Friday Night Snow Ride Report

It was raining at staging, only 2 riders and neither one was too keen on riding in the rain but they knew it would turn to snow eventually.

Headed up West Brewer first but couldn’t continue beyond the end of the plowed road. Went back and went up King Eddy and made it to 8.5km (1300m elevation) before it was too much of a slog to continue.

It rained up to about 6.5km (1100m elevation) then the snow started to accumulate. There was about 30cm of fresh snow on top of another 15cm of soft snow. If you stopped on a steep slope you had to back up to less slope to get going again.

Lots of fun riding on the slush on the plowed road, felt like a rally racer around every corner.

We should (***should***) be able to make it to Becker Lake on the Saturday ride because Becker Lake is at 1200m and there aren’t too many steep pitches on Becker main.

See you at Noble Canyon Saturday at 5:00pm!

Winter Riding – It’s a Thing!

Blessed by the ATV gods with the goldilocks of weather and terrain, the North Okanagan is rideable year round.

Unlike the sledder-heaven terrain to the north and east, the North Okanagan typically doesn’t get too much snow and with moderate slopes wheeled all terrain vehicles can either stay on top of the snow (with some slick throttle control) or blast on through with big tires and lots of RPMs.

Snow in the valley bottom doesn’t mean it’s time to park your quad or side x side, it means it’s time to throw on some long undies, grab your mitts and pack some extra clothes for the next ride.

Winter riding can be equal parts rewarding and frustrating, it depends on the day and the snow conditions. Inevitably someone gets stuck and some days everyone gets stuck, a lot!

There will be days when our tow truck comes along, it’s usually Marc and his RZR with tracks. Be sure you’re nice to Marc or he’ll pull you out of one spot and leave you further off the beaten trail, right Steve!

If you haven’t given winter riding a try, come out for a ride with the club. We always have a lunch campfire to warm up and come home with a few good stories after each ride. Get out of the Okanagan valley blaws, head to the hills for some fun and much needed midwinter vitamin D!

Halloween Dress Up Ride

Vernon ATV Club Halloween Dress Up Ride

10:00am Sunday October 27

Thanks to all who voted, it was a close contest but Sunday October 27 won the day. We’ve chosen Mt Ida because it has a staging area with ample parking, easy access to trails and we can have a campfire.

It takes roughly 40 minutes from the north end of Vernon to Mt Ida staging. If you’d like to join the convoy we’re leaving Tim Horton’s on 58th Avenue (across from WalMart) at 9:00am.

Now it’s time to get your outfit ready for the ride. Prizes for best costume, costume that survives the ride and more.

We’ll have a campfire at a central staging area for those more interested in hanging out and telling stories and rides for those who want to be out there.

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.

Mara Mountain Lookout Ride

Ride Recap – Perfect weather conditions welcomed the largest ever turnout for a club ride, somewhere between 36-50 quads, side x sides and motorcycles (depending on who was counting at what time during the day) assembled from all parts. Riders from neighbouring clubs and around the interior of BC, other provinces and territories joined the procession up the mountain.

After weeks of rain Sunday delivered a sunny scorcher, good thing because at the lookout elevation it cools off quickly when clouds covers the sun.

Riders exhibited excellent trail etiquette both by staying on the trail at all times and by being courteous to the other trail users which included a hiker and some dirt bikers.

A little surprise for most in attendance, national ice cream day meant ice cream sandwiches were served after lunch.

Doug is ok!
Thanks to the search and rescue and medical personnel that were along on the ride who jumped into action when a rider wasn’t feeling well. After assessing the situation the call was made to press the button on Kevin’s inReach to summon the chopper.

A number of club members helped move Doug to safety so the bulk of the group could head back down the mountain while the medical crew hung around for the helicopter to arrive.

The big bird arrived and within minutes Doug was whisked away and wants everyone to know he’s recovering and appreciates everyone’s help.

9:00am Sunday July 21 Vernon / 9:30am Enderby / 10:00am at Kingfisher FSR

A ride to the top of the world, Mara Mountain Lookout is 7,382 ft (2,250 m) elevation and was chosen as a lookout site due to the commanding view in all directions. It’s national ice cream day so let us know if you’re coming so we can have an ice cream treat for you.

MUST READ: The number 1 rule when riding in the alpine is stay on the trails, REPEAT – STAY ON THE TRAILS! If you ride off the trail you will be reported to the authorities by others in the ride, it’s that important we stay on the trails.

Back to the fun stuff, it’s a fairly short ride (about 60kms) and it’s pretty rough and rocky in spots but the lake below the lookout and the views from the lookout are well worth it.

Bring your lunch, camera, GPS, bug spray and clothing for all conditions. Hopefully it’s a nice sunny day so we can hang out at the lookout for lunch then laze around enjoying the view. Weather changes fast at elevation and even in the summer it could rain or snow at the lookout.

If you’re coming from Vernon we’ll be leaving the Tim Horton’s parking lot on 58th Avenue at 9:00am then stopping at the Enderby Chamber of Commerce office at 9:30 then on to Kingfisher Forest Service Road at 10:00am and ready to ride by 10:30am.

Vernon to Enderby Chamber of Commerce Office – 25 minutes

Enderby Chamber of Commerce to Kingfisher FSR – 30 minutes

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.

Canada Day Rides in Polson Park

All aboard the ATV Club train rides at Polson Park

Loads of fun, the above photo really captures the fun 700+ riders had during their ATV train ride at Polson Park on July 1 as part of the Canada Day celebrations.

The ATV train rain from 10:00am to 4:00pm, taking people from the centre of the park out toward the boardwalk along roads and trails and back. 15 amazing club members volunteered to make this annual fun event happen, thank you!

A huge thanks to BDM Motorsports and Vernon Motorsports for the use of the side x sides to pull the train and for tents to shade the folks lined up for the ride.

CANADA DAY 2019 Help Needed

The ATV Club is part of Canada Day festivities in Polson Park for the fourth year. Last year was our second year with the kiddie train and again it was a hit with over 1,000 going for a ride.

Rides start at 10:00am and go to 4:00pm, we arrive at 8:00am to set up and are usually done and ready to leave by 5:00pm.

To make this year another success we need people to help with:

  • Morning set up of tents, tables, carts
  • Organizing riders into the carts
  • Driving the vehicles pulling the kiddie carts
  • Providing info to people visiting the club display
  • Take down and load out at the end of the day

Use the form below to let us know how you can help make 2019 a success.

Longest Day BBQ & Ride

5:30pm Saturday June 22

Each year around this time we fire up the barbie and go for an evening ride to enjoy the long hours of sunshine.

The BBQ will be going at 5:30pm at the parking lot at King Eddy Road. Cost is $5 per person, let us know how many people are coming by 5:00pm Friday June 21 using the form below or email [email protected].

The ride will head out at 6:30pm and be back by 9:30/10:00pm but we’ll also have an option for those interested in staying out another hour or two to test their headlights.

You’re welcome to come to the ride if you can’t make the BBQ, or vice versa, pop by the BBQ and skip the ride.

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.

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GPS Training Ride

11:00am Saturday April 27 – King Eddy Road

GPS Training Recap – 8 brave riders ventured out into the sucky Saturday morning weather which included heavy snow with accumulations of 4-6″ at King Eddy.

All the hidden coordinates were found except the bonus location. We’ll try to run the course again when the weather improves.

Thanks Bob for the photos!

Yes we’re going to King Eddy again. Before you roll your eyes, we chose King Eddy because it is centrally located and has abundant parking where we can hold the BBQ and Club Meeting in the evening.

Download a GPS Track (GPX File) of the trails used for the training course.

Come out to learn how to run your GPS and build your confidence in finding your way out and back. If you don’t have a GPS you can ride with a buddy or just come out and we’ll pair you up with someone.

Experienced GPS users are invited to attend, we’d like to pair you up with an inexperienced GPS user to help them find their way.

What to bring:

  • your GPS
  • GPS handlebar mount so you can navigate and ride
  • charge cables or batteries to keep your GPS running for 4+ hours
  • your laptop computer (if you have one) so we can look at the software used to transfer files to your GPS

Hang around after the GPS Training for the BBQ and the short Club Meeting, also being held at King Eddy starting around 6:00pm.

Rides 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.

Spring ATV Club Meeting & BBQ

6:00pm Saturday, April 27, 2019 – King Eddy Road

BBQ & Meeting Recap – the weather improved somewhat by the afternoon but it was still windy with the occasional snowflake flying by as the hardy club members hunkered down behind Jason’s Toyota parked to attempt to block the wind.

A big turnout for the evening meeting, thanks to everyone for your valuable feedback as we discussed where we’ve been and where the club is going.

Thanks Bob and Michael for the photos!

Come for the GPS Training at 11:00am or just pop by for the BBQ and Club Meeting. For those who haven’t had enough riding there will be a night ride after the meeting.

Please let us know how many people are attending the BBQ by 4:30pm Friday, April 26 using the form below, email [email protected] or text 250-550-5290.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Pinaus Lake Ride

10:30am, Sunday April 28 – Pinaus Lake Rd

Pinaus Ride Recap – a giant turnout of 28 machines and 31 riders for an excellent and extremely well organized ride of the hills and trails near Pinaus Lake. Riding past a number of lakes and to picturesque recreation sites and fishing lakes.

Download the GPS track so you can check out this amazing riding area with your riding buddies.

Heading out from the bottom of Pinaus Lake Road at 10:30am to explore the mountains around Pinaus Lake and the west side of Okanagan Lake.

Meet at the bottom of the main Pinaus Lake Road, not the shortcut by the meat packing plant (also known as Pinaus Lake Road) – Google Directions

We would normally start at Irish Creek Road for this ride but with early season snow conditions and the road washout we encountered last year we’re taking a different approach to get to the Pinaus Lake area.

Come prepared for spring riding conditions which can include rain and snow. Pack a lunch, we typically have a campfire to warm up and cook a hot dog or two during our lunch break.

Ride Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
Much of the ride will be on FSR (Forest Service Road), we will attempt to find as much trail as possible to get off the FSR. If a difficult section of trail is encountered the group will either ride around or assist riders to get through the difficult spots.

Bathroom Facilities: there are forestry recreation sites in the area with outhouses. Please advise the ride leader if you want to stop at the outhouse so they can make it part of the ride route. Remember to bring your own toilet paper as it may not be in the outhouse.

Rides 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.