ATV Adventures: An unexpected start to a great ride at Curtis Creek
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- The Curtis Creek Trail is one of the prettiest trails and it is close to home.
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- Riding the Curtis Creek Trail in the woods on Monte Cristo.
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- Lynn Blamires
Sometimes the adventure starts before the ride begins. This time I refer to the first definition of adventure — “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks.”
The plan was to ride from Curtis Creek to Randolph. As the time for the ride approached, I was wondering what I could write about a trail that I had ridden and written about before. That question was answered before I left.
I had secured my trailer to my truck, or so I thought. Actually, I didn’t think, because I had driven my rig 5 uneventful miles to check the air in the trailer’s tires.
When it came time to load my Teryx 4, I lined up with the ramps and drove onto the trailer. My heart stopped when I was looking at the front of my 22-foot trailer pointing to the sky. I had not secured the ball!
This is the kind of stuff for which YouTube videos are famous. Because the safety chains did their job, the back of my truck was not battered by the tongue of my trailer.
However, when my heart started beating again, I carefully backed off the trailer witnessing the lowering of the tongue only to find out that the chain was bound up around the ball.
After some help from my neighbor, nothing improved. He left and said, “Good luck.” “Thanks,” I muttered. It was the wisdom of my good wife that saved the day. I used a floor jack to raise the tongue a little and then got in the truck. She guided me in moving the truck inches forward and back to loosen the chain. Finally, I was able to remove the shackle and drop the chain.
We were able to lower the bull nose hitch onto the ball and secure it. We finished loading and made the rendezvous point to meet our friends on time. However, the adventure was not over.
Leaving the Park and Wait lot off Highway 89 in Weber Canyon, we had four machines headed east toward Huntsville. This is the kind of route for which Sunday drives were made. Interstate 84 up Weber Canyon and the trip over Trapper’s Loop is packed with beautiful scenery. The drive up past Causey Reservoir, Sourdough and Monte Cristo are no less spectacular.
The parking at the Curtis Creek Trailhead is tight so we traveled further to a wide pullout at the next curve to unload. I have heard that there is a solution in the works for improving the trailhead, but I haven’t been able to verify it.
We began a ride in chilly temperatures, but it warmed up to make for a very pleasant ride as the day progressed. This is one of the prettiest forest rides I have ever ridden and it is only about 50 miles from my home in Layton.
We made it into Randolph just in time for lunch at the Crawford Trough. Being the county seat for Rich County, Randolph boasts a population of 504 as of 2019. It is also known for its cold winters. With an elevation of 6,300 feet, it averages only 57 frost-free days a year, and yet, the Trough offers a good reason to go to Randolph. They have a great burger and shake menu.
I mentioned earlier that the adventure was not over. While we were enjoying vittles at the Trough, we noticed that it was raining outside. I didn’t remember any rain in the forecast and I have a strong dislike for riding in mud.
I hoped it would stop raining before it was time to go. It didn’t and we headed out in it. However, by the time we got back on top, the skies had cleared and it was pleasant again. I could say that all’s well that ends well, but I still had a muddy machine to clean up.
As I was loading, a member of our group suggested that I check the ball on my trailer. I had related the story about the ball incident earlier. I didn’t have to because no one would have known, but I did just like I have in this article.
You would think I would know better, but this is the kind of stuff that creates reputations and all my friends know I have one. Well, I guess there wouldn’t be an article without a story. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and check the ball before you load.
Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.