Karma and the ATV Adventure

Grassy Lake

Last Sunday’s ATV ride was a little more adventure than we bargained for.  The abundant rainfall in July made for some serious mud along the Arapeen OHV Trails.  On Friday’s ride we pulled a two-wheel-drive truck out of a muddy rut on Skyline Drive – the main road.  When we arrived, he was elbow-deep in mud trying to put down enough rocks to get himself out.  We learned that his name was Jim, that he’d been there all night, and that it had rained – again – at around midnight.  We hooked up his tow strap and pulled him out forward.  That was a sign.

On Saturday, we came across a fallen tree – right across the main road out of camp.  Again – armed with a tow strap and with the help of several riders on the other side of the tree, we dragged it off to the side, clearing the road.  That was a sign.

But ever optimistically ignoring the signs, we set out on Sunday on a long ride down Reeder Canyon to Joe’s Valley Reservoir, then taking the Potter’s Pond road back.

Reeder Canyon was actually in good shape.  There were a few muddy spots but nothing too deep or treacherous.  Several riders coming up the canyon assured us the road was completely passable.  And it was.  We reached the end of the road.  We saw Joe’s Valley Reservoir in the distance.  And we could not find the road to get us there. 

Nor could we find the road to take us north to Potter’s Pond.  Of course, the map was back in the trailer, and our GPS was less than helpful.  The one helpful way point it gave us was Grassy Lake.  We’d been near Grassy Lake, so we were sure we could find our way back from there. 

Off we went on a fairly major road, and soon enough we were at the turnoff to Grassy Lake.  We were sure that the road we wanted was just north, but hey, why not go check out the lake?  After a short stop, we headed back the way we’d come and proceeded to follow the road.  We realized we weren’t where we thought we were about ½ hour after we’d left the lake, but knew the road we were on took us to Skyline Drive.  We could make it back from there.

Or could we?  As we made the northbound turn on the ridge, we saw it.  Couldn’t miss it.  It was a snowdrift all the way across the road.  There was no way we were getting across it.  We had to find another way.  So we turned around and headed down a very rocky trail we’d been on before that we knew would get us back to Reeder Canyon.  At the bottom of the trail, we ran into some serious mud. 

Clouds about to burst

We knew we had to cross it – there was no other way.  So we plowed through and found ourselves at a 45 degree angle with the front wheels spinning.  Thankfully we were able to back out.  There was another fork.  The mud was just as deep but the steep section was on the downhill.  I hopped off to lessen the weight on the ATV, and Paul drove across.  I found a way across through the trees, avoiding the deep mud, and we were off.

Shortly after the mud we found the Reeder Canyon trail.  As we headed up, it started to rain. Then it started to pour.  Thank goodness for helmets and windbreakers.  As we finally pulled into camp, nearly 8 hours after we left, the sun was peeking out and we knew we were safe.

So where does karma come in?  I’ve always believed that good begets good, and in this case I’m sure of it.  We made it home safely.  We didn’t fight.  And on the other side of the huge mud puddle at the bottom of the rocky road, there was a truck waiting that would have pulled us out if we’d gotten stuck.  He made it across as well. 

The Arapeen OHV Trail System

Blue Lake on the Arapeen OHV Trail System

We just completed a wonderful six weeks at Pine Mountain, located east of Spring City on a gateway road into the Arapeen OHV Trail System. This set of roads and trails, many open to 4X4 vehicles as well as off-road vehicles, is located in the Manti-LaSal National Forest.  The roads and trails are maintained by the National Forest Service and are well marked with signs bearing the road number.  System maps are available – free – at the Forest Service Offices in Ephraim, Ferron, Price, Moab and Monticello.

The main road linking the trails is #1, Skyline Drive.  It’s classified as a 4X4 road, and in certain sections you can drive a 2 wheel drive vehicle over it, but great deal of the road is pretty rutted.  I’m picturing the first sunny day in March, an old 4 wheel drive truck, a six pack of Keystone Light, and “damn the mud and snow – full speed ahead.”  That’s probably not what happened, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 

The trails are rated like ski runs –green for easy, blue for intermediate, black for advanced.  The color code is on the actual signs marking the trails.  But look carefully at the colors on the map. We learned the hard way that a green line for a trail on the map doesn’t mean it’s easy.  It means it’s restricted to ATVs 50” or less in width.  They take this width restriction very seriously.  The gate to enter the trail is just a bit wider.  Seriously.  We cleared one of the gates by ½ inch on either side.  The gate is also stationary.  If you don’t fit through, you don’t ride the trail.  Case closed.

Most of the ATV-only trails are two-track, alternating through dense forest and open meadows.  The Reeder Canyon trail and the other road #5 (still confused) had steep uphill and downhill sections punctuated by Forest Service speed bumps – actually culverts to divert running water.  There are several reservoirs along the trail, many with fishing and camping opportunities. 

We rode in this area more than a dozen times during our stay at Pine Mountain and still have trails and loops we have yet to ride. Interested?  You can download the trail map here.  Happy Trails!