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 4-Day Guest-ranch based Grizzly Viewing Trip sees you leaving the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver in the early morning, departing at 7am. 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 to a homemade lunch of fresh vegetables and salads, hearty homemade soup, freshly prepared sandwiches and oven baked biscuits. When you have taken you fill, you will spend the afternoon preparing for your Grizzly Viewing adventure. Your guide will take you through a comprehensive Bear defense demonstration, where you will be briefed on bear behaviors and encounters, and where you will learn how to use bear bangers and bear spray.
You will be given an introduction to the bears of our area, and we will take your through track identification and the face profiles of the Grizzly. Each guest will also receive a Grizzly Viewing Handout – background educational materials to accompany you on your Grizzly Viewing trip. With early evening approaching, enjoy a sumptuous dinner, before you set out scouting for Grizzlies on your first evening.
Day 2.
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. Early in the morning, when the dew is just settling on the grass with the warmth of the rising sun and early in the evening, with the approach of dusk as the sun sinks behind the mountains, are both prime feeding times. These times represent the best opportunities for viewing the Grizzlies. By a combination of vehicle and foot, we scout the prime locations. You'll have the opportunity to glass along the lake, in meadows, up and down slides and in open areas where the fresh shoots of Cow Parsnips and Horse Tail are plentiful with the spring's new growth. You'll check for bear scat and bear prints, and as you come across more and more tracks, you'll start to recognize the prints, and learn the differences between the Grizzly and Black bear.
You will never forget your first sighting, as anticipation turns to realization. Witness in awe, the hands of Mother Nature, embodied in the Grizzly. You may spend the morning peering down onto the lake, where you might find a sow and her brand new cubs at play, or perhaps a lone Grizzly pre-occupied as he feeds on the abundant fresh grass after emerging from his winter-long hibernation. As you continue scouting and glassing, you will discover the outstanding variety of wildlife inhabiting our guide area - not just Grizzly bears, but also 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!
Return to the Ranch and share your amazing experience over an early dinner before going out again in the evening to another prime location for more Grizzly Viewing.
Day 3.
Throughout your Grizzly Viewing Adventure, we will come across territory marker trees, which you will have the opportunity to examine 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. You will learn about the Grizzly's biology, life cycle, feeding patterns, migration and habitats from our knowledgeable guides. We give you the opportunity to take a hands-on role in the long-term management of the Grizzlies with our ongoing wildlife research.
As part of the Grizzly study, 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 analysis
- Learning to recognize bear tracks.
Come away from your Grizzly Viewing adventure, not just an observer, but as an active player in contributing to the understanding and management of the Grizzly.
Day 4.
On your last day of your 4 Day Ranch based Grizzly Viewing Adventure, we spend the morning exploring a nearby Grizzly Den. Or for something a little bit different, try one of our Activity Options, including biathlon target shooting, fishing, gold panning, "hands-on" horse logging demonstrations, shoeing/packing, gymkhana horse sports, Archery and Stargazing. After a packed morning, enjoy a farewell lunch before departing at 1 pm. 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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