When I phoned Trish Oosterhoff for our interview, I had no idea what she looked like and I knew very little about her, but as each of us spoke about our love of ATVing and sledding in the mountains, the initial awkwardness dissipated—and by the end of our conversation, it felt like we had known each other for years. Both of us could relate to the sense of freedom and connection with nature that can be gained by exploring the high country.
Oosterhoff is originally from Richmond, B.C., but Smithers, B.C., has been her home for the past 30 years. In that time, she has developed a keen interest in ATVing, and it’s no wonder. Smithers is home to an expansive network of trails, and miles upon miles of backcountry. Oosterhoff said her favourite riding area around Smithers is the Star Basin in the Telkwa mountain range. She said the scenery in the Star Basin is fantastic and there is an abundance of wildflowers. Oosterhoff also spoke of the Red Rose Mine area, which is west of nearby Hazelton.
“It’s not a huge area but there is a mine site up there that is pretty cool,” she said. “Once you get there, you can go into the mine and in the buildings.”
For ATVers on their first visit to Smithers, Oosterhoff recommends the Microwave or the Dome. These are the most commonly used areas and they’re maintained by members of the local Bulkley Valley Quad Riders Association.
A change of scenery
Kelly Lake, which is near the village of Clinton in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region, is another all-time favourite riding destination for Oosterhoff.
“My family used to own 100 acres on the other side of the lake and each one of us has a five-acre lot with a summer home there,” she said. “You can quad right from the doorstep.”
Oosterhoff spends two weeks every summer at Kelly Lake; most of that time, she is off on her ATV. From Kelly Lake, Oosterhoff has access to endless riding opportunities in the Fraser Canyon, which is only 20 minutes from her home on the lake.
For her Kelly Lake adventures, Oosterhoff is usually accompanied by her sister and brother-in-law and her 72-year-old mother. Her mother, who lives in Chilliwack, B.C., is relatively new to the sport—having bought her first ATV when she turned 68.
A voice in the community
Back in Smithers, Oosterhoff is a member of the local community resources board and she represents the interests of motorized off-road users in the Bulkley Valley. Currently, she is working on the idea of developing an extreme motorized park. The park—which would be located on a designated section of Crown land outside the town of Smithers—would offer mud pits and trails for trucks and ATVs as well as hillclimbing and rock-climbing spots and possibly a track for dirt bikes.
“The idea is that anyone who wants to go tearing into the mud can go to this motorized park and do it there to avoid them going into the alpine and tearing it up,” said Oosterhoff, and she later added, “It’s a new concept. I don’t think there are any in B.C. yet.”
The proposal of this park was included in the community’s Summer Recreation Access Management Plan for 2013. According to Oosterhoff, the park was approved by the local government in Smithers and it has been sent to Victoria to be approved by the provincial government. For now, ATVers and other off-road users in Smithers will have to keep their fingers crossed.
Being outdoors is the best
Oosterhoff is not the type of person to sit still too long. When winter rolls around, she busts out her snowmobile, a 2007 Ski-Doo Summit Rev, to explore the steep and deep terrain around Smithers.
“I’ve been sledding for about 20 years,” said Oosterhoff. “The same guy who dragged me out quadding (also) dragged me out sledding.”
Whether she’s riding across dirt or snow, Oosterhoff always has her camera close at hand. Over the years, she has accumulated hundreds of photos—but she is in very few of them.
“I’m always the one behind the camera,” she said.
It is a love for the mountains and being outdoors that keeps Oosterhoff looking forward to every motorized adventure. When asked about her most memorable excursion, Oosterhoff was stumped.
“I can’t say I have any one particular trip that sticks out in my mind,” she said. “I just love getting out into the backcountry—between the scenery and the friends, it doesn’t get any better.”
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