Attacking the Dunes on Lake Michigan

Attacking the Dunes on Lake Michigan

The Silver Lake dunes on Lake Michigan contain kinetic pleasure when you need it. 

You arrive in the truck with the ATV’s in tow on the trailer.  The attendant unloads the ATV’s and gives you instructions on the dune layout and rules.  Strap on your helmet and goggles.  Get on the ATV, shift the thing into forward, and press the gas with your thumb.  For a quarter of a mile, you ride on sand until you get to the entrance gate.  At the entrance gate, the clerk checks your flag to ensure that it is at least 10 feet high.  The flags are red to orange.  The flags ensure that when you crest a hill, those downhill can see you far enough in advance to prevent a collision.

You drive along the entrance road on your way to the dunes. The speed limit is 15 miles per hour.  This is another quarter of a mile.  This gives you enough time to get a feel for the ATV – the brakes, the accelerator, and the balance of the vehicles while turning into the curves.

Finally, you enter into the dunes.  They look like hills.  They are steep and high – some of them.  There is a test hill there where you can see large trucks and large dune buggies attempt to climb.  ATV’s cannot climb the test hill; it is too high.  It is a large pile of sand.  The wind blows the sand, and you never know exactly what the dune’s shape will be from day to day.  Even as you drive around, you see blowing sand. 

Drive along the ridge to the front of the test dune.  You find a place where your ATV can make it to the top of the hill.  You point your ATV directly to the top of the dune; take care that you do not attack the dune at an angle lest you flip the vehicle, break your leg, and have to call in a helicopter to evacuate you to the nearest hospital.  You press the gas with your thumb at full blast.  The ATV races to max speed.  You begin climbing the hill of sand.  The ATV slows down.  It slows down some more.  You approach the crest, and your ATV is struggling and complaining.  If you started out fast enough, you crest the dune, and for a brief moment you are airborne.  Your ATV points downward and your heart skips a beat in terror as you fall toward the Earth.  Your ATV, in a split second, is back on the ground, but you are going down the hill fast; very fast.  Your heart races again in terror as you fly toward the bottom of the hill.  You fell that you may just slam into the bottom of the hill perhaps for the last time.  Then the ATV negotiates the bottom and it jolts your body is pure ecstasy of victory over the dune and over death!  You again press the gas toward full blast at the bottom and your ATV blasts forward toward the next dune hill. 

You crest perhaps two or three more dunes until you get to the exit road, which, you turn left if you want to exit, or you turn right to continue on again toward your next dune adventure trail. 

Wild Bill’s rentals have everything you need.  You can rent ATV’s or dune buggies there.  The contract is straight forward and simple.  For an ATV, you just need valid driver license.  They supply the helmet and the goggles.  For a dune buggy, you will have to put down a deposit of a few hundred dollars, and you only need goggles, but not a helmet.    

When driving there, take care to make sure your wallet, phone, and other personals are secured to your body, or leave them in your car.  The place is large, and if you lose your stuff, it could be covered in a foot of sand by the time you figure out you lost it.

And, do not be afraid to hit the gas.  That is what the dunes were made for.

Freddy Martini