Tumbler Ridge, a town of about 3,000 people in northern B.C., finally has an ATV club to call its own. The new Grizzly Valley ATV Club was officially formed on May 7, 2013.
The idea to start an ATV club in Tumbler Ridge was actually born 10 years ago. Several attempts were made over the years to get it up and running but they were unsuccessful. According to Gordon Graham, who is the club’s secretary, the interest was there but nobody wanted to step up and fill the executive positions, so the idea went into hibernation.
In March 2013, RidersWest published an article titled Can a Club be Far Behind? The article was based on an interview with Tumbler Ridge resident Christopher Homister and upon reading it, Graham decided to track Homister down and try once more to get a club started.
After contacting ATV/BC for the needed paperwork and doing some PR to get the word out, a meeting was arranged; to Graham’s surprise, a total of 60 enthusiasts showed up for it. When it was over, 57 of those in attendance left with a membership.
“This time, volunteers were putting their hands up to fill some of the vacant executive positions,” said Graham.
Jeff Mohr, who is the president of ATV/BC, was also at the meeting. He was impressed with the turnout as well, and remarked to Graham that he has never seen that many people gathered at his own club’s meetings.
It’s obvious that ATVers in Tumbler Ridge want to protect and develop their amazing riding opportunities. Tumbler Ridge boasts an extensive network of trails, from cutlines and forest service roads to old mining trails.
“Many of our surrounding mountains have very easy trails for ATVs (that go) right up and over the tops and down into the Sukunka Valley,” said Graham. “The view from the top gives you the all-alone-in-the-wilderness feeling, as you won’t see any power lines, roads, highways or other communities. (You will see) nothing but another mountain range and probably a grizzly bear before you see any people or other machines.”
It’s not only the locals who enjoy ATVing in Tumbler Ridge. On the weekends, Graham said, the Red Willow and Wapiti areas get flooded with ATVers from Grande Prairie and other parts of Alberta.
Once the Grizzly Valley ATV Club gets established, the club will be organizing poker rides, camping trips and perhaps a jamboree.
For more information on the club, email Gordon Graham or contact ATV/BC director Jeff Mohr.
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