Ompah’s ATV Run

Linda Rush | Oct 01, 2009

Not since the Ompah Stomp weekends in the heydays of the ‘80s has this little hamlet in North Frontenac seen such a successful event. Starting around 8 A.M. on September 26 the streams of pickup trucks, trailers and ATVs started to pour in for the start of what participants say is the best ATV run in Ontario.

The Ompah Volunteer Fire Department sponsors this event in both the spring and the fall. In the spring ATV enthusiasts experience the somewhat muddy and challenging trails of the rocky north, while the main fall features are the gorgeous fall colours and beautiful sunny weather the organizers always seem to arrange for the day.

Last Saturday 300 ATVs took part, each traveling over 67 km. A trail lunch was available in the bush and riders were seen ignoring their homemade sandwiches for a hot dog, hamburg and a cold drink. Aside from the odd breakdown or two, the best outcome was that the run was accident free – no one got hurt and no one got lost. One notable observation was the number of young people who rode this year.

To cap off the day a roast beef supper was served to everyone, followed by the distribution of 50 very nice door prizes and over $1000 in major prizes which were earned through a draw of tokens earned at check points along the way.

I have left the term “amazing” out of this article because the real “amazing” part of this whole story is the support the whole community contributes to this event twice a year. The fire department volunteers are the real sponsors but the key to success are the locals who pitch in and help. Consider the number of people needed for registration, traffic control, parking, cooking, providing food and desserts, washing dishes, facility set up before and tear down after, ride escorts, manning the trail lunch and yes, even a bar tender or two. This year even the school children got involved, manning an ATV wash station as the vehicles finished up the run, and raising over $400 for the school.

The whole concept of the ATV run for the Fire Department was initiated and is organized by Denis and Rose at the Double “S” Marina in Ompah. Virtually everyone in Ompah contributes in one way or another but many volunteers also come from Plevna, Ardoch and Snow Road. It was great to see the “summer people” – all the cottagers and part time residences who both came for the ride and helped out during the day. Finally a big thank you to sponsors for the donated prizes and to the landowners who allowed this years trail to run through their properties. The next run is Saturday April 24, 2010. There will be no duck hunting on that day and I don’t imagine the bear hunt will be back so ATVers might want to mark that day on the calendar.