Arapeen Winter Tracked UTV Ride
A New Jamboree for 2024
The look of the 2024 Jamboree scene is changing once again. Last year, the Green River Watermelon Crawl was the first of the year. The Tri-State Jamboree is scaling back its three-day event to a one-day poker run this year. Sponsorship and the people needed to staff such an event are unavailable this year.
But this new Jamboree is an event that has yet to be attempted. The Arapeen Winter Tracked UTV Ride in Sanpete County is a winter adventure on February 24, 2024, in Ephraim, Utah. This excursion will feature a ride through a snowy, enchanting landscape in tracked UTVs. It is billed as an exciting, heart-pounding experience, and looking at the pictures accompanying this article makes it easy to see why. The snow clouds on the trail should equal the number of UTVs in line on the ride.
The fact that you must have a vehicle with snow tracks makes this an exclusive ride. A set of tracks runs between $5,000 to $7,000. However, on the upside, it extends the riding season into an entirely different backcountry experience. Here is more of how Sanpete County describes it – “This ride is not just about thrill, it’s also about immersing oneself in the astounding natural beauty of Utah’s National Forest. Winter brings an entirely different, but no less awe-inspiring, look to the terrain, making the ride a visually stunning journey. Our knowledgeable guide will ensure your experience is both enjoyable and memorable. Snow-dusted trees and pristine, untouched landscapes offer countless photo opportunities.”
As you can see, having an enclosed cab and a way to clear your forward visibility is essential. In my Kawasaki Teryx 4 in its current condition, my forward visibility would be clear, but I would be a popsicle because I don’t have a windshield yet. My wife would not be a popsicle – she would not go. I am very interested in how this event will turn out. It is a new idea for a ride and for those who are prepared – one to share with your grandchildren by a fire with a hot cup of cocoa.
There is no charge for the ride, but registration is required for organizational purposes. Riders are encouraged to arrange accommodations in Ephraim on the 23rd to prepare for the 9:00 a.m. sign-in and line-up. That will take place at a staging area 1.5 miles up Ephraim Canyon. There will be plenty of room to unload trailers there. The ride departs at 9:30 a.m.
As a part of your preparation for this experience, you need to register. There is also a map showing the route to be taken. Instructions detail how to download the Avenza Map App to your cell phone and what set of maps to open in the app. That allows you to see where you are on the map. You are on your own for lunch, which will be a stop on the trail at noon. So this would be an excellent time to bring your lunch box oven for a hot lunch on the trail. Plans are to have you back in town by 3:30 p.m.
Here is one last appeal and description of the trail by those who have put this ride together and want you to experience it: “Join us for an exhilarating 25-mile ride up Ephraim Canyon on pristine trails expertly groomed by the State of Utah. This route promises an exciting journey, riding out Willow Creek, connecting to Arapeen Trail #37, and wandering through a landscape of aspen and conifer forests, summiting at the thrilling height of 9,900 feet! Concluding our journey, we will follow Arapeen Trail #42, leading us via Left-Hand Fork and down New Canyon.”
If you can go in the snow, take plenty of water, keep the track side down, and “don’t miss this amazing outdoor adventure!”