A lot of sand duners now consider Halloween to be the official start of the off-road season because they simply cannot wait another month. Each year, caravans of trucks, trailers and motor homes filled with motorcycles, three-wheelers, quads and buggies turn off the highway and make their way down the craggy road leading to a whole new world. Even at midnight, the desert is still alive. Headlights zigzag all around. The smell of fuel and the grit of sand permeate the air.
Bonfires are everywhere and the sounds of tricked-out motors and laughter spread across the desert.
Many struggle to shake the aftermath of too much alcohol from the night before, but few will miss out on a day of riding. After slipping into leathers, pulling on boots and fueling up bikes, the riders head out in droves. They will be gone for hours, flying over dunes in search of untouched sand and steep hills. According to Barnes, the hill remains fairly unused due to its distance from all the main campsites. This hill is so incredible though, that we try to get out there at least once every desert trip.