The Quad Squad was an idea during the winter of 1998-99, it was a clever, cute name for a newsletter about the comings and goings of friends who were part of the Interlakes Snowmobile Club. The original concept, was to be a chatty report sharing news of the rides which various peoples participated in on their quads. Norm had spoken with Bev Felske about the idea and she actively supported the premise, and thought that it should be expanded to some of the Green Lake people. Subsequently I asked Bev to write a goals statement for the first publication. The first Quad Squad came out in Aug 1999, The first newsletter was 18 copies, now, we have 80 copies of the newsletter. ATV*BC was natural outgrowth of the thinking which originally started with the Quad Squad. A few other clubs were beginning to organize, trails were being threatened and we thought that it was time for a provincial organization to help strengthen the individual clubs, Bob Orr in Prince George and Ron LaRoy in Revelstoke felt much the same way and that was the birth of ATV*BC.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS RIDES THE QUAD SQUAD EVER RODE written by Janis Hinde

YANKIN' THE PEAK !

part 2 of 2

There was a deer standing on the sandy shoreline across the water and just as the riders gathered, it started to swim to our side. Turned out to be a 3 point buck which the current carried closer to us but he managed to come out just past the cabins. Quite a sight. A good omen, some might say. Norm gave a brief intro and showed us his '3500deg. flare gun' which could be used in case of bears. This of course, for my benefit, as I had been querying the fact that no one was carrying any type of protection and we were definitely in and going into 'bear country'. Friday, we had arrived at Big Lake Store where Bev had arranged to meet some people who were interested in starting a new club. In talking to one of the ladies, she explained how she and her husband had lived in Likely when they first got married some years ago. She had used a scrub board for laundry, etc. They hunt, snowmobile and quad the area frequently. When asked if we were carrying any protection against bears, and I answered, "No", she looked most dismayed and suggested someone should. This only served to make me more cautious! Machines were fired up and off we went, the Peak looming somewhere in the distance. The ride was estimated to be in the range of 140 miles return and I zeroed out the odometer in anticipation. Due to the chill of the morning, some riders had opted to start wearing full face helmets; some had their snowmobile pants or suits on. How many of you have ridden right up behind our intrepid leaders, Norm and Walt, I do not know. But, I must say, it was as much an experience as was Yankin' the Peak! They are like following Mutt & Jeff, salt and pepper, yin and yang. They ebb and flow as one like the tide, they cajole, they nod, they dance. It is something to see. And it is obvious they have ridden the trails a long time together. It was difficult to know what their private signaling meant . . . but it meant something to them. One would zig and the other zag. . . Norm would make some minor hand movement and they would both veer left or right . . . as for me, I just followed along, watching. Most of the riding is along forestry roads and so is easy going. The scenery changes too, from our lakeside starting point to tree filled hills to sharp snow-covered escarpments. Vistas. Everything from the Cariboo Mountains north to the mountains around the Bowron Lakes. Several times we stopped for photo ops and sometimes just to just ensure everybody was 'still aboard'. Cars carrying canoes and vehicles filled to the rooftops with luggage and camping gear passed us. We passed one of them which had to stop to change a flat tire. This is the back route to Wells and to Barkerville. The roads are good, but you had better come prepared. Lunch was in a sun-filled spot along the road, somewhere around the mid point of the ride. Jackie Rose and I couldn't figure this out as our odometers were not at the midway point, but some distance beyond. If we are halfway there, should we not be at about 70 miles from the beginning of the ride? We were to find out. The men busied themselves checking the GPS's and looking at maps. After some cajoling re taking a pit stop in the bushes, which undoubtedly were 'bear-filled', we once again saddled up to head up the trail. 15 kms. before Barkerville, we turned and headed Southwest to Yanks Peak.

After a short ride, the terrain and the riding changed. Norm and Walt gathered the troops for the 'uphill' part of the ride, where the road changed to a trail. To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what happened behind me with the rest of the crew. For my part, riding was focused ahead on the narrowed, wet and sometimes snow edged trail. Norm went right, Walt went middle and I stayed left . . . sometimes we were like a train snaking our way up the smoothly outcropped trail. There were puddles. There were holes. There were obstacles. This part of the ride definitely demands your full attention. It was fun! It was exhilarating! And, it was beautiful. There had been a snowfall earlier on the mountainside, and now all that was left were small patches under the trees. The groundcover had bent over under the weight of the snow and from the frost. Still, there was the odd small patch of daisies still in bloom. Ascending the "Peak" and getting out into the open there were several large and deep puddles on the trail we had to ford. Ponds is a more apt description and they were likely formed from the melting snow and from the rain which we had just managed to avoid. The view from the top is quite something . . . open fragile alpine with small stunted trees. There are signs advising to stay off the fragile ground and that we did. Snack stop, then we headed for the trail home. Not the way we had come up, but another route. By this time, it was raining and darkening some and we were ready for home. After some discussion, the trail was located and we were off once again. As is usually the case on any kind of trip, the road home seems a lot shorter, and it was here, too. But then, it really was shorter. We had journeyed all around the mountains before going up over Yanks Peak. The way home was a shorter version, just down the side and onto the road. Sounds easy, but it took some maneuvering as the first part of the trail was heavily washed out and overgrown. Never did spot a bear, but there was sign of bear, moose and deer. Also did see grouse and several flickers. At one stopping point, a hummingbird came up to the yellow cap on the spare gas can on the back of the quad and having no luck, quickly darted back into the trees.

Plans were to get back to Likely by 5pm at the latest and that we did at a good pace and with some time to spare. Walt had pulled over to make sure everyone had enough gas to make the last few clicks home and so the ride ended back at Neilson's with me behind Norm . . . the two of us grinning .. . and Norm singing away! A fantastic ride! A fantastic day! Thanks to our intrepid leaders, Norm and Walt, and to sweeps, Rick and Bill H, for keeping all 17 riders safe and happy. The odometer clicked over 134.9 miles when the motor was shut off. There was a heck of a gale blowing when we arrived back in camp and it had rained as well as on the trail. But, shortly after, the skies cleared and the sun came out once again. Some of our numbers headed for home. The rest of us gathered after supper for our last evening together around the campfire. When all was said and done, we couldn't come up with a better destination than the one we were now at for our next year's ride. Plus, there was discussion of a potluck dinner next time! Thanks be to Carole who giggled and volunteered all the ladies who stay behind to cook and organize our dinner. Stories were told, jokes were shared, and everyone went to bed tired and happy with the good experience and company shared. Thanks one and all, it was a great weekend! (Journeying back home to the coast, well satisfied with our Yanks Peak

experience, we calculated that had we ridden our quads 135 miles from our cabin on South Green Lake Road and headed home on the highway, we would have made it just through Boston Bar! No wonder we were such tired puppies!)