Dirt bike group on a roll
POST FALLS – Members of the Panhandle Trail Riders Association, a dirt bike group based out of Post Falls, say the group is politically active, environmentally responsible, family oriented and includes some darn good riders.
According to its Web site at www.pantra.org, the group, formed in 1994, was established “to offer a family oriented motorcycle trail rider club dedicated to promoting, maintaining, preserving and expanding trail riding opportunities in the Inland Northwest while having fun and enjoying the outdoors.”
The group has grown steadily over the years and now has about 130 paid members, according to PANTRA member, Lori Jordan. “When Dave Griffiths took over as president in 2004, we focused on pushing to grow and become more family oriented. When I joined in 2000, I was often the only woman on rides. Now there are five or six women on every ride. It’s great.”
The group sponsored the third annual Dusty Cleavage Ride on April 29 at 7-Mile ORV Park in Spokane. Event organizer Tia Flynn said at least 41 women showed up to ride in the women-only event.
PANTRA’s Kids’ Ride, one of their most popular events, is scheduled for Saturday at 7-Mile ORV Park. The ride, which attracted 29 young riders last year, will begin with a free seminar by Steve May of the Dirt Bike School. The riders will go on a treasure hunt, grab a little lunch, and then head out on a poker run.
PANTRA hosts events throughout the year, and members participate in other dirt bike, dual sport, arenacross and motocross events throughout the area.
PANTRA members are kept informed through the Web site and monthly newsletters.
But it’s not all about play. Members also participate in workdays, cleaning and clearing area trails. Workdays are scheduled over the next few weeks for Canfield, Little Pend Oreille ORV Park, Batey Bould, Laird Park, Avery and Wallace.
A big part of PANTRA is keeping abreast of Idaho and Washington state legislation and local forest district news.
PANTRA often invites speakers to help keep them up to date on current issues. Recent speakers include representatives from Spokane County Parks, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation, and Andy Boggs, Forest Service Supervisor for the Coeur d’Alene Ranger District.
The dirt bikers’ group not only strives to work for favorable ORV legislation, but also has established working relationships with local forest caretaking groups. Last November, Boggs asked PANTRA members to help with an emergency trail clearing after heavy rains and a windstorm uprooted trees and blocked the Canfield Mountain trail system.
A recent announcement by Boggs has members scrambling to take action. He unveiled a backcountry travel plan that threatens to close to dirt bikers 40 miles of trails in the Idaho Panhandle area.
PANTRA is organizing a campaign to fight the closures.