THE ADVENTURES
Tweedsmuir Park and the Rainbow Range offer many opportunities for unique wilderness adventure, with colourful volcanic geology, abundant and varied wildflowers and historical trade routes.
The Alexander Mackenzie Grease Trail and other native trade routes wind through the mountains and valleys; colourful ridges are easily climbed and deposits of obsidian and crystal are found throughout; numerous camps provide bases from which to explore the surrounding mountains on day rides or hikes. Octopus Lake, along the Capoose Route, has excellent fishing for Rainbow Trout and is a short ride from one of the base camps.
We schedule five to ten day-trips from mid July to the end of August, for groups of four to six riders, or eight hikers. We prefer to cater to small groups that enable us to share our nomadic mountain lifestyle as a well organized, and personalized adventure. There are various options for you to consider and we encourage you to contact us with your vacation schedule and we will do our best to accommodate your requests for dates and will post available time slots on the web site as our schedule fills up.
Hiking in the Rainbow Range. Photograph © Chris Harris
TRIP OPTIONS & RATES FOR 2008
To help you plan your trip, we have a number of riding or hiking options for you to consider, depending on your interest and time available.
Rates are in Canadian Funds and do not include 5% Goods and Services Tax
Choose your adventure and join us on one of the following trips:
July 22 - 28
Seven-day Mackenzie Grease Trail - Tanya Lakes Historical and Cultural Adventure
For this trip we will be joined by an Ulkatcho Elder and will travel the Mackenzie Grease Trail to Tanya Lakes arriving at the time when the salmon are expected at the falls. Detailed description.
Cost: $1950 (including float plane pickup from Tanya Lakes)
July 30 - August 8
Ten-day Historical and Alpine Extravaganza
This is an opportunity to experience all the major highlights of Tweedsmuir Park. We begin with a flightsee float plane ride into Tanya Lake when the salmon are running and then travel the Mackenzie Grease Trail to visit Mackenzie Valley and Mt. Mackenzie before heading to Beef Creek Valley, Paradise Valley and Mt. Tsitisul.
Cost: $2550 (including float plane drop off at Tanya Lakes)
August 19 - 23
Five-day Alpine Ride
An excellent five day adventure with day rides to peaks and ridges from a base camp.
Cost: $1250
ADVENTURE OPTIONS
Seven-Day Tanya Lakes MacKenzie Grease Trail Aboriginal Cultural and Historical Experience
 For this trip we are joined by an Ulkatcho First Nations Elder to travel to the historical fishing camp at Tanya Lakes where families once gathered to smoke and dry salmon caught or speared at the falls below camp. This camp is accessible only by foot, horse or float plane. A float plane will either bring you to the camp at the beginning of your trip, or fly you back to Anahim Lake on the final day. Tanya Lakes was also a stop over for Alexander Mackenzie in 1793 on his way to Bella Coola and the Pacific, and we follow his route along the "Grease" Trail to Mackenzie Valley where we camp for two days. From this camp we climb Mackenzie Pass to explore ancient obsidian site of the Ulkatcho people and view Mt. Stupendous, Mackenzie's landmark for finding the Bella Coola Valley. One flank of Mt. Mackenzie is a spectacularly-coloured ridge with volcanic "hoodoo" formations that we explore on one of our day trips. This trip provides a unique opportunity to visit historical sites, visit with an elder and ride or hike through some of the astonishing and dramatic geology of Tweedsmuir Park.
Cost: $1950, includes float plane flight to Tanya Lakes
Five-Day Explorations
A five-day trip takes us to one base camp, from which we explore the surrounding alpine basins and ridges. For those wishing to fish, a day of fishing can be incorporated into the trip from one of our base camps. This trip provides an excellent introduction to mountain travel and gives novices confidence in their horsemanship and camping experience. After a five-day trip you will definitely be ready for more!
Cost: Riding or Hiking $1250 per person
Seven-Day Alpine Explorations
 A seven day trip makes a circle route through the heart of the Rainbow Mountains with many views of the colorful mountains that give the range its name. We take you off the beaten path to our favourite spots not frequented by park visitors traveling on their own. We vary our routes throughout the summer, camping in different valleys so as keep the impact of horses and people to a minimum in this pristine park. On a seven-day trip we move camp two or three times depending on which route we take. Riders travel with the pack train between camps and go on day rides from base camps to explore the surrounding ridges. Hikers travel with the hiking guide meeting up with the pack train at camp. The elevation gain and loss on this trip is not great and the distance between camps is four to five hours with a stop for lunch and breaks along the way. The hiking is rated as moderate.
Cost: Riding or Hiking $1750 per person
Ten-Day Alpine Adventure
Horseback in Tweedsmuir Park Photograph © Chris Harris
On a ten day trip we have enough time to incorporate a visit to Paradise Valley into the alpine adventure where we climb the "mountain that bleeds" for a close up look at these uniquely coloured ridges. This valley is well off the beaten path and is one of the Rainbow's most special places.
Cost: Riding or Hiking $2400 per person
Six- or Seven-day Geological Hiking Exploration
 For this trip we are joined by experienced geologist and hiking guide, Ferdl Taxbock, for a hiking exploration of the colourful "painted mountains". Pre-glacial lava flows from a "hot spot" in the earth's crust created the Rainbow Mountains, a unique shield volcano, gorged by glaciers and eroded by wind and water and butting up against the granite and glaciers of the Coast Range. Strewn with volcanic "hoodoo" formations, and streaked with oxidized rock and breccia, the Rainbows are a fascinating geological study. The obsidian from this volcano was a valuable First Nations trade item and artifacts have been found throughout North America. Ferdl is a native Austrian and a Professional Mountain Guide as well as a geologist. He has many years experience climbing and guiding in Austria, Canada and Mexico and is a member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and the International Association of Mountain Guides. Ferdl's good humour, keen eye and geological knowledge as well as his sensitivity to a group's interests and abilities make this an unforgettable trip.
Cost: $225 per person per day Minimum group size: 6 hikers
Rainbow Mountains Photograph © Daryl Drew
ITINERARY
We meet you the morning of the first day of your trip at the trailhead of Tweedsmuir Park where we have a corral. Selecting mounts and packing up this first morning is more time-consuming than later, so our ride to camp the first day is not a long one. There is a lot to see in the Rainbows and we like to show you as much as possible, so we move camp every couple of days and visit as many of our favourite places as we can during your stay.
During the trip, coffee is on at 6:00 am and breakfast is served at 8:00. On the days we move camp, we ask that you pack up before breakfast so that the packers can get us off as quickly as possible. Travel between camps is usually five or six hours, with a stop for lunch and photography breaks whenever you wish.
On the days that we do not move camp, we have a more leisurely breakfast and pack a lunch for the day of exploration along the ridges and among the peaks.
We arrive back at the trailhead in the afternoon of the final day and you are met by pre-arranged transportation from Eagle's Nest Resort, Dew Duck Inn - or your own vehicle.
RESERVATIONS require a 25% deposit with the balance due two weeks prior to departure. Deposits are 100% refundable for cancellations received up to 60 days prior to departure or for trips cancelled because of park closure. Deposits can be transferred to another trip or to another year if necessary. Upon booking guests receive a pre-trip planning package that includes recommendations for personal gear.
Pack train Photograph © Chris Harris
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