BLM rangers pelted with eggs at Sand Mountain

Three major accidents, two arrests and personal attacks on Bureau of Land Management rangers marred a crowded Easter weekend at Sand Mountain, 30 miles east of Fallon.

A BLM official estimated there were 2,500 people at Sand Mountain between Thursday and Sunday.

Elayn Briggs, associate field manager for the BLM, said extra park rangers were sent to the popular recreation area after raw eggs were thrown at rangers enforcing the law, and at their vehicles. The egg-throwing occurred Thursday night, Briggs said. On Friday, there were eight rangers patrolling the area.

On Saturday night, someone threw a rock at a BLM vehicle, breaking a window.

A sign at the Pony Express Station nearby was also chopped down and stolen.

Briggs said there have been verbal confrontations between law enforcement and campers in the past, but rangers had never been physically targeted like they were over the weekend.

"I don't know that the crowd was more unruly, but we had incidents we hadn't experienced before. We never had eggs thrown at us," Briggs said.

Care flight was called to three "major medicals" that were described as serious by Briggs. One of the victims refused to be airlifted just as the helicopter was preparing to land, she added.

Churchill County Sheriff Richard Ingram said the county responded to a total of six requests for ambulances between 11 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Sunday.

At least one minor was arrested by the Churchill County Sheriff's Office for alcohol violations. An adult was taken into custody on suspicion of violating probation because he was consuming alcohol, said Briggs.

Citations are issued for violations such as open container, failure to pay entrance fees, riding without a whip flag, riding without headlights and tail lights at night, possessing glass containers and trashy campsites.

Briggs said the BLM will be exploring a hike in fees at Sand Mountain and possibly limiting the number of campers next year. She said the public will have plenty of time to comment on any proposed changes before they are implemented.

Currently, campers pay $20 to stay up to a week. A $45 annual pass is also available.

"The BLM is facing budget problems, and the fees are not nearly enough manage it by providing law enforcement, emergency medical, road grading, restrooms and dumping the trash," said Briggs. "The fees don't begin to cover it appropriately.

"We'll be looking to increase the fees next year and look at the carrying capacity - how many people that area can sustain. We'll be looking for public input on that."