When walking into Koocanusa Publications Inc—the publishing company of RidersWest—one of the first faces seen belongs to Nicole Field. Field recently went on her inaugural ATVing excursion and found that letting her senses be the guide proved a successful way to start on the ATVing path.

Lots to enjoy

“Having a husband and friends who enjoy going riding definitely made me want to try it out,” said Field. “Who doesn't love spending time with good friends, while enjoying the outdoors, and stopping on the top of a mountain for a delicious home packed meal? I sure do!” Field travelled with her husband Jonathan and friends in the Hidden Lake area, near Cranbrook, on Bombardier and Polaris ATVs. The terrain was varied—puddles, mud, trees, caves and wildlife all factored into the day’s events. The group even discovered a cave—but didn’t venture inside, given the presence of bears in the area.

Live and learn

The day gave Field gained insight into why ATVers are passionate about their sport. “I like how it can be an all day event—and still you want to keep going,” she said. “Being unsure of the trails that you are going to take (or) what’s around the next corner—it’s definitely a thrill for me.”