On this adventure of a lifetime, gain a deeper appreciation of these fascinating animals. Take a hands-on role in the long-term management of the Grizzlies with our ongoing wildlife research. As part of the Grizzly Study, your licensed guide will take you through the life cycles, seasonal habits, feeding patterns, migration and habitats of the Grizzly bear, and you’ll participate in:
- The collection of Grizzly hair samples from a Grizzly rub tree or territory marker tree for DNA research
- Visiting a Grizzly den where bears hibernate through the winter
- Documentation of Grizzly sightings
- GPS Grizzly locations for subsequent mapping and analyses
- Learning to recognize bear tracks.
Deciding whether to choose a Ranch or a Camp based adventure has a lot to do with past experiences and personal preferences.
Ranch Based
These adventures are suited to all levels - the beginner to the advanced. Ranch based adventures allow for flexibility in duration and degree of difficulty on a day-to-day basis. Our Guest Ranch is spacious, complete with two stored fireplace, sun room, large central dining room, a large outdoor deck facing the rugged Coast Mountains, and queen beds with feather duvets. The atmosphere is similar to that of a large family home. The 8 guest bedrooms have a varied combination of sleeping arrangements (such as queen, twin, single, and queen with bunk), along with 4 shared bathrooms. Our log chalets are self-contained, and range in size from the 1 bedroom Honeymoon Cabin to the 3 bedroom Family Reunion.
Camp Cabin
Camp Based Levels I, II and III. These adventure are suited for the beginner/intermediate to the advanced. Our Alpine Camps vary between fully equipped permanent base camps and seasonal camps. The permanent camps include different combinations of log cabins and/or tent cabins for eating and sleeping. Tent cabins consist of 10 x 12 "walk about" structures with raised floors. Some of the permanent camps are more developed, with gravity-fed showers, solar lighting and heaters in the tent cabins.
Many factors come into play when choosing the right level of trip, such as physical condition and whether or not you are coming rested. The following are "rules of thumb" on a "sliding scale" that will help you choose a level suited to your abilities. Access in and out of camps varies between 3-9 hours and 5-20 km, and includes elevation changes up to 1,000m over uneven terrain. Daily itineraries vary according to the level of the trip and group interests.
Level I - Beginner/intermediate with camping experience. May not have experience on uneven terrain or partake in the activity on a regular basis. Once in camp, expect rides/hikes of 3-4 hours covering 6-10 km mostly on defined trails, and elevation changes of less than 1,000m. Intermediate and advanced that do not have experience on uneven terrain may best be suited to Level I.
Camp Tent Cabin
Level II - Intermediate to advanced with camping experience. Has experience on uneven terrain. May not partake in the activity on a regular basis but is in good physical condition and wants a demanding adventure. Includes challenging terrain and undefined trails. Once in camp, expect rides/hikes of 4-6 hours that cover 7-12 km, and elevation changes up to 1,000m.
Level III - Advanced with wilderness camping experience. Has experience on uneven and steep terrain. Partakes in the activity on a regular basis, is in good physical condition and wants to be challenged. Includes challenging and steep terrain, and undefined trails. Once in camp, expect rides/hikes of 6-9 hours that cover 12-20 km, and elevation changes that exceed 1,000m.
Combining Adventures
Our trips are specialized and customized, and represent a unique combination of experiences. Schedules allow for Combination Trips. Popular ones include a 4 day Guest Ranch Adventure followed by 4 day Horse Pack Trip, 7 day Guide Training followed by 7 day Horse Pack Trip, and 4 day Ranch Hike followed by 4 day Camp Hike. If interests or abilities of group members are "mixed", combinations of adventures are chosen simultaneously. A family, for example, may choose a Horse Pack Trip and a Fishing Trip based from the same camp.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1.
The first day of your trip sees you leaving the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver in the early morning, departing at 7 am. Travel the historic highways with opportunities to spot wildlife as the road winds itself along famous rivers and pristine lakes. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of mountains and canyons as you leave the driving up to us. After the spectacular 5-hour drive, arrive at our Guest Ranch at noon in time to hear the dinner bell ring. Sit down for a homemade lunch of fresh vegetables and salads, hearty homemade soup, freshly prepared sandwiches and oven baked biscuits.
When you have taken your fill, your guides will take you through a thorough Horse Orientation to prepare for your days riding the mountains. We begin by matching you to your horse and getting a good fit with your saddle. Our horses are Mountain Cayuse horses that live and work in the mountains. These unique horses come from the wild herds of the Cariboo-Chilcotin, a mixture of breeds developed over generations. They have a stamina, toughness, energy, intelligence and spirit required to take riders safely into the mountains. Whatever your age or experience, we have just the horse for you.
The Orientation will give you a complete introduction to Western Mountain riding. You can get involved in bridling, saddling and learning how to tie the bowline knot. You will learn how to control your horse by practicing horse sports in the gymkhana. We also practice our method of bear retreat. Once all the “kinks” have been worked out, we take you along the rushing river on our evening “River Ride. Once you have had your first taste of Western Mountain Riding, we take you through our Bear Safety procedures. You will learn how to use bear spray, and your guide will give a thorough briefing on bear behaviors and encounter, and food and waste management in bear country.
After having worked out your appetite from the afternoon’s adventure, enjoy a satisfying meal. Then in the evening, we make preparations for the next 5 days in camp by re-packing your personal gear into duffel bags. Each guest will also receive a Grizzly Viewing Handout – background educational materials to accompany you on your Grizzly Viewing trip. Your guides will give you an introduction to the bears of our area, including track identification and the face profiles of the Grizzly. Overnight comfortably at the Ranch, ready for next day’s adventure.
Day 2.
We get an early start to today. After a hot and filling breakfast, we pack and saddle the horses. You'll get to learn how to pack, throw the Diamond Hitch and you will learn some wrangler skills! Once packed, saddled and mounted, the adventure starts. We follow the Grizzlies' progress as they track the snow line as it retreats to higher elevations, feeding on the fresh shoots of grass as it grows.
As you ride, you will learn about the Grizzly's biology, life cycle, seasonal habits, feeding patterns, migration and habitats from our knowledgeable guides. Riding the trail high into the mountains, we make our way to one of our 25 Alpine Camps, all the way scoping for Grizzly bears. On your first evening at camp, get involved taking the horses out to the meadows at night to stake and hobble. Enjoy a campfire under star studded skies and be lulled into restful sleep, listening to the gentle jingle of the horse bells.
Day 3.
From years of accumulated knowledge and experience of the area and the Grizzly bear, we strategically pick the time and locations for the best viewing opportunities. Today, we take you to some of the best places to view these majestic creatures. We will take time to set up the spotting scope, where you can peer down into the valley basin. Witness some of the marvels of the Chilcotin Mountains, perhaps a sow grizzly and her cubs at play or as they feed on the lush Cow Parsnips and Horse Tails that cover the expanse of the valley basin. As we travel past pristine lakes and across rushing rivers, to the next viewing spot, there are plenty of opportunities for fishing in lakes and rivers brimming with wild Rainbow and Brook trout, Dolly Varden and Kokanee.
Day 4.
Throughout your Grizzly Viewing Adventure, we will come across territory marker trees, which you will have the opportunity to examine. We will take you to explore Grizzly bear dens and you will be able to collect data to contribute to our Grizzly Study. On your adventure, gain a deeper appreciation of these fascinating animals. Take a hands-on role in the long-term management of the Grizzlies with our ongoing wildlife research.
Day 5.
On the fifth day, migrate with the bears as they retreat higher up in the mountains into the sub-alpine. Be privileged to the stunning sight of the Grizzlies as they graze in the alpine meadows, providing favored summer feeding ranges and open areas for spectacular viewing opportunities. Depending on the season, you will have the opportunity to sample green onions, wild potatoes and white bark pine nuts that grow wild in the south Chilcotin Mountains. During your ride, your guide will point out the cow parsnips, glacier lilies and soopalallie berries that are a favorite treat for the Grizzlies.
Ride along well-defined horse trails, once used by explorers, pioneers and gold miners. Discover the outstanding variety of wildlife inhabiting our guide area - not just Grizzly bears. California Bighorn sheep, moose, Mule deer, Mountain goat, Black bear and wolf are plentiful and frequently sighted. We find that the wildlife are most obliging, so photo opportunities are plentiful!
Day 6.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the last day at camp. We pack up camp and saddle up for a morning ride in search for more Grizzlies. After a morning of Grizzly viewing, enjoy an open-air lunch before riding the trail that takes us back to the Ranch. Return to the Ranch and share your amazing experience over a hearty dinner. Then, spend the evenings enjoying our library, swimming at a nearby lake, or playing a board game before enjoying the camaraderie of the evening campfire. Or, make the most of your adventure with our Activity Options, from guided fishing, gold panning, "hands-on" horse logging demonstrations, shoeing/packing, gymkhana horse sports, Archery and Stargazing. Rest at the Guest Ranch on your last night.
Day 7.
On your last day we can spend the morning visiting a nearby Grizzly Den or for something a bit different, try some bareback lessons or test your aim with some biathlon target shooting. After a packed morning, enjoy a farewell lunch before departing at 1pm. Reflect on your adventure on the 5-hour drive back to Vancouver. You arrive in Vancouver in the early evening.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
British Columbia
Nature & Wildlife
Wildlife Viewing
Horse Riding
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