At the risk of making ATV riders mad, I backpacked up a motorized route last weekend. None of the four riders I encountered detoured to run me over, which is good. I know there is animosity between the two groups, but I straddle the fence, enjoying motorized recreation as well as wilderness excursions. So the idea of entering the wilderness via an ATV route seemed like a good idea, and it was. I encountered far fewer backpackers by taking the ATV route into the wilderness, compared to if I had gone into the area via a more traditional trailhead. So keep that in mind the next time you’re looking for a way to get away from it all. The best route may be a motorized one. To read more about my hike, see my story on The Billings Gazette’s website at: http://bgz.tt/tf4xq
(Written by Brett French – Outdoors Editor for the Billings Gazette)
