D4: Waterton Overnight Horseback Trip

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE TRIP DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING UP!

One of the best ways to experience Alberta is on horseback, and an entire weekend pack trip is something that has been on my bucket list for a really long time! I luckily have found a great outfitting company out of Pincher Creek that offers some of the best rates in Alberta.

Approximate cost: $350/person - $300 with 10 people or more

To participate on this trip, you must pay a non-refundable 25% deposit to Blue Ridge Outfitters to hold your spot ( info@blueridgeoutfitters.com ). The full amount will be due on JULY 11, 2014.

Late registration is possible. But after July 11, you must pay the full amount to be on the trip :)

Cost Includes: Horses, Tack, Tent Accommodations, Meals & Trail Snacks, Experienced Guides, Access to 200 square miles of private land.

TRIP DESCRIPTION: I will be leaving Friday evening and staying in Pincher Creek over night. Participants should arrange carpooling and are welcome to stay in Pincher Creek Friday evening or leave early Saturday morning to reach the outfitting trailhead at the required time. We will ride all day Saturday, camp overnight and ride all day Sunday, returning to Calgary afterwards.

MAX: 12 People

DIFFICULTY: This will be a moderate to difficult trip, strictly due to the endurance required to ride for up to 20 hours in 2 days. Although there are horses for every level of rider, I would highly discourage individuals who have never ridden a horse from signing up for this trip. 2 days on horseback is not a great way to start out riding, especially if you discover you don't like it.

PLEASE NOTE: I will be posting horseback riding day trips throughout the summer, which will be a better trip for riders of all levels.

Company: Blue Ridge Outfitters (blueridgeoutfitters.ca)

• This company owns the outfitting rights to a 200 square mile area, stretching from the border of Waterton National Park to close to Pincher Creek near the Castle River Range. The owners (Dee and Bill) have been outfitting, guiding, trapping, riding and ranching this land for over 50 years and are members of the Alberta Outfitters Association.

"We set up camp half way up the valley, tether the horses, spread out our gear and the sleeping bags in the teepee or the cook tent, and start enjoying the great outdoors. Steaks and baked potatoes cooked over an open fire, dutch oven dinners, and bacon and eggs on the cook stove are some of the great meals enjoyed under the blue skies.

At a nearby natural salt lick you often spot bear, deer, wolf and cougar tracks. You will see where early pioneers in 1910 cut and hauled huge logs out of the bush with horses. From there you can ride to the remote Hanging or Hidden valley almost at the top of a mountain. You'll have to grab your horse's tail to scramble up slopes that are too steep to ride up. It's exciting! Then you continue right to the top of the highest ridge for amazing views."

To be on this trip you will need to provide a deposit to Blue Ridge Outfitters. More details on this will be added once they become available. The organizer will not take any responsibility for costs associated with this trip (that are not their own). It is important to make your reservation early to guarantee trip participation.

PLEASE NOTE: It is your responsibility to make sure that you have acquired all of the necessary equipment, clothing and food for this trip. All outdoor activities involve a certain degree of risk, so it is up to you to be prepared, resilient, self-reliant, responsible, cautious and aware of surrounding hazards. As well, mountain weather can be unpredicatable, so be prepared for unforeseen changes. For safety reasons, if you show up for this event unprepared or with inappropriate clothing and/or gear you may not be permitted to continue on the trip.

Weather Conditions: http://www.theweathernetwork.com/outdoors/parks/caab0612

Please reimburse some gas $$ to your drivers.

Mandatory Gear List:

• Warm sleeping bag (rated to -7 or lower)

• Thermarest/Sleeping Pad

• Waterproof Outer Layers

• Warm Mid Layer (down or synthetic)

• Hat (for sun and warmth)

• Riding Gloves/Leather Gloves

• Sturdy Boots (Riding or Hiking)

• Change of Clothes

• Sunscreen

• Water bottle

• Towel

• Snacks (in case you get hungry on the ride)

• Sunglasses

Optional Gear: Personal First Aid kit, Lip Balm, Bug Spray, Binoculars, Camera, Guitar, Camping Pillow, Deck of Cards.

•Do not wear the following: Jeans, casual shoes (including sneakers/trainers, work boots), cotton layers. Runners are not appropriate footwear for riding in the mountains. Some individuals do prefer to ride horses in jeans, but this is not recommended for safety reasons. Go to the following web page for more information on why cotton is dangerous in the backcountry. http://sectionhiker.com/why-does-cotton-kill/

Cancellation policy: 72 hrs prior to the trip. Keep in mind that this is not a dating service; you are either committed or not. Friday late night cancellations may result in having a "no show" -- unless you have a viable excuse. I CANNOT GAURANTEE THE RETURN OF YOUR DEPOSIT OR ANY FUNDS PAID TO BLUERIDGE OUTFITTERS IF YOU CANCEL.

There will be a MANDATORY pre-trip meeting on July 3/2014. At this pre-trip meeting all proof of deposit needs to be presented to the trip organizer, or you risk being removed from the trip.

YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO SIGN A TRIP WAIVER!

•CORA Organizers no longer accept cash at the trailhead! In order to join this event you need to be a CORA 2014 member; alternatively, you can pay $5 and join as a non-member. Payments are done online (the blue link on the left. Type the amount of payment in the box. Smart phones don't have this application, so you need to do this on a PC/Mac).

My cell phone is # 403-837-6557