Let's say you wanted to ride an unfamiliar ATV trail system. How would you go about planning your trip? Most of us would probably do a little investigation on the Internet and maybe consult an ATV trail map. We might call the local Chamber of Commerce. But to really get the flavor of an area, there's nothing better than finding a local guide.
Dave Okerlund is a hired gun for anyone who wants to get a true ATV adventure in the Piaute Trail system surrounding Richfield, Utah. It's a part-time job for Okerlund (he's an insurance agent most days), but it's still considered work. Okerlund enjoys riding his Honda Rincon, so it doesn't take much coaxing to get him out of the office to take complete strangers ATV riding.
Okerlund grew up near Richfield, and has been hunting in the mountains around the area most of his life. He's been in Richfield for the last 33 years, and has been riding ATVs since the early days. He used to guide for the large group rides at the Jamboree, but now, he's content to stick to small groups and private ATV rides.
"I used to do an ATV ride called 'Dave and Woody's Fast-and-Hard Ride,'" recalls Okerlund, "but people were riding above their ability. That kind of scared me, liability wise. We'd ride on some pretty treacherous terrain, and we had a guy go off a cliff and hurt himself. That rung the bell for us - that we need to be more cautious."
Now, Okerlund is happy to simply show Richfield visitors some great ATV trails. "I would just do it for anybody; it's an opportunity to go for a ride," says Okerlund. "Ireally love to hunt and be outdoors. An ATVlets you get out of town fast."
Once out of town, though, Okerlund doesn't mind pausing occasionally to share some history. We spent time on some uncharted ATV trails that used to be "wood"roads, where early settlers pulled wagons by mule to gather firewood to burn through the winter. The trails, while perfectly legal to ride ATVs on, aren't on any maps, and it's unlikely most people would find their way without the services of a guide.
ATV Safety First
Okerlund, largely because of his background in insurance, is a stickler for safety. "Liability is first and foremost in my mind, because we live in such a litigious society," says Okerlund. "One of the things that's [important to] me is to get a group that is pretty well balanced in their ability. It's really no fun to guide someone when they're not having a good time or are scared."
Okerlund usually rides ATVs with his buddy, Dave Ogden. The two of them are familiar with the most of the trails they ride on, and try to assess the ATV skill levels of the folks they guide and choose appropriate routes. "The Great Western Trail runs from Mexico all the way to Alaska, and there's a lot of Great Western Trail that goes through Utah that's pretty spectacular. It's well maintained and safe and there's lots of side trails that I enjoy. That's where I would take people."
Entertainment, Too
If you're lucky, you might even get a little music after your ride. Okerlund is an accomplished banjo player. He got involved in folk music in the 1960s and has since progressed to Bluegrass. His group plays around Richfield, and his banjo is never far away. But most of all, you're going to get an entertaining ATV ride if you go out with Okerlund. You'll see things you would miss if you tried to navigate the same ATV trails equipped with only a map. "There are some trails out here that are spectacular. You could just get lost forever."
Luckily, with Okerlund, "lost" is merely a state of mind.
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