In the 30 years I have been riding ATVs, I have been thinking of adventure in terms of an exciting or remarkable experience. I was surprised to learn that Merriam-Webster lists that definition as second in a list of three. The first is, “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks.” There was an element of this definition on the ride I took on the Skyline Trail in Sanpete County.

The Skyline Trail is remarkable. It runs 108 miles between the old Tucker Rest Area on Highway 6 and Interstate 70. Because this trail travels high on a ridgeline between those two points, the views are amazing.

I was on my way up Fairview Canyon with my brother-in-law, Mike. Kevin Christiansen of Sanpete County organized the Skyline Circuit Ride and invited me to join them.

The ride was to start at the top of Fairview Canyon and end in Ephraim to spend the night. The next day was to be a colorful ride back to the top of Fairview Canyon.

On my way to the staging area, my truck broke down about 10 miles short of the rendezvous point. Here is where the first definition of adventure came into play. I was stuck in the middle of the highway, with no room or power to get off the road.

That is a predicament. In the midst of considering my options, a Good Samaritan came down the canyon in a one-ton dually and stopped to see if I needed help. The answer was obvious. He turned around, took out a tow strap and pulled me to the trailhead for the North Skyline Trail. Talk about solutions falling into place.

We unloaded my Kawasaki Teryx4 and headed out to the meeting place. We were greeted by all the empty trucks and trailers. We were a half hour late and everyone was gone. It was not difficult to follow the tracks left by the group and we had a good idea of the route they were taking to Ephraim.

As we headed south, we began to enjoy the beauties and the views traveling high on the ridgeline. We looked down into huge bowl-shaped valleys on either side of the trail. Some were dotted with stands of pine and others also had small bodies of water. The meadows would stretch away to a far distance where we could see into the lower valleys and a hint of civilization. A stretch of trail was high on the ridge and then dropped down past towering cliffs with huge boulders that had fallen down off the tops onto the sides of the trail.

As night fell, the clouds took on shades of pink and orange, which only added to the beauty of the trail. By the time we came to the junction with the trail that would take us down into Ephraim, it was dark enough to need lights to see.

I was surprised to realize that we had not caught up with the group of riders we were seeking. It was not until the next morning when I talked to Kevin that I learned that they had taken a side trail to watch a spectacular sunset. We missed that turn and the group.

We came into town at 8:30 and by the time we gassed up at the Maverik, most of the options for something to eat were closed. That is when we learned that the bowling alley in Ephraim is a great place to eat.

We awoke the next morning with the challenge of how to get home. I met with Kevin in the parking lot as the group was forming up to head out on their adventure and explained my predicament.

By 10:45 a.m., I had arranged for a tow truck to get my truck to a dealership in Spanish Fork. I also found a friend who would come to the top of Fairview Canyon to pull the trailer and my machine back home. That meant that I had two hours to drive 52 miles back to meet the tow truck and my friend.

We rolled out of the motel at 11:00 a.m., heck bent for leather (this is a family friendly article). We saw a lot of scenery averaging 26 mph and made it back in 1 3/4 hours in time to meet both parties. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down, and avoid the first definition of adventure.

Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard Examiner

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard Examiner

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