ATV Riders Howl in the North Country Mud

July 12, 2010

By LORNA COLQUHOUN
Manchester Union Leader

BERLIN – David DeMond would have loved to get down and dirty with the ATVers plowing through a mud pit at the Jericho ATV Festival, but he made do watching from a lawn chair on the dry side of the bank. "I'd love to take a ride through there," said DeMond, who lives in Columbia.

He and his wife, Bonnie, were among hundreds of people took part in the good clean fun of cheering on ATVers testing their mettle in the mud pit Saturday afternoon. It was hard to get a count on the crowd, which was spread throughout Jericho Mountain State Park all weekend.

"My parking lot is full," said Randy Cicchetto, owner of Jericho Motorsports, where there scores of trucks, trailers and cars spilled over into yards and other businesses along Route 110.  The first-ever ATV festival was meant to showcase the state's newest state park, opened four years ago and developed to attract ATVs and motorbikes.

"At the registration table this morning, I talked with people from Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts," said Chris Gamache, chief of the state's Bureau of Trails. "They all said that our states don't do anything for (ATVers) and New Hampshire does."

The two-day festival featured a variety of activities, from the mud pit runs to vendors offering the latest machines and equipment for the sport, and those vendors weren't disappointed.

"This is the kind of event the North Country needs," said Mike Petell of Profile Powersports in Conway. "I've talked to people from Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine, and it shows that this is becoming an ATV riders' destination. If they keep expanding it, this is going to be a good thing for the entire northeast."

At the edge of the mud pit, Bob Pitreau of Boston was relaxing on his machine, waiting for the competition to start. He's got a vacation home in Bartlett.  "I came up here (to Jericho) when it opened a few years ago and I come a couple of times each summer," he said. "It's really come a long way."

Beside him was Harry Mann of Merrimack, a friend of Pitreaus, with whom he and his ATV hitched a ride. Saturday was his first time at the park and that got him thinking.  "I'm debating whether to buy a trailer so I can travel more," he said.

Cicchetto, who opened his business four years ago, said he's seen the park growing every year, and his business is, too, now up to five employees from the two with which he started, and he's added a new showroom.

"The rain is keeping the dust down and people are up here for the weekend," he said Saturday. "Every weekend, the numbers are growing. In spite of the economy, people still want to come out and play. I've sold more ATVs this year than ever."

Jericho Mountain State Park has 7,500 acres and, this summer, is up to about 55 miles of trails within the park. Another 9 miles of trails are planned to open later in the season and around Labor Day, ground will be broken on a new visitors center for the park. When the park is fully developed, it will also include a campground.

Some comments from the Union Leader website

My husband and I travel four and a half hours to enjoy the trails at Jericho Park. We really can't ride here in Massachusetts, but we know were always welcome in NH. Thanks so much. We look forward to the next event!
- Tammy Rondeau, Uxbridge, MA

Had a good time, Well presented and people were having a blast and thats what its all about. Been atving/dirtbike for almost 30 yrs and get tired of the negative stereotype that were all bad people and all we do is rape the land and don't care about the environment so its always good to hear or read about the positive we do. Good article UL
- Don, Deerfield

I think its great that someone has come up with this idea.These people can hoot, howl and rev their engines without consequences.Gives everyone a cance to do their favorite sport under controlled conditions.
It will be a boost for the economy in that area.Keep growing guys and hope all enjoy the mud runs.
- mary, rochester

This park is also set up for trail bikes as well !!! Just remember it must be registered for off road.

I love riding my dirt bike there.
- Michael, Bethlehem NH

We just rode those trails and it was great! I'm so glad this is becoming an attraction for that area. Nice job and dedication by everyone involved.
- Donna, Belmont

Grown adults playing in the mud on a sweltering day.
Sounds like to much fun to me
- Harry, Atkinson

This is a great story.. The state invisioned a place for off road fun and it is becoming a big hit. if it is true that a hotel is also going up in that area it will be a slight boom for this area. As a former Berlin Resident it is nice to see a success story instead the other headlines that have been coming out of Berlin.
- Dave, Manchester

Picture from Berlin Daily Sun:

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