Many of us are ready for spring to show its milder side. But in Woolwich, few may be more pleased when the snow disappears than the Woolwich Rough Riders.

The all-terrain vehicle club has permission to use about 13 miles of trails that belong to Central Maine Power and other property owners. But every year, members wait until snowmobile season is over, so the four-wheelers' tracks don't interfere; then they also hold out for mud season to come and go, so they're not rutting up the trails they are fortunate to get to use, members said.

For the same reason, they stay off the trails after a big rain.

“A lot of people don't like four-wheelers on their land,” club president Justin Vaillancourt said. “It only takes one person to ruin it for everybody.” An ATV club can show landowners that those riders respect the land, he said.

The club is very appreciative of CMP and the other landowners for the access, former president Charlie Newbury said.

Newbury, 48, has been with the Rough Riders since its first meeting several years ago. He and others interviewed said access to the trails is one of the club's benefits.

According to the members, another plus is the added enjoyment of riding together.

“It's a lot more fun when you're in the crowd,” Newbury's girlfriend and fellow Rough Rider Lisa Sleeper said.

Like many four-wheeling enthusiasts, Sleeper, 44, has been riding since she was in her teens. On an ATV, she said, “You just feel free.”

Newbury didn't take it up until he was in his mid-30s when a friend got an ATV.

What does he like about riding? “Being outside. It's nice,” he said. “You're out in nature. It's pretty.”

Other than taking his ATV out into the front yard for a photograph on March 23, it will be a while longer until he sees any nature on it this year, maybe not until May, he said.

Membership in the Rough Riders has been hovering around 20, a number the club would like to increase. More members would mean even more fun on rides, and hopefully more hands to build bridges and maintain the trails, Vaillancourt said.

Twenty dollars buys one year's membership for a person or a couple.

For more on the Woolwich Rough Riders, look up the club on Facebook, or call Vaillancourt at 207-319-5758.

The club invites anyone interested to come to its first meeting of 2014 at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, March 25 at Montsweag Roadhouse.