| ATV riders stop at the Slipper Arch for a break and to enjoy the scenery. |
The Arapeen Trail Jamboree was held Aug. 13-16 in Ferron. The City of Ferron, Mayor Kent Larsen and the SouthEastern Utah Off Highway Vehicle Club along with the Arapeen Trail Committee have worked effortlessly to host the Arapeen Trail ATV Jamboree. This event was the culmination of more than a year and countless volunteer hours from the people involved.
Many visitors from around the state of Utah and a couple from Arizona converged on Ferron Aug. 13 to explore the mountains and desert surrounding the city. For four days the visitors enjoyed a ride each day, dinner in the evening and a special cowboy poetry recital.
On Wednesday, the group rode the Reeder Canyon trail and that evening were treated to a barbecue dinner on the reef below Ferron. Many local cowboy poets, including Kent Petersen from Ferron and Shawnee Barnes, from Castle Dale, were on hand to entertain the guests. The ride Thursday was the Indian Creek ride in Ferron Canyon followed by steak dinner at the Millsite restaurant. Friday’s activities included the ride in the desert under the Eagle Canyon bridges and back over Fix-It Pass. On that evening the Ferron American Legion hosted a spaghetti dinner.
To cap off the Jamboree, the ATV enthusiasts rode the Hole Trail in Emery. “We were in the mud from the time we left Emery until we got back,” said Glenys Sitterud, one of the guides for the group. That evening at the Millsite Restaurant, Ferron City hosted a good ol’ fashioned Emery County Lamb Fry. Emery’s Mayor Mike Williams was on hand to help with the cooking.
The guests enthusiastically reported that after four enjoyable days on their machines; the thing that made the biggest impression on them is how clean and well groomed the trails are in the Arapeen Trail System. “The trails are first rate and very well marked,” said Clayton Campbell of Price.
Ruth Andress of Prescott, Ariz. stated, “The people here have been wonderful, so helpful and friendly. We have thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. The scenery is amazing.”
All of the jamboree participants concluded that this kickoff event for annual ride of the Arapeen Trail System was very well organized and all plan to be back next year. The forest service also helped with the initiating of this jamboree by waiving the trail use fees for the group.
The annual event will be moved into September for 2004. For more information on the Arapeen Trail contact Mark H. Williams in Castle Dale.