ATV Adventures: Join a new jamboree – The 2024 Arapeen Winter Tracked UTV Ride
-
- On the Arapeen Trail above Ephraim — the way they look when they are not kicking up a cloud of snow.
-
- This man smiles because he is protected in an enclosed cab. This new jamboree provides a very different riding experience.
-
- Lynn Blamires
The look of the 2024 jamboree scene is changing once again. Last year, the Green River Watermelon Crawl was the first of the year.
This year, the Tri-State Jamboree is scaling back from a three-day event to a one-day poker run. Sponsorship and the people needed to staff such an event are unavailable this year.
This new jamboree is a Sanpete County event that has not been attempted before. The Arapeen Winter Tracked UTV Ride is a winter adventure on Feb. 24 in Ephraim. This excursion will feature a ride through a snowy, enchanting landscape in tracked UTVs.
It is billed as an exciting, heart-pounding experience, and looking at the picture accompanying this article, it is easy to see why. The snow clouds you see on the trail should equal the number of UTVs in line on the ride. The fact that you must have a vehicle with snow tracks makes this an exclusive ride.
A set of tracks runs between $5,000 to $7,000. However, on the upside, it extends the riding season into a completely different backcountry experience.
Here is more of how Sanpete County describes it: “This ride is not just about thrill, it’s also about immersing oneself in the astounding natural beauty of Utah’s National Forest. Winter brings an entirely different, but no less awe-inspiring, look to the terrain, making the ride a visually stunning journey. Our knowledgeable guide will ensure your experience is both enjoyable and memorable. Snow-dusted trees and pristine, untouched landscapes offer countless photo opportunities.”
As you can see, it is important to have an enclosed cab and a way to keep your forward visibility clear. In my Kawasaki Teryx 4 in its current condition, my forward visibility would be clear, but I would be a popsicle because I don’t have a windshield, yet. My wife would not be a popsicle — she would not go.
I am very interested in how this event will go. It is a new idea for a ride and for those who are prepared — one to share with your grandchildren by a fire with a hot cup of cocoa.
There is no charge for the ride, but registration is required for organizational purposes. Riders are encouraged to arrange accommodations in Ephraim on Feb. 23 to be ready for the 9 a.m. sign-in and line-up. That will take place at a staging area 1.5 miles up Ephraim Canyon. There will be plenty of room to unload trailers there. The ride departs at 9:30 a.m.
As a part of your preparation for this experience, go to https://utvevents.weebly.com/winter-ride.html. This is the place to register. There also is a map showing the route to be taken. Instructions detail how to download the Avenza Map app to your cellphone and what set of maps to open in the app. This will allow you to see where you are on the map.
You are on your own for lunch, which will be a stop on the trail at noon. This would be a good time to bring your lunch box oven for a hot lunch on the trail. Plans are to have you back in town by 3:30 p.m.
Now here is one last appeal and description of the trail by those who have put this ride together and want you to experience it: “Join us for an exhilarating 25-mile ride up Ephraim Canyon on pristine trails expertly groomed by the State of Utah. This route promises an exciting journey, riding out Willow Creek, connecting to Arapeen Trail #37, and wandering through a landscape of aspen and conifer forests summiting at the thrilling height of 9,900 feet! Concluding our journey, we will follow Arapeen Trail #42, leading us via Left-Hand Fork and down New Canyon.”
If you can go in the snow, take plenty of water, keep the track side down and “don’t miss this amazing outdoor adventure!”
Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.