Eating dirt in Coleville

 My adventure began with a short drive through Walker Canyon before I arrived at the 6th Annual ATV / UTV Jamboree last Saturday morning, June 15, in Coleville. I was in shock when I saw the scale of the event: 190 people, 130 rigs and 19 different rides left throughout each day of the jamboree. What more could an off-road enthusiast want?I met up with my guides, James and Megan Foster, and my chauffeurs, David and Melony Thaler, along with their daughter, Jenna and 20 other riders. Tanks filled, we planned our route and set off towards Patterson Peak, which rises roughly 11,672 feet. The ride was epic; narrow trails through wood groves opened up to fields of lush wildflowers. The Peak grew near, and on each rider I saw the dirt-filled grins getting bigger.When we reached the top of the Peak, it was as if we were on top of the world, with amazing 360-degree views. We ate snacks and enjoyed sharing stories about the ride up, until it was time to head down to an old mining camp, Belfort, for lunch. The tight switchbacks and rocky terrain made for an interesting ride.

We arrived after an hour and a half at a grassy plateau scattered with old, rundown log cabins. Lunches were provide by a local Boy Scout troop. After lunch, we looped around to a dried up creek, which provided an expert downhill descent. This is where things got interesting. The creek was narrow and heavily treed in parts, littered with large rocks, but some seasoned riders were willing to give it their all. With a few close calls, we made it to the bottom.

After 86 hard-fought miles, we were back at the home base. The smell of home-cooked BBQ filled the air, and all I could think about was when the banquet was going to start. With a few huge grills and a couple 50-gallon steal drums, the Fire Chief and Commissioner became the grill masters for the evening’s feast. They lined us up like cattle and herded us through the buffet of all our home cooked favorites.

After dinner was a raffle filled with ATV/UTV accessories. Donations went to the West Walker Fish Enhancement Program, and to the Antelope Valley Fire Department. Special thanks to Tim Fesko, Pam Hamic and Sue Robbins for putting this all together. I am looking forward to coming back next year for another great adventure at the ATV / UTV Jamboree.

(Photo: Pellegrini)