Hitting the tails // Rice

Hitting the trails! Longtime rider, Martin stresses safety fi rst

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

RICE – Five or six machines, 15 to 20 people, an open weekend and the open trail. That’s what Ryan Martin looks forward to. The Rice resident has been four-wheeling and riding dirt bikes for years. He goes out once or twice a month for bigger, weekend-long rides and once a week for smaller rides. On a long weekend, he’ll travel 40 to 50 miles in a day over the course of four or fi ve hours. “It’s the comradery of the people we’re riding with,” he said. “We meet people on the trail, it’s the overall atmosphere and what it means to be out there.” His group usually combines a ride with a camping trip, choosing sites where multiple RVs and campers can pull in for the night and they can all hang out around the bonfi re. For him, it’s a getaway and something he’s been enjoying for years. His group frequents Spider Lake in Cass County but has also gone to Gilbert, an off-highway vehicle recreation area on the Iron Range, for a four- or fi ve-day trip, and he’s hoping to make it to Nemadji State Forest this summer. They mostly visit state forests or trails that are mapped out. Different trails, he said, allow for different types of vehicles and it’s important to follow the local postings. Some trails allow off-highway motorcycles/dirt bikes and others allow four-wheelers, while some offer both. He and his friends keep up to date on

SUBMITTED PHOTO Trinity Trutwin (front left) jokingly covers her face for a photo while stopping for a break from riding at Spider Lake in 2019. Behind her in white is Corey Oldakowski, front center is Ryan Martin and next to him, Ryan Rolfzen and his son, Zach Rolfzen, are on the far right. trail-riding information by following the Facebook pages of groups that maintain the trails, including Lake Country ATV Riders and Minnesota ATV Riders. Some trails are maintained by the local clubs but permitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Martin has been riding trails across Minnesota for 10 to 15 years and said since the onset of COVID-19, and a move by people to get outdoors, there’s been an increase of traffi c on the trails too. The demand has also made it more diffi cult to buy new equipment but, even on the busiest holiday weekends, the trails

Trails page 13

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aren’t over-crowded. “It’s a really great thing for people to get off the couch,” he said. He encourages others to be prepared as they head into the woods. While some of the trails are very near populated areas, others can be remote and riders need to be prepared to handle emergency situations. He goes in a group with a couple fi rst aid and CPR responders and said to date, nobody in their group has had a big medical situation but they’ve come across some on the trails. He encourages everyone in his group to wear a helmet. He usually rides fi rst in the group, donning motocross trail-riding boots and appropriate clothing to protect him from branches and rocks. He rides his bike out front and uses hand signals to let others on the trail know there’s a large group behind him. For newbies, he recommends the DNR’s ATV training course. He also encourages people to ride with a friend and let someone know where they’re going and when they’ll be back. “We’ve come across nasty things on some rides; it happens, people doing things recklessly,” he said. He and his friends work to keep their group safe and they always choose appropriate clothing and footwear, and bring supplies like water, which become especially important if a machine breaks down in the woods. Additionally, he said, even for the trails he rides multiple times a year, riders need to be prepared for things to have changed on the r s d y n ct d e trail with the seasons and with weather. “I may ride a trail four times a year and each time I go up there, it’s a little different,” he said. He’s also run across lots of wildlife on his adventures, like deer as well as bears, including mama bears with cubs. He encourages new riders to rent a machine and try it out, or go with an experienced friend to see what kind of machine makes for the best fi t. Today’s machines, he said, are huge and need to be respected. Novice riders should opt for equipment that gets them up a hill but keeps their speed under control. “You have to respect the machine’s power and make sure you’re riding appropriately with the trail conditions too,” he said. Respecting landowners is a big part of that. He said trails are often made with special permission from landowners, and riders who take advantage of that and ride through farm fi elds or other unmarked territory can ruin the fun for everyone. Martin and his friends enjoy riding so much they’re talking about starting a local club to get some maintained trails around the St. Cloud/Sauk Rapids area that can connect with trails near Camp Ripley.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Friends and neighbors of Ryan Martin go riding together on the Spider Lake trails in 2019. Far right front is Troy Polhamus, and to his right is Arsenio Clinton.

Ryan Martin’s bike sits at an overlook of a ravine while out riding in Gilbert, Minnesota.

Troy Polhamus (from left), his son, Jacob, and his wife, Heidi, go riding in the Emily-Outing Trail area in Cass County.

Know the rules!

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

More people than ever are out using ATVs on trails across the state. Following the safety guidelines and knowing exactly where recreational vehicles are allowed is key to keeping the trails fun for everyone, said Bruce Lawrence, recreational vehicle coordinator/division of enforcement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Our trails are designed to go slow, they meander,” he said. With new trail riders out there, he encourages everyone to keep a watchful eye. “You have to have your head on a swivel at all times and be careful on corners – speed is always a factor,” he said. Here are some of his top tips for good riding: • Know where your vehicle is allowed. Not all vehicles are allowed on all road surfaces or trails. Check with your local road authority, city or township to see where recreational vehicles are permitted. • Check out the DNR website for a list of trails: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ ohv/az.html • Everyone under the age of 18 riding must wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Bike helmets and hockey helmets don’t qualify. • The DNR offers more safety information here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ ohv/safetyfi rst.html

Different classes and certifi cations are required to ride depending upon age:

Kids age 6 to 9:

* Can complete a free study guide at https://www.atvcourse.com/usa/minnesota/youth/

Kids age 10 to 15:

• Can complete the ATV Safety online course at https://www.atvcourse.com/ usa/minnesota/. The course is $24.95. • Then, kids can attend a Hands-on Safety class. Students ages 10-15 must register for a Hands-On ATV Safety Training class, which can be found here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ safety/vehicle/atv/index.html#calendar. The class includes basic ATV operation, protecting the environment, common ATV parts and controls, Minnesota rules and laws, responsible ATV riding skills for trail riding, and practicing/demonstrating skills on an ATV course. *Student must be fi tted to the ATV they will be operating. Students can print their ATV Safety Certifi cate from the DNR website after passing the class. The certifi cate becomes valid at age 12.

Ages 16 and older:

• Anyone born after July 1, 1987 can complete the ATV safety online course at https://www.atvcourse.com/ usa/minnesota/ to meet certifi cation requirements. • Alternate ATV safety training is available through the ATV Rider Course offered by the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute. This training is adequate to meet the safety certifi cate requirements. The fee for the course is $55. The course is available at: https://atvsafety.org/