Massive trees that topple onto trails on public lands don't stay in the way for long.

Members of the Back Country ATV-UTV Association roar up mountains through dust, mud, puddles, sunshine and snow to find these obstructions and remove them to keep the trails open.

"The one we just cut down there was deader than a doornail," Norman Moberg of Athol said during a trail-clearing expedition April 25. "It was like cutting through a roll of paper towels."

Back Country ATV-UTV members began the morning at Fernan Saddle and split into groups to cover as much ground as possible. Moberg was among riders who trekked up the Windy Ridge – Horse Haven Trail to ATV motorized trail 802 beyond Huckleberry Mountain near Burnt Cabin Summit in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

"I'm not overly excited. I worked the woods all my life, this is just kind of a walk," Moberg, in his 80s, said with a chuckle. "I came out here to help clear, but I like to ride my side by side."

Leading the 802 expedition was Buddy Williford of Hayden, one of the association's roughly dozen sawyers certified through the National Crosscut and Chainsaw Program to use chainsaws and crosscut saws on National Forest System lands.

"Most of us that are sawyers have been doing it on our own, either we have property that we clear or we cut firewood," Williford said. "We just enjoy being outside. We enjoy the trails, so we want to give back to the trails. That's why we come out and do it."

The Back Country ATV-UTV Association formed in 2002. It has about 200 members and is growing. Annual dues are $25 per person or $50 for a family or business. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. at the Hayden Lake Eagles the fourth Wednesday of the month.

“Our group has the manpower, the knowhow and the equipment to do it, so we try to give back to the community as much as we can so people can go out hiking, biking and four-wheeling," Back Country President Wayne Fichter said. "We want to keep everything open so we don’t lose those trails."

The group has a cost-share agreement with the Forest Service to maximize impact and acquire access to closed trails. Forest Service forestry technician/trails foreman Anthony Benedetti trains Back Country members to become sawyers. He closely works with them as they map out trails to work on, and they report back which trails require heavy-duty machinery to clear, a most appreciated partnership in the wake of windstorms.

"They're not only giving back to help the Forest Service out, they’re giving back to the American public to help with access to public lands," Benedetti said. "They help with cleaning up the trash and things, but they help educate other users, with 'leave no trace' or 'TREAD lightly' principles, which is a way we interact with the forest to protect the future and preserve the existing conditions."

TREAD is an acronym followed by many in the ATV community: Travel responsibly; Respect the rights of others; Educate yourself; Avoid sensitive areas; Do your part.

The association was recently awarded a $5,000 grant by onX Offroad to clear trails in the area. Back Country board member and sawyer Kevin Oliver of Dalton Gardens worked on the grant request as he convalesced following a major cardiac event. The funds will help pay for materials, fuels and equipment upgrades as needed.

"We put it to good use, and that good use will be to continue our operations," Oliver said. “It’s fun. It's work, but it doesn’t kill you. I’ll be 75 in a month and a half, and I'm not the oldest by far, even for sawyers."

On Friday, several members went on a litter pickup between mile markers 1 and 2 on Interstate 90 in Post Falls. Around Christmas, Back Country volunteers give money to different charities. They are constantly clearing trails and finding ways to have fun while giving back.

Camaraderie is a main component of the Back Country ATV-UTV Association. When Oliver was recovering from surgery, club members organized a meal drive so his wife, Becky, who is also a club member, could stay by his side.

"It's a group that takes care of each other. It's a huge community involvement," Kevin said.

New to the area? No problem. Lifetime North Idahoan? Your knowledge of the area is wanted and appreciated. Many members have experience with the outdoors, such as first responders, military veterans and loggers.

And many just truly enjoy getting out in nature while doing something good for the world.

Info: backcountryatv-utv.org

    Back Country ATV-UTV Association member Terry Odom, left, assesses the downed tree situation April 25 as Buddy Williford uses a chainsaw to open an ATV trail near Burnt Cabin Summit in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Members of the association work to clear trees and pick up trash to maintain and preserve trails for public use.
  

    Army veteran Dan Geoghegan tosses a branch to the side April 25 during a Back Country ATV-UTV Association trail-clearing project.
  

    Ryan Janowski of Coeur d'Alene makes his way around an uprooted tree with a small chainsaw April 25 as he and fellow Back Country ATV-UTV Association members work to clear the trail.
  

    Buddy Williford, front, and Ryan Janowski, second back, lead the pack as Back Country ATV-UTV Association members clear trails April 25 in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.
  

    Terry Odom tosses a chunk of wood April 25 as he and fellow Back Country ATV-UTV Association members clear trees and debris from ATV trail 802 near Burnt Cabin Summit.
  

    Members of the Back Country ATV-UTV Association picked up litter Friday by Interstate 90 in Post Falls. Litter pickup is one of many service projects the club undertakes to give back to the community.