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DELTA — People are gearing up for Easter weekend, heading out for the first time of the year to popular recreation areas. One of those popular spots is the Little Sahara Sand Dunes, where people come from all over the state to have some sandy fun.
For a Wednesday, there were already seeing a lot of people out here. Many of them were there to save a place for family and friends who are coming this weekend or enjoying the sand, before the big crowds get here. By Friday night, 25,000 to 30,000 people will be camped right on Sand Mountain.
Stu Adams loves Little Sahara, and there is one reason why: Speed. "You can race without getting a ticket," Adams said.
He's here before Easter Weekend, trying to get in some riding time before the crowds arrive to Little Sahara. "It's dangerous when there's a whole lot - ten coming down and 50 coming up. It's dangerous," Adams said.
To help control that potential danger, Juab County Sheriff Alden Orme and his deputies patrol the sand dunes on big weekends. For the past several years, he has worked to change the environment and attitude of the crowds.
"It used to be we would have a lot of the spring break people come without ATV's just here to party," Orme said. I think a lot of those people have chosen to go elsewhere."
That's because many people were leaving with big fines and even in handcuffs. "We have no tolerance on drugs and underage drinking. "Anybody we catch we cite and arrest," he said.
With the area more family friendly, ATV safety is a major concern. Inexperienced riders, the volume of ATV's and changing sand conditions are all factors that worry Sheriff Orme on Easter weekend. People have been injured in the past, and he does not want that happening.
Still, the weather is good, though there has been a lot of wind. But for the die-hard sand enthusiasts, this is a weekend they look forward to all year long.
