GLAMIS — Exclamations of joy rang out from a red 1989 Honda Pilot as former San Diegan Taylor Duprau came to a stop atop Osborne Overlook.
“Woohoohoo! That was something,” he said as he unstrapped himself from the small all-terrain vehicle he’d wanted since he was 18 years old.
Such was the scene in the Glamis area of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area this weekend as off-roaders came from near and far to enjoy some time on their quads, motorcycles and buggies.
“This is the second-busiest weekend of the year,” said public information officer for the Bureau of Land Management Michelle Puckett.
“People are still leaving,” she said Sunday as a majority of campers had already made their exit for the weekend.
Puckett said more than 136 emergency personnel come from as far as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Northern California to join local medical teams and law enforcement to ensure safety for the numerous off-roaders.
Puckett said Glamis saw approximately 120,000 people during the New Year’s weekend this year, which is down from last year’s 129,000.
There was also a large rollover incident where four people were airlifted for medical treatment but there were no fatalities, she said.
The danger doesn’t seem to bother the sand riders.
“Honda stopped making these because there were too many rollovers and injuries on them,” said Duprau, who now lives on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
“Oh it runs excellent. It rides a little stiff though. I took one to the spine right back there,” he said with a laugh.
The weekend’s cold weather also didn’t seem to bother the recreators.
“In the morning the quads were frosted over but they started up,” Bakersfield resident Patrick Harrington said.
“It’s Glamis, it’s always great riding,” he said.
Staff Writer Roman Flores can be reached at 760-337-3439
“Woohoohoo! That was something,” he said as he unstrapped himself from the small all-terrain vehicle he’d wanted since he was 18 years old.
Such was the scene in the Glamis area of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area this weekend as off-roaders came from near and far to enjoy some time on their quads, motorcycles and buggies.
“This is the second-busiest weekend of the year,” said public information officer for the Bureau of Land Management Michelle Puckett.
“People are still leaving,” she said Sunday as a majority of campers had already made their exit for the weekend.
Puckett said more than 136 emergency personnel come from as far as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Northern California to join local medical teams and law enforcement to ensure safety for the numerous off-roaders.
Puckett said Glamis saw approximately 120,000 people during the New Year’s weekend this year, which is down from last year’s 129,000.
There was also a large rollover incident where four people were airlifted for medical treatment but there were no fatalities, she said.
The danger doesn’t seem to bother the sand riders.
“Honda stopped making these because there were too many rollovers and injuries on them,” said Duprau, who now lives on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
“Oh it runs excellent. It rides a little stiff though. I took one to the spine right back there,” he said with a laugh.
The weekend’s cold weather also didn’t seem to bother the recreators.
“In the morning the quads were frosted over but they started up,” Bakersfield resident Patrick Harrington said.
“It’s Glamis, it’s always great riding,” he said.
Staff Writer Roman Flores can be reached at 760-337-3439
