7 Day Ranch-based Wildlife Tracking and Conservation Horse-back Trip in British Columbia, Canada

This trip is based on 6 principles of nature conservation, nature connection, personal development, self-sufficiency, consciousness and awareness, and empowerment. All Six Principles are used to facilitate your ability to create positive change—for yourself, for others and for your environment.

Embark on a transformational self-development journey with Wilderness Trails' community, discovering who you are and who you want to be. Connect to nature and feel its restorative benefits. Get involved in nature conservation and make a real-world difference. Become more self-sufficient as you learn new skills and mindsets. Experience real empowerment as you do things you have never done before, or never believed you could. Become more conscious and aware as you learn to see the natural environment and every aspect of life from a new perspective.

Wilderness Trails' community facilitates you on your journey, where you have the opportunity to reach your full potential and realize your goals. You will be challenged physically, mentally and emotionally,

succeeding in ways you may not believe possible. So stay open-minded, step out of your comfort zone and you will be rewarded by a unique experience that will transform your life.

Some examples of the opportunities you’ll experience while on this ranch–based wildlife tracking trips in the Chilcotin Ark:

• Learn the habitats and behaviour of Canada’s wildlife, including grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, mountain goat, mountain lion, moose, mule deer, California bighorn sheep, and more.
• Track wildlife by horseback riding, hiking, or truck.
• Escape the distractions of daily life in a remote mountain setting.
• Connect with nature and yourself.
• Discover what you’re made of as you take on new challenges, such as horseback riding to the alpine and the top of the South Chilcotin Mountains.
• Join real conservation projects that safeguard the local ecosystem, such as collecting grizzly hair from rub trees for DNA analysis and wildlife population counts.
• Experience a seven-day trip with all meals and accommodation provided at the BC guest ranch.

This is more than a standard dude ranch experience. On your BC guest ranch–based wildlife tracking trip, arrive at the ranch and enjoy lunch in the historic lodge. Then meet your horse, learn how to saddle with a thorough mountain horseback riding lesson and orientation, and take a short ride to prepare for the rest of the trip. You will also review the trip itinerary with your guides.

The next morning, bring in and saddle your horses, then ride out on a morning excursion to get to know the South Chilcotin Mountains, scouting for grizzly bears, black bears, and other wildlife at prime spots along the way. After returning to the ranch for lunch, ride out again in the afternoon on a new trail, looking for wildlife in different locations around the dude ranch.

Early morning and evening are the best times for Canadian wildlife viewing, so head out at sunrise and sunset by horse, foot, or truck to scout for mountain goats, grizzly and black bears, mule deer, moose, and other animals in their natural habitat.

Learn where to find each species and understand their behaviours. Record every animal you see in wildlife sightings form to contribute to habitat and population management. Remove invasive species and collect data along the way, such as grizzly hair from rub trees for DNA analysis.

On the last full day, ride all day, enjoy lunch in the alpine mountaintops, and learn more about the local flora and fauna. Scout for mountain goats on the ridge tops and grizzly bears in the alpine meadows. Look out for mule deer, moose, and wolves along the way. You may even catch a glimpse of a bald eagle fishing in a river or lake.

On your final morning, learn bareback riding in a unique horseback riding lesson, try archery and biathlon target shooting, and enjoy lunch followed by a final review of the week’s wildlife tracking dude ranch adventure.

Itinerary

Day 1

• Early morning departure from Vancouver with a shuttle or from home with your own transportation
• Midday arrival and lunch at the ranch
• Horse riding orientation - Riders will be matched to horses, fit saddles, and practice horsemanship skills. You will learn how to saddle your own horse so you can be self-sufficient in saddling your horse throughout the whole trip, increasing your sense of empowerment and independence
• Introductory trail ride to get to know your horse's capabilities and the terrain you will be riding
• Dinner and reflection on your day's successes, appreciations and challenges in the evening review
• Map orientation highlighting uniqueness of the Chilcotin Ark, the conservation efforts you will get involved in, the trails and terrain we’ll explore throughout the journey
• Overnight in ranch accommodations, enjoy a fire, stargazing, reading a book or get involved in the ranch activities

Day 2-5

• Chase in the horses and saddle your own horse.
• Breakfast at the ranch and set your intentions during the morning review.
• Half-day ride to a scenic lookout spot. Journey through Douglas fir and lodgepole pine forests, climb stunning mountain passes, and ride through tranquil valleys. Connect with nature by collecting grizzly bear hair from rub trees, drinking water from the creeks, and scouting for wildlife.
• Lunch at the ranch.
• Head out on another half-day ride to prime wildlife tracking locations.
• Ride back to the ranch to enjoy a homemade dinner.
• Review your day’s successes, challenges, and appreciations during the evening review.
• Overnight in ranch accommodations. Enjoy a fire, stargazing, reading a book, or getting involved in the ranch activities.

Day 6

• At sunrise, chase in the horses with your guides and saddle your own horse.
• Enjoy breakfast while setting your intentions during the morning review.
• Set out for a full-day ride into the alpine. Explore striking landscapes, including valleys and towering ridgelines.
• Enjoy lunch on a mountaintop or in an alpine meadow.
• Ride back to the ranch, including walking your horse downhill. Connect with nature by collecting grizzly bear hair from rub trees, drinking water from the creeks, and scouting for wildlife.
• Arrival and dinner at the ranch, followed by an evening review of your day’s successes and appreciations.
• Overnight in ranch accommodations. Enjoy a fire, stargazing, reading a book, or getting involved in the ranch activities.

Day 7

• Breakfast at the ranch, and set your intentions during the morning review.
• Bareback horse riding lessons.
• Take aim with target shooting instruction and practice.
• Fill in the Wilderness Journal to reflect on your journey, how it impacted you, and the learnings you will implement in your daily life.
• Farewell lunch at the ranch, including a review of your Wilderness Journal and certificate presentation to honor your transformation during the trip.
• Depart for home or Vancouver, arriving in the evening.

Important Information

• For every day: Dependant on the trail, you have to walk downhill on steep terrain for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours, since you have to walk down the mountains you climbed up on your horses.
• Each trip is a hands-on experience where you will participate in all activities, from horse care and camp chores to conservation projects, daily reflections about your experiences, and more.
• Please Note: The trips are subject to the unpredictable weather and terrain conditions that come with a mountainous environment. And while Wilderness Trails will do their best to stick to the itinerary, there are times when the current conditions and needs of the group require them to adjust schedules, campsites, etc. This is part of any true wilderness experience; however, Wilderness Trails is well equipped to adapt the adventure to changing conditions.