For years, Dumont Dunes has had little to no cell reception. The closest cell tower is 10 miles away at Ibex Pass, which is not capable of handling the crowds that Dumont sees on a busy holiday weekend. The tower gets overloaded and even if you have full bars, your call most likely won't go through. On the non-holiday weekends, you can get decent service, but you have to be in just the right spot and have Verizon. If you have AT&T, the top of Comp Hill sometimes works. If you have any other service, you can't even make a call. This poses a serious problem for emergency situations. If someone needs help, the amount of time it takes to drive down to where there is good service may mean the difference between life or death.
Well, all of that is going to change for the users and emergency personnel of Dumont. On September 5th, Katrina Symons, the Barstow BLM Field Office manager, signed the approval of a proposal that has been in the works for the last 6 years for the construction of a cellular tower to be constructed out at Dumont.
We were thrilled when The Friends of Dumont Dunes had this exciting news to share today. Tom Gammon, Founder/President of InterConnect Towers, confirmed the project's approval and also stated that this is the largest and most complex cellular tower he has ever seen in his career! It will be located between the Southern point of the dunes Southeast of the Area of Critical Environmental Concern. It will be a shared AT&T and Verizon tower holding a complex network of SIXTEEN antennas! With an overall height of 195', it will provide much-needed coverage for the highway corridor along with the Dumont Dunes OHV recreation area for visitor entertainment and will be crucial to public safety.
Groundbreaking starts in only 10 days and the project is scheduled to be completed by November 20th of this year.
Many thanks to the Barstow BLM for getting this approved!
2018/2019 Dumont Dunes season passes are available through the BLM.
To order a season pass from the BLM, call and order by phone 760-252-6000 or in person at BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311
Passes will also be available through participating businesses. Call for availability. A complete business list is on the Dumont passes page.
prices
$90 for a season pass with holiday black-out dates
$120 for a season pass that includes holidays
A Holiday Pass Is Required on These Dates
Oct 23 thru Oct 29, 2018 (Halloween)
Nov 20 thru Nov 26, 2018 (Thanksgiving)
Dec 25, 2018, thru Dec 31, 2018 (President's Day)
Jan 15 thru Jan 21, 2019 (New Years)
As summer slowly crawls to an end, fall is not too far off. The mornings are getting cooler and the triple digits will no longer be lingering at Dumont. Before you know it, dune season will be here! The season generally starts mid to late October, depending on the weather and how anxious some duners get. Halloween weekend, Oct 27-28, is the official kickoff for the season and you'll want to make sure you are 100% ready. Here are a few pre-season tips for things that often get overlooked.
RVs/ Toyhaulers
Test batteries and check water levels. Also, check your connections and cables
Run your generator for 30+ minutes and check it under a load. Make sure it is charging your batteries.
Turn on your fridge and make sure it works under both 12V and propane
Inspect tires for cracks or separations and replace if needed. Drive your RV or pull your trailer around town 10+ miles at highway speeds and check afterward.
check trailer suspension shackles for excessive wear. Removal of a nut may be required to see if the holes are stretched
Check and top off propane levels. Inspect those hoses for leaks.
Check all bulbs and electrical items to make sure everything is working properly
Stock up on necessary pantry items. Don't forget TP & holding tank chemical!
Wash sheets/ blankets
Don't forget that RV TP!
ATV's, Side x Sides, and Motorcycles
Test/ replace battery
clean air filter
fresh oil change and check all fluids
check and/or replace drive chains/sprockets or belt (RZR)
check and/or replace brake pads
Make sure all sand tires hold air. Air them up and recheck them after a few days. Add tire sealer if needed.
Make sure registration is up to date and you have a good flag ready to mount.
Check all lights. Don't get popped for a ticket at night for inoperative lights.
Polaris RZR battery upgrade
Sandcars
Test/replace battery. Is it fresh and good to go for the season?
fresh oil change
clean and oil air filter
repack CVs
check (& change?) transmission fluid
bolt check entire car
check for oil or coolant leaks
inspect hoses and belts
check coolant level and fan operation
check brake fluid level and pads
check clutch operation
check shifter & linkage
check all lights
check tires and add sealer if needed
replace worn heims
inspect frame for cracks
verify current sticker or registration and you have a good flag ready to mount
Trans Fluid for Some Transaxles
Other Items Not to Forget About
Season pass. Passes will be available late-September. Call the BLM at 760-252-6000 to order or visit a participating dealer. Season passes are not available at Dumont.
Flags for all toys
stock up on firewood
beer
Don't Get Stuck!
Many people are already planning for next season. With Halloween landing on a Wednesday this year, there has been some confusion as to what weekend is the official "Halloween Weekend" at Dumont. Halloween weekend kicks off the 2018/2019 Dumont season on October 27-28, 2018. It is always the last weekend of October. So start your planning now!
The 2017/2018 dune season has unofficially come to a close and there have already been a handful of days touching that 100-degree mark on the thermometer. This may make you unbolt your paddle tires and hit the lake instead. However, springtime at Dumont still offers many perfect-weather days to go out and enjoy the dunes. You can still catch a cool weekend if you watch the weather forecast. Many days have highs in the 80's and 90's. That sounds warm for the dunes, but what that means is beautiful mornings in the 60's and 70's. Wake up and be the only one making tracks in the sand then hang out in the shade or dip your feet in the Amargosa River (if there is water flowing of course). Then once the sun has cast some shadows the other direction, get another run or two in before enjoying a quiet night under the stars without any neighbors blasting their music or scaring your dogs away with their fireworks. My point is don't hang it up quite yet! If you are already having sand-withdrawals, there still is a cure. Just don't wait too long because before you know it, the overnight lows will be 105°. Take advantage of the empty, smooth dunes while you can. Keep in mind that while Memorial weekend is not considered a popular Dumont holiday weekend because of the warmer daytime highs, there are usually still some die-hard duners still making a weekend out of it. Get out there and shred!
Tips for duning "out of season"
Always bring water with you on dune runs
Watch out for those "witch eyes", holes and shelves
Never dune alone
Bring other experienced duner friends
A tow strap and spare parts that regularly break are always good insurance
Every March, the dune season at Dumont Dunes is winding down and coming to a close as temperatures begin to rise. The big holidays like Halloween and President's Weekend have come and gone. Dried up trash and remnants from the season linger in the creosote bushes surrounding the camp area. They weren't left there on purpose, but accidents happen and mother nature can blow these items out of camp without notice. Just like the morning after a big house party, the people who made the mess are long gone and it has since been forgotten about. Luckily Dumont still has a large group of people who call this place home. They take care of it like it is their own. Twenty years ago or so, a small group of duners started the cleanup. It was a grassroots effort with these types of caring people who got the ball rolling. Soon to follow, the non-profit group, Friends of Dumont Dunes, was formed. In conjunction with the Barstow BLM and the dedicated users of Dumont Dunes, the cleanup has become an annual tradition ever since. Picking up trash isn't anyone's favorite thing to do, but as a group effort and with the help of some generous sponsors, it has turned out to be a fun event where friends and family come together for a great cause.
Volunteer Sign Up
Motivated and helpful volunteers showed up at the ranger station at 8 AM to sign up, grab some trash bags and a wristband.
Trash Collection
Duners spent the morning cruising around camp on their quads, RZRs and, buggies cleaning the place up.
The weather cooperated most of the morning with cool temperatures, but then the "W" came on strong and made things a little difficult.
Winds whipped across the camp area making it a bit annoying.
Jodi Knight, aka @sand chick, was posted up at the dumpster giving out raffle tickets for all trash bags that were turned in. She toughed it out and her time and participation were greatly appreciated.
Lunchtime!
With the huge gusts of wind, I was worried Jason would have trouble cooking up all that food for everyone. We headed over to the ranger station at noon and wouldn't you know it, Jason had already come up with a plan and had it covered. He blocked the wind with his trailer and moved the lunch assembly line into his enclosed trailer. This guy is unstoppable! We all jumped in and lent a hand where it was needed.
Rather than the usual hotdogs, Jason cooked up over 100 lbs of tri-tip. This meant getting up at 5 AM to smoke the first batch of meat.
With everyone's help, all the volunteers were fed! Lunch included a tri-tip sandwich, beans, corn, chips, and cookies.
The area around the ranger station quickly became an offroad parking lot as everyone arrived!
Quick Draw
Thanks to some amazing sponsors, many prizes were donated and raffled off. This always adds a bit more fun and excitement to the day.
Plaques were given out for the following...
With a little help from Mother Nature, there was a break in the wind for a couple hours. Prizes were flying and smiles were everywhere. This is what it's all about, getting the dune community together for a good cause and having fun doing it. We're all in this together.
Events like this don't happen without a group effort. Friends, family, and partners from all groups including Dumont Dune Riders, BLM, Friends of Dumont Dunes, and the users of Dumont Dunes joined forces to keep our playground clean.
A big THANKS goes out to everyone who participated in the cleanup event!
Special thanks to...
Jason Ardenski, president of Friends of Dumont Dunes
The Friends of Dumont Dunes Board Members
The Barstow BLM Staff
Kay & Tom Ardenski
Jodi Knight & Mike Green
Heather Siders & Jimmy Lynn
John Slapper
And of course, all of the kids that helped too (Alexis, Tatum, Libby, Amber & Gavin)!
Quickdraw Prize Sponsors
GTP Off Road - Las Vegas, NV
W&J Subshops DBA: Subway - Victorville, CA
Trasharoo - Forest Falls, CA
AGP Evictions - Apple Valley, CA
Impact Signs - Victorville, CA
5150 Whips - Hesperia, CA
Poles & Holders - Santa Fe Springs, CA
Jodi Knight - Las Vegas, NV
Desertcraft - Victorville, CA
4 The Truck Customs & Accessories - Henderson, NV
Ruggedmoosedecor.com - Las Vegas, NV
Busymamadesigns.bigcartel.com - Apple Valley, CA
Dynojet Research - Las Vegas, NV
Season pass sponsors
Raines Electric - Victorville, CA (1 pass)
W&J Subshops DBA: Subway - Victorville, CA (2 passes)
R-T Welding & Fabrication - Hesperia, CA (2 passes)
Plaque sponsors
DMS Crane Service, Inc. - Redlands, CA (2 plaques)
AGP Evictions - Apple Valley, CA (1 plaque)
Impact Signs - Victorville, CA (1 plaque)
Plaques made by Action Trophy - La Habra, CA
Additional Event Photos
Dune season isn't over yet! Easter weekend is March 31- April 1st. It's the last holiday of the season and the weather is cooperating in favor of duners. The weekend forecast is calling for mid 80's and sunny. Easter weekend at Dumont Dunes isn't a busy one, therefore it's a great time to get out and appreciate the sand before the triple digits set in.
The Friends of Dumont Dunes and the Barstow BLM are hosting the 16th Annual Dumont Dunes Cleanup on Saturday, March 24th. Cleanup starts at 8:00 AM. Come out and give back to the place we all love so much. Volunteers get free admission to Dumont for the weekend and lunch will be served. Trash bags and gloves are provided by the BLM.
Last Year's Cleanup
Businesses Who Are Interested in Helping Sponsor the Cleanup
President's Day Weekend is coming at Dumont Dunes! Since the early 1970's, the Las Vegas Jeep Club has been hosting their annual Jeep Jamboree at Dumont. This event, consisting of hill climbs and drag races, has been one of the reasons so many duners have made President's weekend a 46-year tradition. Come watch some of the baddest Jeeps, trucks, and dragsters compete at Dumont.
President's Weekend is always a busy one so don't forget to keep your head on a swivel and watch out for each other. Vendor Row should is usually full and Comp Hill is always lit at night. Be sure to stay legal because the Rangers will be out in full force keeping everyone in check. If you need a refresher, here is a list of the rules and things to look out for. Holiday passes are required from Feb 13 thru Feb 19, 2018. If you don't have a holiday season pass, you can purchase a $40 weekly holiday permit at the entrance from the machine or you can grab one from a participating off-site vendor. See a full list here. If your OHV isn't registered in your home state, don't forget to grab a CA non-resident use permit sticker too. Dune Mart on vendor row and the Dumont visitor center sometimes have them on hand.
Everyone have a fun, safe weekend out there. As always, send us your dune reports and use the hashtag #dumontduneriders on Instagram. We'll do our best to feature your photos!
The 2018 Las Vegas Jeep Club Jamboree will take place on President's Day Weekend February 17-18 at the Dumont Dunes in California. Plans are in place to run the normal format with the Hill Climbs featured on Saturday followed by the traditional 300' Sand Drag event on Sunday.
photo courtesy of http://www.nationalsanddragnews.com
