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Words and photos by Branden Jones and Brian Sibbles
If you are a trail rider in the province of Ontario you are very familiar with water, we’ve got a ton of it. While it is fun to drive through at times, it is not preferable by the MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) and sometimes virtually impossible due to the banks or water depth. Bridges play a crucial part in linking our trail systems together and allowing us days of non-stop fun and excitement. So where do these bridges come from? Who puts them in and maintains them?
It’s not a black and white answer as to how they got there; sometimes logging companies, snowmobile clubs, or other trail user groups put them in. And who maintains them after years of neglect and weathering? It is the dedicated volunteers of each trail user group.
A prime example is the bridge located on the Anson North Trail Northwest of Carnarvon, Ontario. This bridge has been falling apart for many years and becoming dangerous for ATV’s and Off-road vehicles. Haliburton ATV Association (HATVA), the prime ATV club in the area, led the charge in putting the wheels in motion to get this bridge repaired. As committed leaders in multi-trail user teamwork HATVA approached the OF4WD and asked if they could provide manpower to get this huge job done.
A team of OF4WD volunteers led by Rob Rea and Branden Jones met up with HATVA work crew on a rainy Saturday morning. Travelling to the bridge location they found the new timber had already been dropped off the day before and was awaiting installation, but there was one problem. The old rotted out wood was still attached to the steel frame of the bridge.
The old rusted bolts were playing hide and seek with the volunteers making the removal of the old tread very tough. Rotating through volunteer roles using hammers and pry bars, removing the tread was finally completed around lunch time, and to make things even better the light rain that was falling began to stop. Excellent, the day is going well.
Out of nowhere, the volunteers were greeted with a lunch of pizza and pop provided by HATVA, which was delivered to them on the trail. How awesome is that? These guys are amazing.
Completing lunch and the sun now starting the shine, the bugs decided it was time to feast. The volunteers were like a moving buffet as they smacked and swatted the intruders. Eventually they found much needed bug spray, along with the drive to continue. They’ve got a naked bridge to complete.
The volunteers got back at it, swapping roles and pounding in new spikes to install the brand new timber. Working like a well-oiled machine the team completed the bridge tread in only a few hours. It was now time to pack up and remove all the old debris off the trail using the OF4WD maintenance trailer. Dropping the garbage off at the dump, the crews headed home, tired but proud of a job well done.
The board of directors would like to thank all the volunteers who brought us all a new bridge to ride on. If it weren’t for you, we’d likely be down a trail this year. We’re indebted to you:
HATVA Volunteers OF4WD Volunteers
Barry Lord Branden Jones Barry Poljanowski
Dan Boyes Dwayne Hillier Nancy Poljanowski
Mark Johnson Al Gillies Rob Rea
Hugh Trask Sue Gillies
Bob Johnson Tom Deas