The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
Jaiden Marcum of Helena nearly loses his balance as he emerges from a big pool of water in the Liverpool area on the Fun run route Saturday, May 28.
Mud flies as a three-wheeler plows through a mudhole after Saturday's Fun Run.
A mule deer crosses the road in front of a side-by side making its way back down Copper Creek Road after hitting the scavenger hunt point in Cotter Basin. The Optimist Club scavenger hunt included points ranging from Copper Creek to Stemple Pass and the back side of Dalton Mountain.
An OHV makes its way through the burn along Sucker Creek Road en route to Keep Cool Lake.
A side-by-side on the trail.
A small dog is bundled up against the chilly weather at Hooper Park following the Scavenger Hunt.
Doug Richards hands out prizes after the Fun Run Saturday, May 28.
Scavenger Hunt riders try to figure out how to access the map using a QR code. " The QR code is a new thing. I though it would be a little easier than it is," Chad Sutej said.
Between 180 and 250 off highway vehicles, including side-by-sides, three- and four- wheelers, motorbikes, and the odd jeep, swarmed the hills around Lincoln over the weekend for Saturday's annual Memorial Day Fun Run and the Blackfoot Valley Optimists Club OHV Scavenger Hunt Sunday.
While the Memorial Day Fun Run has been a fixture in Lincoln for many years, Chad Sutej introduced the Optimist Club's Scavenger Hunt last year, inspired by a similar ATV jamboree in Conconully, Wash.
Although the events were separate, holding them on the same weekend was intended to give people taking part in the fun run Saturday a reason to stick around for the scavenger hunt Sunday.
Last year, that didn't work out as well as they'd hoped. Riders ran into delays in signing up for the fun run, which was hosted by Bushwackers. Ironically, Sutej said that actually worked in their favor.
"Last year, with the (fun run) stack up, half the people left, which was good," he said. "It got us (an easy) inaugural year."
This year, with the closure of Bushwackers following the death of owner Dan Lerum due to COVID-19 complications, the Wheel Inn took over the fun run. Sutej offered to help the Wheel with their sign ups Saturday to help make sure everything flowed smoothly for the weekend.
By most accounts, both events went off without any major problems.
"I haven't talked to one unhappy person," Doug Richards said Saturday while hanging out at the Pine Grove Campground stop on Beaver Creek Road. That stop was also the lunch location, but they ran out of hot dogs before everyone made it there. "We ordered everything we could form Sysco and they sent us everything they could." he said.
In the end, the Wheel Inn sold more than 1100 hands for their fun run. Sutej said most people bought four hands, so he estimated the fun run had about 180 machines take part.
On Sunday, given the different structure of the Scavenger Hunt - which included nearly $14,000 in prizes donated by both local and Helena-area businesses - Sutej estimated they had nearly 250 OHVs participate.
Like Richards, Sutej said he didn't hear any complaints from the riders. "Everybody really appreciated it. No negative comments. None. Even with all the weather."
Shane Smith, who was helping with a Lincoln High School basketball fundraiser Sunday morning, said the coordinated events are great for the community. "It's nice to do the two days, the run and the (scavenger hunt), because you get all the carry over people. I think that helps a lot, having multiple events going on over a weekend like this."
Reader Comments(0)