Armstrong Chalet Ride

Ride Recap: We thought it would rain and it sure did but that didn’t stop 17 brave riders from coming out for another fun ride. A big thanks to Noel for showing the way, we appreciate every time someone share’s their trail knowledge.

This ride climbs quickly from 400m elevation at the valley bottom, gaining over 1,000m vertical before arriving at the Armstrong Snowmobile Chalet. It’s an easy road ride if you stick to the FSR or you can mix in trails from the Trinity Ricardo Trail Network to add some extra interest both on the trail and in the scenery department. One of the favourite trails is the Slide Trail which passes below a giant rock outcrop which has had the rock formation below it eroded by the nearby creek.

Weather can change quickly at this elevation, conditions on this ride flipped back and forth between broken clouds, dark foreboding clouds, pounding rain and sunshine. The Vernon Snowmobile Club Chalet (the Armstrong Chalet) offered a welcome reprieve from the rain and hail and a chance to warm and dry before heading back out when the skies cleared again.

10:30am Saturday June 27 at the Enderby Bridge

Thanks to Vernon ATV Trail Riders Group member Noel for suggesting this ride and leading many others! We asked if we could tag along and he said yes so we’re going to meet at the pullout on the east side of the bridge to Mabel Lake at 10:30am Saturday then heading out to Ashton Creek, turn down Trinity Valley Road across the river then up Durnin Road/575 FSR to staging. Click here for Google Maps and Directions.

If you’re in Vernon and want to join the convoy we’ll leave the Tim Horton’s across from Walmart on 58th Ave at 10:00am.

Looks like it could be wet but the club rides rain or shine, conditions usually turn out better than the weather apps predict. Remember to bring clothing for the weather and riding it high elevation, your lunch, camera, GPS and LOTS OF BUG SPRAY!

The Trinity Ricardo Trails are directly north of Silver Star Provincial Park. There’s lots of ATV rideable trail, spectacular vistas and a ginormous rock formation overhanging the trail – it’s wild!

Rides and events are open to everyone, we encourage new riders to come out for a couple of rides to meet club members, find new trails and get a sense of the club before joining.

The Vernon ATV Club promotes responsible all terrain vehicle use. Riders must must carry their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of $200,000 liability insurance for riding on forest service roads. Quad riders must wear a helmet, side x side riders aren’t required by law to wear helmets but we recommend they do.

Father’s Day Mt Ida Ride

Ride Recap: an excellent day on the trails with Allen leading for 6 hours that took the group over 70kms of trails ranging from cedar rainforests to fire recovery lodgepole pine, Douglas Fir stands and down into the heat of the valley with open grasslands and giant Ponderosa pine.

Pam wins the award for both taking and being part of the best photo. She took the first photo below and was passenger in the Commander in the second photo that slipped into the rain rut at the impossibly narrow spot on the trail.

10:00am Start Sunday June 21

Join all the dad’s, uncles, grandpas, nephews and cousins for a great day on the trails at Mt Ida (ladies are welcome of course!).

The ride will start at 10:00am Sunday morning from the staging area 1km up the FSR from Deep Creek Road (click here for Google Map and Directions). The convoy will leave Tim Horton’s on 58th Avenue across from the Vernon Walmart at 8:45am.

Remember we need to observe physical distancing so keep a safe distance from all other riders at all times from first arriving and throughout the day.

Plan on being out riding until approximately 4:00pm. We’ll stop for lunch but can’t guarantee we’ll have a campfire so pack a lunch, your camera, GPS and all safety and weather gear for the day.

Rides and events are open to everyone, we encourage new riders to come out for a couple of rides to meet club members, find new trails and get a sense of the club before joining.

The Vernon ATV Club promotes responsible all terrain vehicle use. Riders must must carry their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of $200,000 liability insurance for riding on forest service roads. Quad riders must wear a helmet, side x side riders aren’t required by law to wear helmets but we recommend they do.

The Takedown – GPS Team Competition + Training + Night Ride

Events from 9:00am to 11:00pm Saturday June 20

We always take full advantage of the summer equinox, this year we’ve put 3 events in one day:

  1. Enter your team (or join a team) in the competition to navigate to the hidden coordinates to see who can find the most markers.
  2. Join the training team if you’re one of the many folks who owns a GPS but would like to learn how to use your device better.
  3. Enjoy an evening ride that takes in every last minute of the long daylight hours and wraps up after dusk (10:30ish).

1. GPS Team Competition

There are 28 hidden coordinates plus several mandatory trail segments that must be ridden. Teams need to share their track at the end of the day for judging to show they found all the coordinates and rode the trail segments.

Enter your team or sign up as an individual by 5:00pm Thursday June 18 by emailing [email protected]. A GPX file will be provided at 6:00pm Friday June 19 to all entrants.

Prizes to be announced next week.

2. Join the Training Team

If you have a GPS or are on the fence about getting one but want to know more about GPS navigation – join the Training Team at 9:30am Saturday June 20. We’ll discuss some GPS theory, look at the GPS or App everyone is using then enter some coordinates and start riding and learning.

Email [email protected] to let us know you’re coming or for more information.

3. Longest Day of the Year Night Ride

Starting at 5:30pm from the parking area at the bottom of King Edward Forest Service Road, we’ll go explore the north end of the Aberdeen Plateau to enjoy the long daylight hours of mid-June. The ride runs until dark so expect to be back at the parking area around 10:30-11:00pm.

Rides and events are open to everyone, we encourage new riders to come out for a couple of rides to meet club members, find new trails and get a sense of the club before joining.

The Vernon ATV Club promotes responsible all terrain vehicle use. Riders must must carry their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of $200,000 liability insurance for riding on forest service roads. Quad riders must wear a helmet, side x side riders aren’t required by law to wear helmets but we recommend they do.

GPS Survey Take 2

Thanks to everyone for voting again, here are the results of the GPS Survey.

  • 48%  – I own a GPS and want more GPS events
  • 29% – I own a GPS but need training
  • 9 % – I’d like to get a GPS but don’t know enough
  • 9% – I own a GPS but not interested in GPS rides
  • 5% – I don’t own a GPS and not interested

We flubbed up last week by not asking if people with GPS are interested in more events so we’re back this week with the same questions plus one. Click here to complete the short survey by 5:00pm Wednesday June 10.

Pinaus Area Ride

Great ride Allen! A nice day winding the trails west of Pinaus Lake included visits to Woods, Nugget and Jimmy Lakes.

NOTE: the last photo in the gallery is a puddle on a road, it is not a stream!

10:00am Start Sunday June 7

Meet at Pinaus Lake Road (click here for directions and map) and be ready to ride at 10:00am Sunday June 7.

A convoy will be leaving the Tim Horton’s by Walmart Vernon on 58th Avenue at 8:45am if you want to tag along.

Remember we need to observe physical distancing so keep a safe distance from all other riders at all times from first arriving and throughout the day.

There’s a bunch of parking along Pinaus Lake Road with a few spots immediately after leaving the highway and much more where the road widens at 1km.

Plan on being out riding until approximately 4:00pm. We’ll stop for lunch but can’t guarantee we’ll have a campfire so pack a lunch, your camera, GPS and all safety and weather gear for the day.

Ride objectives include Woods Lake, Nugget Lake and others. Shouldn’t be dusty as the forecast is calling for a 60% chance of rain. For those new to the Vernon ATV Club, we ride rain or shine so you never need to worry if we’ll cancel a ride.

Club rides typically do 50-60kmh on Forest Service Roads (FSR) and slower on trails. Ride difficulty will range from easy riding on FSR to medium difficulty obstacles on trails. We work as a team on rides, if you riders encounter something above their ability we either help them through or find a way around.

Rides and events are open to everyone, we encourage new riders to come out for a couple of rides to meet club members, find new trails and get a sense of the club before joining.

The Vernon ATV Club promotes responsible all terrain vehicle use. Riders must must carry their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of $200,000 liability insurance for riding on forest service roads. Quad riders must wear a helmet, side x side riders aren’t required by law to wear helmets but we recommend they do.