What it’s like ATVing for the very first time

I’d love to tell you that going ATVing is scary, amazing, fun, painful, and nerve-racking so okay I will. In this post, you will hear what it’s like ATVing for the very first time.

Honestly, I was scared. Like not able to sleep for a week afraid. People told me all sorts of terrible, tragic stories and nightmare scenarios that involved quad riding. That’s why I wanted to write this post to quell your fears as well.

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Going on ANY ATV has been a long-held fear of mine. Honestly, riding in or on anything I had to control with by changing gears has been a fear. The very first car I bought was a stick shift, which I promptly drove once and then stole my husbands’ car and never drove again.

So I think it’s safe to say I have a healthy fear of driving any vehicle that I have to control with a clutch or change gears on my own. Is it irrational? Yup, it is.

I am lucky to have some amazing guys in my life that are adventurers and love to do and try new things. I am also one of those people. Willing to do and try almost anything once. When one of them called and asked if we wanted to try ATVing, we jumped at the chance.

My amazing husband is someone who researches EVERYTHING till he’s watched and read hundreds of videos and article. After agreeing to go, he also went and visited every ATV dealer from Olympia to Portland. Talking to salespeople and trying on gear. This guy is committed!

I did watch a few Youtube videos and read a few “how-to” articles. They all made me more and more nervous. None of them gave me a snapshot of what to expect and what to have with me for the first time. So here I am, sharing what little I know with you, in hopes that this will give you a little insight before you go out on an ATVing adventure yourself.

Let me preface by saying that we went riding on log roads and on ATV trails in June. The trails were a combination of wet and dry terrain, and they were for beginner level riders.

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What to wear?

All of the articles I found for what to wear were either from clothing manufactures or affiliates of them, so finding a clear guide was a little convoluted. Judging on the hours that we spent and the area that we rode in here is what would have been the best things to have.

Long sleeve shirt or light rain jacket: I wore a long sleeve shirt. In Washington, where we rode the weather is unpredictable at best. Also, the bugs are plentiful, and the trees tend to reach out and grab you when you’re not looking.

Long, thicker pants: As a bigger girl wearing jeans is not the best most comfortable choice for me. But having long pants on is essential to protect you. Not only from things hitting your legs while riding but also as a buffer in case of an accident.

Boots above the ankle: I think that boots are super important. Not just for the protection they provide but the stability of your ankles.

Sunscreen: Duh!

Bug spray: I didn’t wear it but wish I would have.

Safety gear: After riding I can not fathom why anyone would ride without a helmet, gloves and chest gear, but I witnessed more than ten people riding around without any of them and one gentleman openly drinking alcohol. Seriously, this is supposed to be fun for everyone, so keep that crap for afterward.

GLOVES!!!!: I might be a big girl, but my hands are small. I had no idea that my hands would hurt so much from the breaking and holding on for dear life. Makes me wish I would have worn gloves the entire time.

How big of an ATV should I ride?

We had no choice in the matter. We rode Suzuki Ozark 250’s. Now, I am not a small person, and some of my fellow riders are bigger than me, and this was way more than sufficient for them. Also, the fellas we went with are motorcycle riders and had a blast on these machines.

After about 10 minutes of riding, I was able to switch gears smoothly and feather the gas evenly. Why was I so afraid? ATVing is an f-ing blast!

Where to rent from?

We found the most fantastic company to rent from. Walker Valley Rentals are amazing! They are locally owned and operated very close to the Walker Valley ORV area. I highly recommend renting from them if you want to go ATVing near the Seattle/Tacoma area.

Walker Valley Rentals provide the quads, helmets, and necessary training to get you started, and they drop off and pick up the ATV’s. If needed, they also have backpacks and gloves to either rent of purchase.

The owner made sure to spend extra time with my husband and I, making sure that we were where comfortable. They even printed and reviewed a map with us to show us the best and easiest trails for noobs.

After we returned from our adventure, they greeted us with cold waters, fresh baked cookies, and a thank you note! That is the lost art of remarkable customer service. Seriously genuine sweet people.

What to bring with you?

Backpack: A light pack that you don’t mind getting dirty. It’s a great place to stash your light raincoat if it gets too hot.

Ziplock bags: Although it wasn’t super muddy when we went, I had all my belongings inside Ziplock bags to keep them clean and dry.

First aide: Aside from the regular stuff like band-aides, you should have some ace bandages. I brought my ankle braces and air casts as well.

Water: Again, DUH!

Snacks: This is ultimately your preference. Trail riding is pretty hard work; a tasty snack will be a welcome addition.

Wet wipes: I always have some wipes with me. Riding around for hours on dirt roads will make you a little dusty. This way, you can clean up if you need to eat or do something else — wink, wink.

Walkie Talkie’s: So we brought these but forgot them in the car. They would have come in handy more than once. The last guy in our group was stuck on the trail on a tree root, and we had no clue. Also, on the way back to the car, I was enjoying the “swiftness” of the quad and lost sight of the guys. I pulled over a few times to wait for them. Had we had the walkie talkie’s that wouldn’t have been an issue.

Cell phone with offline maps downloaded: This is an absolute must. I have been recommending these type of offline maps for travel for many years. Every time we go to Europe or Asia, I have already downloaded maps. That way if there is little to no Wifi you don’t get lost. There are hundreds of miles of ATV trails where we went so getting lost was a real possibility!

An adventurous but common sense attitude: Well I can’t say for sure, but this might be the most important thing of all. Riding any motorized vehicle can and is dangerous. Add rocks, mud, roots, inclines, declines, and speed, and you have the recipe for fun or potential disaster. Make sure that you keep a healthy respect for not only your well being but everyone else around you.

What it’s like ATVing for the first time.

Quite frankly it’s an f-ing blast. I don’t think I’ve had that much fun since visiting Disneyland last. Not only was is fun but made for an adrenaline-pumping time.

As long as you pay very close attention to what you are doing and add a little something called common sense, quad riding can be the adventure of a lifetime! Also, take some time to learn the rules of the trail, including hand signals!!!

If done correctly riding a quad could easily make for one of the most memorable days of your life!

Check out my post of what to pack for a trip to a third world country.