Grizzly Mountain Pack Trip
Yukon Canada: (RTYT10)
URL: https://www.hiddentrails.com/tour/canada_yukon_grizzly.aspx
Introduction
Yukon
Canada
Just a short drive north of Whitehorse, explore the Grizzly Valley.
As you ride up from the valley, you will get a beautiful view over Lake Laberge, and if you are lucky you will be able to spot some local wildlife (moose, mountain sheep, bear...).
This short pack trip is the perfect escape from everyday life for those who wish to get a taste of the Yukon wilderness.
Accomodation
Accommodation
This is a progressive pack trip so nights will be spent in several camps in the mountains plus some nights at the home base depending on the itinerary.
Description
We will spend our nights camping in tents and under tarps, cooking over campfires.
As we are sleeping in the wilderness, there are no toilets or showers available during the ride. We usually wash ourselves with a sponge to freshen up.
Single travelers will have their own tent.
Meals
All your meals are included.
We usually carry along a box of wine with us for the duration of the trip.
Dietary Restrictions
Dietary concerns or differences will be acknowledged and accommodated if notified in advance.
This trip includes
some wine with dinner
and can accommodate special dietary requests.
Riding
Our pack trips are not like travelling on a clean park trail with wood chips. There are wild trails which involve; steep inclines, rocky terrain, hummocky terrain, river crossings, willow patches and rain, even snow. A person must be physically fit and want to have and enjoy a wilderness experience, and be comfortable around horses. Sponge bathing and helping with chores are also part of the experience!
Itinerary
Sample 10 days 9 nights Itinerary - subject to changes
Day 1 Arrival
• Transfer from Whitehorse airport or hotel
• Get snacks in the city and see a bit of Whitehorse
• Arrive at base camp
• Relax in your cabin, organize your travel and trip gear
• Go over gear and packing list, test out sleeping gear to make sure it works
• Go over snacks; organized and put into your snack bag
• Lunch
• Get everyone equipped and adjusted to their saddle
• Go for a ride to get used to your horse and what they’re like, make sure your
saddle is good for you
• Pack all final things you’ll need for the trip in your supplied duffel bag
• Dinner
• Relax and sleep in your Cabin accommodation for the night
Day 2 Lake Camp
• First day of tour
• Pack up, load up
• Ride up into the high country
• Have lunch whilst looking for wildlife (common sightings are sheep, moose and
bear)
• Ride another 1.5 hours to camp
• Unpack, unsaddle, set up camp
• Supper
• Relax in your tent
Day 3 Grizzly Camp
• Saddle horses
• Have breakfast
• Hit the trail
• Lunch on the mountain and wildlife viewing
• Ride towards Grizzly Mountain
• Unpack, set up camp, watch for wildlife on the mountain sides
• Supper
Day 4 Grizzly Camp
• Breakfast
• Day in camp to view wildlife (Grizzly, moose, sheep
• Go for a horseback ride or short hike to do some exploring around Grizzly
Mountain
• Tell stories around the fire; life as a trapper and big game guide
• Supper
• Relax in your tent
Day 5 Bear Camp
• Saddle horses
• Breakfast
• Pack up
• Hit the trail
• Lunch - viewing Pilot Mountain
• Ride to camp below Pilot Mountain
• Unpack, set up camp
• Supper
Day 6 Sheep Camp
• Saddle horses
• Breakfast
• Pack up
• Ride along Pilot Mountain and view Dall sheep, possible Grizzly and moose
• Lunch high up on a ridge viewing moose and Dall sheep
• Learn about aging, gender identifying and maturity of animals
• Ride to camp
• Unpack and set up camp
• Supper
Day 7 Sheep Camp
• Breakfast
• Day in camp viewing wildlife
• Hike up Pilot Mountain or enjoy a mid-day ride without pack horses
• Look at old ruins of camps that have been used many years before us
• Look for moose or sheep up close
• Learn how to moose call
• Ride back to camp
• Supper
• Relax in tent
Day 8 Caribou Camp
• Saddle horses
• Breakfast
• Pack up and hit the trail
• Ride through the pines and open meadows while viewing Pilot Mountain and Flat
Mountain
• Lunch in a meadow, beside a creek that flows from Pilot Mountain
• Ride to camp along a Pine ridge
• Unpack and set up camp
• Supper
• Camp is in an excellent location of seeing Grizzly Bear, moose and sheep
Day 9 Base Camp
• Saddle Horses
• Breakfast
• Pack up and ride over beautiful mountain pass that takes you within view of
Grizzly and Flat mountain, Yukon River and Lake Laberge
• Usually see wildlife even on the last day
• Have dinner back at Home Base
• Enjoy your night in your cabin, play games or play a game of pool on the pool
table
Day 10 Departure Day
• Breakfast
• Say our goodbyes
• Back to Whitehorse airport or hotel
Note: all riding days have an average of 4-5 hours with amazing well-tempered horses with amazing
scenery and a chance of seeing Yukon wildlife.
Sample 13 days 12 nights Itinerary - subject to changes
Day 1 Arrival Day
• Clients are welcome to arrive at any time this day
•
Once retrieved from airport or hotel in Whitehorse, we will do a bit of sightseeing in
and around Whitehorse
• Pickup snacks and alcohol for clients at grocery stores for the trip
•
Depending on what time of day and how clients are feeling we can get lunch in
Whitehorse
•
Drive to base camp, unpack and get settled in your cabin
•
Lots of tea and coffee in the main cabin to get to know everyone
•
Get to know the horses and which horse you’ll ride
•
Begin to go over gear; what to bring, what not to, test out your sleeping gear
and pack your snacks
•
Dinner
•
Visiting, then relaxing in your cabin and finally bedtime
• Overnight at the home base
Day 2
•
Breakfast
•
Introduction to each other
• Go over likes, dislikes, and preferences
•
Introduction to horses and what horses clients ride
•
Go over Emergency Response Plan
•
Assign horse tack and saddles to clients
•
Review client's equipment and pack for the trip
•
Lunch
•
2 hour horseback ride
•
Sauna
•
Supper
• Overnight at the home base
Day 3 Lake Camp
• First day of tour
• Pack up, load up
• Ride up into the high country
• Have lunch whilst looking for wildlife (common sightings are sheep, moose and
bear)
• Ride another 1.5 hours to camp
• Unpack, unsaddle, set up camp
• Supper
• Relax in your tent
Day 4 Grizzly Camp
• Saddle horses
• Have breakfast
• Hit the trail
• Lunch on the mountain and wildlife viewing
• Ride towards Grizzly Mountain
• Unpack, set up camp, watch for wildlife on the mountain sides
• Supper
Day 5 Grizzly Camp
• Breakfast
• Day in camp to view wildlife (Grizzly, moose, sheep)
• Go for a horseback ride or short hike to do some exploring around Grizzly
Mountain
• Tell stories around the fire; life as a trapper and big game guide
• Supper
• Relax in your tent
Day 6 Bear Camp
• Saddle horses
• Breakfast
• Pack up
• Hit the trail
• Lunch - viewing Pilot Mountain
• Ride to camp below Pilot Mountain
• Unpack, set up camp
• Supper
Day 7 Sheep Camp
• Saddle horses
• Breakfast
• Pack up
• Ride along Pilot Mountain and view Dall sheep, possible Grizzly and moose
• Lunch high up on a ridge viewing moose and Dall sheep
• Learn about aging, gender identifying and maturity of animals
• Ride to camp
• Unpack and set up camp
• Supper
Day 8 Sheep Camp
• Breakfast
• Day in camp viewing wildlife
• Hike up Pilot Mountain or enjoy a mid-day ride without pack horses
• Look at old ruins of camps that have been used many years before us
• Look for moose or sheep up close
• Learn how to moose call
• Ride back to camp
• Supper
• Relax in tent
Day 9 Caribou Camp
• Saddle horses
• Breakfast
• Pack up and hit the trail
• Ride through the pines and open meadows while viewing Pilot Mountain and Flat
Mountain
• Lunch in a meadow, beside a creek that flows from Pilot Mountain
• Ride to camp along a Pine ridge
• Unpack and set up camp
• Supper
• Camp is in a excellent location of seeing Grizzly Bear, moose and sheep
Day 10 Base Camp
• Saddle Horses
• Breakfast
• Pack up and ride over beautiful mountain pass that takes you within view of
Grizzly and Flat mountain, Yukon River and Lake Laberge
• Usually see wildlife even on the last day
Day 11
• Breakfast
• Drive to Kusawa Lake
• Hike the trail above Kusawa (Optional)
• Lunch by the lake or on the mountain overlooking Kusawa Lake
• Drive back to base camp
• Supper
Day 12
• Breakfast
• Wildlife preserve
• Hotsprings
• An evening ride to finish the trip with your horse (Optional)
• Supper
Day 13
• Breakfast
• Say our goodbyes
• Back to Whitehorse airport or hotel
Note: all riding days have an average of 4-5 hours with amazing well-tempered
horses with amazing scenery and Yukon wildlife.
Rates and Dates for Grizzly Mountain Pack Trip
Rates include:
Tent accommodation, All meals & Riding according to program
GST (VAT): 6% (12% for Canadian Resident)
* prices are per person based on double/twin occupancy
GST (VAT) 6% (12% for Canadian Resident)
Transfer and Other Charges:
2024
|
Transfers included from/to Whitehorse
|
Dates Note:
Rates do not include:
Taxes & Gratuities
Other Info
Meeting: Whitehorse
Airport: Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (YXY)
Transfer: Whitehorse
Climate:
Whitehorse area
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Average High Temperature (°F)
|
9
|
18
|
30
|
44
|
57
|
66
|
69
|
65
|
54
|
40
|
22
|
14
|
Average Low Temperature (°F)
|
-6
|
0
|
9
|
24
|
34
|
42
|
46
|
44
|
36
|
26
|
9
|
-1
|
Average High Temperature (°C)
|
-13
|
-8
|
-1
|
7
|
14
|
19
|
20
|
19
|
12
|
4
|
-6
|
-10
|
Average Low Temperature (°C)
|
-21
|
-18
|
-13
|
-4
|
1
|
6
|
8
|
7
|
2
|
-3
|
-13
|
-18
|
Average Precipitation (days of rain)
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
7
|
7
|
6
|
6
|
5
|
5
|
Source: NOAA
Seasons
In the Yukon, the weather ranges from sunny, warm summers to cold and snow filled winters. We only operate this tour during the summer.
In the summer, the temperature can rise to over 30 Celsius (86 F) and in winter it can drop to minus 30 Celsius (minus 22 F). Whenever you visit, bring layered clothing options so you can dress appropriately because temperatures can fluctuate and Yukon weather can be unpredictable.
Summer (June, July and August) is an energetic time of long sunny days, and winter (November to March) is cold, bright and snowy. Fall (September and October) is colorful but chilly, and spring (April and May) is marked by late season skiing, swan migrations and early wildflowers.
What To Bring:
We provide all camping equipment, horse equipment, horses, all food, and first aid. We will rent sleeping bags and thermarests for you if needed (extra fee applies).
This is a basic packing list - you can bring other clothing, however these are the necessary items.
- Rain Gear (good quality), (2 pieces) coat and pants
- A good hat: baseball cap, cowboy hat, water proof hat
- Good boots: water proof, breathable, as well as camp shoes ex. crocs.
- 2 pair of good outdoor bush pants, long johns in case it gets cold and to give you an extra layer.
- 2 good outdoor marina wool shirts, (long sleeve) not cotton (Cotton Kills) also a good fleece sweat shirt for over layer.
- A few good pairs of wool socks
- Gloves (waterproof is best)
- Personal Backpack
- Rechargeable Headlamp
- Sleeping bag rated to -10 Celsius and a lightweight Thermarest
- Good Book
- Favorite Unbreakable Cup
|
|