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By: Robert Janis
Idaho ATV Group
Promotes ATV Recreation, Gives Back to Community
ATV enthusiasts have been getting a bad rap
from some elements of the media and
environmentalist groups. If they are believed,
ATV recreationists are self-centered
reactionaries who don’t give a darn for the
planet. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
Time and again we have discussed ATV clubs and
individual enthusiasts who have shown respect
for the trails they use as well as their passion
for helping people. Another example of this is
shown by the High Mountain ATV Association of
Wallace, Idaho.
According to Jim Shields, president of the
group, the High Mountain ATV Association was
founded in 1992. “Three guys who had a
snowmobile association decided to switch to
ATVs. They started the Association to promote
the sport of ATV riding as well as the town of
Wallace because, at the time, the area had about
600 miles of road and trails they wanted to get
people to ride,” said Shields.
“Today Shoshone County where Wallace is located
is 2600 square miles with 1,000 miles of roads
and trails some belonging to the U.S. Forest
Service, some belonging to the Bureau of Land
Management and some private land,” added
Shields. Some in the know say that it is one of
the top 12 North American ATV towns. “The
majority of the trails are very good,” said
Shields. “Beginners and intermediate riders can
manage them quite well. In addition, there are
about 150 miles of trails for advanced riders.”
The majority of trails are old logging roads and
logging skid trails. In addition, some are fire
access trails constructed by the Forest Service
Firefighters and Idaho Parks or Idaho Department
of Lands firefighters.
The mission of the group is to promote safety
and the fun of the sport of ATV recreation. “We
do it in a family atmosphere. We want the whole
family to get involved,” said Shields. High
Mountains slogan is "Ride with Family Ride with
Pride". So a major program of the group is
promoting an ATV safety course for riders of all
ages. The course is four and one-half hours
long. “ The course teaches novice riders how to
turn, stand up, maneuver over obstacles like
logs and rocks and how to stop. Moreover, the
philosophy of the group Tread Lightly! is
emphasized in the class so riders can learn how
important it is to leave as small a footprint on
the land as possible. The group also makes
a major effort too give back to the community.
“We try and do one or two rides a year to help a
group in the community,” said Shields. “For
example, we’ve done rides for the Women’s
Resource Center who helps battered women. We
also promote the sport with club rides every
month to a different area of the county and we
invite members and non-members to join us. It
gives us an opportunity to show them the
country.” The High Mountain ATV Association also
holds a Jamboree for one week every July. This
year marks its 17th festival which includes
rides, a rodeo, a parade through downtown
Wallace, an obstacle course and lots to eat from
breakfasts and lunches to dinners. The Jamboree
ends with a barbecue steak dinner during which
trophies to the winners of the Jamboree events
are given.
Moreover, members do volunteer work to maintain
the trails. “They can go out on their own and do
the work or every spring we set up groups to go
out and cut trees and branches out of the way,
we move debris like rocks and logs and we widen
the trails if needed. Last year High Mountain
ATV received a grant from the Idaho Parks and
Recreation Department and we used the money to
buy equipment like chainsaws and cross cutting
equipment. So we have our own gear to help
maintain the trails. We also have two small
trailers we bought with a grant from Yamaha
corp. to haul equipment behind the ATVs. We also
show the BLM and U.S. Forest Service what we are
doing to keep the trails open,” said Shields.
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