATVs while under the influence. The Utah County Sheriff's Office will run a sobriety checkpoint outside of Elberta at times between Thursday morning and Monday night to help with that enforcement effort.
Contributing: Xoel Cardenas
