Ogilvie Pack Trip

Yukon Canada: (RTYT06)
URL: https://www.hiddentrails.com/tour/canada_yukon_ogilvie.aspx

Introduction
Yukon Canada
This is a raw wilderness adventure, back in time… a trip you will never forget, and will live in your memory forever.

Experience the last Frontier, land unspoiled, untouched, with fresh running streams and rivers, mountains of every shape and character, and wildlife including sheep, caribou, moose, grizzly bears, wolverine, wolf and fox.
This trip, however, is not for everyone. You must enjoy and yearn for the true Yukon wilderness and have experience in riding, walking, camping, and enduring all kinds of weather in mountain terrain. We will break camp several times and travel on horseback with all of our gear and food to last us for the 10 days. There will be camp days to rejuvenate in beautiful places where you can sleep in, read, drink tea/coffee, and hike up a nearby mountain.
Our meals will be healthy and hearty. Our horses are experienced, calm, and well versed to the terrain.

Accomodation

Accommodation
This is a progressive pack trip so nights will be spent in several camps in the mountains. 

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. There are lakes and streams along the way if you want 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!

You must be able to walk up steep grades at times, endure wind, rain, and even snow. You must be physically fit and have some horse experience so that you can ride your horse up to 5 hours in one day. We will stop for lunch within that 5 hours, so there’s time to rejuvenate and stretch. You are welcome to walk your horse when you need to stretch your legs while we are riding.

Itinerary

You will be experiencing the last Frontier, land unspoiled, untouched, with fresh running streams and rivers, mountains of every shape and full of wildlife. This trip, however, is not for everyone, you must enjoy and yearn for the true Yukon wilderness and have experience in riding, walking, camping, and enduring all kinds of weather in mountain terrain.

Each day, you will ride for about 5-6 hours (including lunch break), going from camp to camp. There will also be camp days to rejuvenate in beautiful places where you can sleep in, read, drink tea/coffee, and hike up a nearby mountain.

We will travel on horseback with all of our gear and food to last us for the entire trip.


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Leave basecamp near Whitehorse and travel to the trailhead.
Camp at Trailhead off Dempster Highway
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping off Dempster Highway


Day 2: Ride to Blackstone River
Pack up the horses and get on the trail. Lunch in a beautiful pass. In the afternoon, we head down to the Blackstone River and camp several miles downstream.
5-6 hours riding
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Blackstone River


Day 3: Looking for caribou, sheep and moose
After packing up the horses, we ride up a pass. We will stop for lunch at the top of the pass. Enjoy the high country and ride down to the Seeley Valley. Caribou are often seen here.
5-6 hours riding
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Caribou Pass


Day 4: Rest Day
Hike or ride around camp – optional.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Caribou Pass


Day 5: Ride to Sheep Camp
Pack up camp and ride the rest of the Caribou Pass, then ride high along the base of the mountains, spotting for caribou and sheep while we make our way to Sheep Camp.
5-6 hours riding
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Sheep Camp


Day 6 Rest Day
Hike or ride around camp – optional.
Enjoy the majestic views in a remote wilderness setting. Chances are good to see grizzly bear, caribou and moose.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Sheep Camp


Day 7: Icy valley
Pack up, enjoy the scenery and look for wildlife while you ride through a valley with ice still all over the creek in many places.
Eventually, we leave the valley and ride up another pass, watching for grizzly bears.
Camp above a mountain lake.
5-6 hours riding
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near mountain lake


Day 8: Caribou Pass 
Pack up and ride caribou trails towards Caribou Pass. Camp in the pass.
5-6 hours riding
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Caribou Pass


Day 9: Seeley Ride 
Pack up and travel towards Seeley and up a different mountain pass. Camp up high.
5-6 hours riding
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Seeley Valley


Day 10: Blackstone River Ride 
Break camp and ride down pass to the Blackstone River. Lunch by the river. Travel upriver to the Pass and climb to amazing views.
Camp in the Pass.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Blackstone Pass


Day 11: Last Ride
Saddle up and head back to the trailhead. Option to go to Dawson City for the evening where the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush began.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping off Dempster Highway

Day 12: Back to Whitehorse
Drive back to base camp near Whitehorse and enjoy a peaceful night at our cabin (optional).
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch (Dinner also included if you wish to stay at the cabin)


Rates and Dates for Ogilvie Pack Trip

Rates include:

Tent accommodation, All meals & Riding according to program

Packages and Options




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:



 Description
2023 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