Holiday on horseback is pleased to offer a number of exciting and educational interpretive trips each summer featuring leading authorities on wildlife and their habitat, environmental issues, conservation, as well as a bit of fun and history.
A portion of your trip cost is donated to continuing wildlife research and conservation in Banff National Park through the University of Calgary Grizzly Study, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Friends of Banff programs.
Continuation of the Year of the Grizzly
With Dr. Mike Gibeau
6 day Wilderness Tenting ride
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Year 2001 was emphasized as the ‘Year of the Grizzly’. However, due to popular demand we have continued with our interpretive study of grizzlies and their habitat. Over the past 100 years of horse travel in the Rockies, we can attest to the compatibility between bears and horseback travel. Whatever the reason may be, bears take little notice of horse parties giving us an opportunity to observe them and their unique habitat.
In cooperation with Parks Canada, Dr. Mike Gibeau, one of Canada’s leading authorities on grizzlies and their environment, will accompany you on this six day trip. Mike has worked with bears in National Parks for over 30 years, first as a Park Warden, and now as a biologist. You will enjoy a horseback adventure and share in a rare opportunity spend some time in one of Canada’s prime Grizzly habitats with a professional interpretation.
This trip takes you on our Wilderness Tenting route through the tent camps of Stoney Creek, Flints Park and Mystic Valley. Each camp is set up with A-frame canvas tents with wooden floors, large cozy kitchen tents for meals and socializing, rail corrals for the horses, treated drinking water, even a shower at Flints Park!
Departure Day: Wednesday
Dates: August 25-30
Trip Code: 10B
Price: $1546
Mountain Photography Trip
With Raymond Gehman
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We are proud to announce the continuation of the photography trip this summer! There was so much demand last season that we have decided to offer 2 trip photography trips this summer! Join world-renowned photographer Raymond Gehman for a 6-day Wilderness Tenting ride or Backcountry Lodge ride and share in his knowledge and experiences gained as a National Geographic photographer.
Raymond's desire is to show you how to envision and then capture a compelling and timeless image true to the National Geographic level of photography. He will share some secrets and hints for getting the most out of your artistic eye and your camera's creative potential. The abundance of spectacular scenery, wildlife, and cowboy lifestyle should provide any enthusiastic artist with incredible landscape, portrait and action photographs.
Raymond Gehman is a long-time contributor to National Geographic Magazine, Books, and Traveler Magazine as well as an expert on photographing in the Canadian Rockies.
6 Day Wilderness Tent Trip
Departure Day: Wednesday
Dates: August 18-23
Trip Code: 9B
Price: $1546
6 Day Backcountry Lodge Trip
Departure Day: Wednesday
Dates: August 25-30
Trip Code: 10R
Price: $1701
Paws in the Wilderness
With Melanie Percy
5-day wilderness tenting ride
Wolves have always been a fascinating part of mountain life. Their presence contributes greatly to the ecology of the area while remaining mysterious and elusive towards humans. Melanie Percy, an accredited wolf researcher in the Bow Valley has been taking guests into the world of these amazing animals for the past 5 years. The ‘wolf’ trip, which was originally held in conjunction with the World Wolf Congress held in Banff in 2003, has become a popular ride on our specialty trips line-up.
Melanie’s time spent studying these animals and their interaction with other wildlife has given her a wide spectrum of knowledge regarding Grizzly & Black bears, cougars, elk and other wildlife in the area. Melanie will teach and offer insight along the way into pup production, denning habits, high wolf use areas and the general wolf presence in the park.
Departure Day: Saturday
Dates: September 4-8
Trip Code: 11C
Price: $1147
Mules and Mountains Clinic
With Brad Cameron
“Saddle up and Ride.” An exciting high country adventure with North America’s leading mule clinician Brad Cameron. Bring your own mule and join Brad for 5 spectacular days of hands on trail training in the Canadian Rockies.
Under Brad’s careful guidance, Participants will learn how to negotiate many different natural obstacles with safety and confidence. Enjoy the camaraderie and fellowship of other mule riders while endless mule stories are told around the campfire at night.
Backcountry meals, comfortable tent camps, and unequaled scenery and all included. This is a unique, one of a kind clinic experience that only Brad Cameron can offer.
For more information and reservations on this clinic, please visit Brad’s website at www.cameronequine.com
Trip is taking place August 7-11, trip code 7C
Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies
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The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies is a non-profit club of volunteers that has been organizing horseback trail rides in the Canadian Rockies since 1923, most often in Banff National Park. Founded during a snowstorm on Wolverine Pass, the TRCR has been a prominent part of Canadian Rocky Mountain History for over 80 years.
For the 2010 schedule, Holiday on Horseback and the TRCR have incorporated a series of 4, 5, and 6 day rides taking guests to the camps of Stoney Creek, Flints Park and Mystic Valley.
Guests will enjoy the simple luxuries in these tried and true campsites equipped with a large kitchen tent for socializing, wash areas (Flints Park even has a shower!), electric fence to keep curious critters out and spacious sleeping accommodations in A-frame canvas prospector tents.
The atmosphere on these trips is certainly one of camaraderie and laughter. Musicians are often present on the rides and the cowboys regale you with stories, true and embellished, around the evening campfire. A TRCR coordinator will accompany you on there tours and help you out along the way. Your membership with the TRCR also includes a members pin, newsletters and invitations to TRCR events and future trips
Holiday on Horseback has been outfitting for the TRCR off and on since 1974 and is excited to share their history with you again this summer. Also, due to our commitment to continuing the traditions of the TRCR, we are including your membership fees for 2010 in your trip cost so there will be no additional charges to join in on these rides!
| # 1 |
July 12-15 (4 days) |
$983 |
| # 2 |
July 17-21 (5 days) |
$1217 |
| # 3 |
July 21-26 (6 days) |
$1446 |
| # 4 |
July 28- Aug 2 (6 days) |
$1446 |
| # 5 |
August 4-9 (6 days) |
$1446 |
| # 6 |
August 11-16 (6 days) |
$1446 |
| # 7 |
August 16-19 (4 days) |
$983 |
| # 8 |
August 21-25 (5 days) |
$1217 |
| # 9 |
August 28-September 1 (6 days) |
$1446 |
| # 10 |
September 6-9 (4 days) |
$848 |
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