PANTRA offers family fun for bike enthusiasts
Although the snow is not yet completely off the trails, Panhandle Trail Riders Association has begun another year of trail-riding adventure geared toward fun for the entire family.
This active group, based out of Post Falls, plans plenty of rides, organizes work days, informs members of other motorcycling events in the area and keeps abreast of political issues concerning off-road recreational use and concerns through monthly meetings and an interactive Web site.
On Sunday, dozens of women and girls participated in PANTRA’S fourth annual Dusty Cleavage Ladies Poker Run, Wildcats on Wheels, at 7-Mile ORV Park. Following an early morning riders meeting, eager motorcyclists, including female riders of all ages and skill levels, took to the trail amid cheers from their husbands, boyfriends and kids. Each took as many loops of the park as they could during the two-hour event, collecting cards at checkpoints along the way. The ride was followed by a trophy ceremony and a family potluck barbecue.
The ladies’ poker run is just one of many trail rides, family campouts, poker runs and social gatherings PANTRA holds throughout the year. This Sunday they will sponsor their Kids Ride and Liberty Lake Open House Kickoff at Liberty Lake ORV Park. Each year dozens of kids take to the trails in this well-organized event, which stresses safety and responsible riding. At the end of the ride, each child receives a participation prize; the day ends with a picnic supplied by the organization. The event is open to anyone who would like to attend and learn more about their organization.
Other PANTRA events scheduled for the year include a Memorial Day ride, a Father’s Day campout and ride, and a three-day campout, ride and Coeur d’Alene River float trip in July. Club members often get together for other off-road recreational events throughout the riding season. Members have already headed to Odessa to participate in the Desert 100 and carpooled to the Seattle Supercross. The 24-Hour Race in Goldendale is also penciled in on their October calendar. Trail riding is an important part of PANTRA, but the group also works hard to keep riding areas open through the development and maintenance of trails. Each year the group organizes cleanup days for local riding areas, meeting with chain saws, loppers, shovels, hand saws and trash bags in hand to help re-open trails after the winter season. The group has already completed a cleanup day at Liberty Lake ORV Park, and have others planned for Canfield, Batey Bould and LPO, a riding area near Colville, just off Highway 20.
PANTRA members recently added picking up litter on city streets to the list of community service projects they are involved in. In April, they held the first city street cleanup on Nettleton Gulch Road, just off 15th Avenue, their first project as the newest members of Coeur d’Alene’s Adopt-a-Street Litter Pick-up program. They recently added a picture to their Web site of a newly erected sign along the roadway that informs others of their commitment to better their environment.
Getting involved is another important part of PANTRA membership. Through an active member’s forum on their Web site, PANTRA members are given up-to-date information on legislative issues and urged to take action when the need arises. They recently joined in asking Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire to use her line-item veto to remove language from a bill that would have eliminated any off-road improvements for a full year despite collecting fees from off-road users specifically for that reason. Gregoire vetoed the ban.
PANTRA meets the second Wednesday of every month at the Pizza Factory in Post Falls. Cost to join is $20 for individuals and $25 per family. Check out upcoming events at pantra.org or call (509) 928-9686 for more information.