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Trail Riders Celebrate 91 Years of Riding in the Canadian Rockies

Posted on: February 17th, 2014

One of the great outdoor thrills that Canada still offers is a trip by horseback into the majestic Canadian Rockies. Indeed, few things say “Western Canada” more than heading out on horseback into these  breath taking and stunning mountains. You can get away from cities, factories, cars, highways, cell phones, the internet, television and people. You trade all that for mountain peaks and green valleys, crystal clear streams and forest trails, outdoor home cooking and the companionship of a few like souls. Mostly, you don’t even have to be able to ride to do it, though you have to like horses and be willing to learn.

Trail Riders2

Better still, the organization that operates the rides is a non-profit group, the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, who are in the business because they want their fellow countrymen and international friends to be able to enjoy this great land, to ride into the remote areas of the mountains with a good degree of comfort and at a reasonable cost. They have been doing this for 89 years and operate eight six-day rides during July and August out of the Banff, Alberta, Canada area which you can easily reach as part of any Western holiday. (Banff National Park is a 90 minute drive from the Calgary International Airport.)

The cost includes everything from a membership in the organization and back country user fees, through to horses, accommodations and meals. Guests bring along their own sleeping gear, extra clothes and other personal necessities. Individuals and families are welcome on the trips but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The idea for Trail Riders was first conceived way back in 1923 when a group of 14 riders who were camping and fishing along the Kootenay River in the National Park of the same name got together around a campfire. Today, people from all over Canada, the United States and overseas join the Trail Riders each summer. Many people come back year after year to renew acquaintances and make new friends. In fact, the Trial Riders have a 60% guest return rate with some guests having been on 30 or more rides! (One couple comes from Virginia every year.) If there is a requirement for membership, it is that a person enjoy horseback riding, the great outdoors and the company of fellow riders.

Trail Riders3

Riding experience of the members ranges from very little to years in the saddle. Dudes, absolute tenderfeet, who wouldn’t know which end the bridle goes on, are welcome to swing into the saddle and take to the high trails with the more experienced riders and guides. The riders travel by bus to the trailhead corral where they are met by cowboys and horses. Here the dudes are matched with a horse according to the information given on their application form. Each horse is a sure-footed, well broken animal, accustomed to the sometimes rocky terrain and tolerant of the greenest tenderfoot.

Base camp in a leisurely 10 to 12 mile ride from the corral, with the horses travelling no faster than a steady walk. At the camp the riders are assigned to teepees or tents which will be their home for the next five days. These canvas dwellings sleep from two to five people, and riders are arranged with room mates of their own choice, particularly in the case of families and friends. There is a washstand with plenty of hot water available for use by guests, and new for this year, a propane hot shower! (Usage is limited.)

Tents and Teepees

For the next four days, the riders follow a basic daily plan. Breakfast, from 8:00 – 9:00 am includes porridge, prunes or juice, eggs, bacon, pancakes alternating with French toast, and omelets – a good start for the day. The cowboys saddle the horses, check the cinches, and by 9:30 a.m. the riders are off on the trail. Each day will find the riders exploring lakes, valleys, glaciers or mountain passes. The high, uninhabited valleys of the Rockies offer peace and contentment combined with the thrill of majestic vistas. There is a sweep and majesty to this land, a towering grandeur and nobility of face, so powerful in its vast silence. This alpine land abounds in larch, spruce and fir trees, mountain animals and birds, meadows and parklands leading to the nearby snow capped peaks and ridges.

By noon, the riders have reached their destination and lunch, consisting of sandwiches, cookies, oranges, snacks and tea and coffee is served near a lake or a stream. After lunch, riders can fish, stroll, visit or stretch out for a nap in the hot mountain sun. A camera for these trips is a must! By late afternoon, the dudes are back in camp for “happy hour” before enjoying a three course dinner.

Trail Riders4

The main meal of the day at 6:00 p.m. is prepared for the guests by the camp cooks. Chicken, steak, ham, roast turkey and barbecued beef are alternated. By 8:30 pm the cowboys light a roaring fire in the “donut tent” and an evening sing-song (sometimes with a musician), square dancing, story-telling and other entertainment complete the day. On the morning of the sixth day, the riders are up early packing their duffle and riding out to the trailhead corral where they board a bus for Banff.

Each year we travel to a different area and our 2014 rides will be located along the Red Deer River Valley in Banff National Park. Our five – six hour day rides from the base camp include: Tyrell Creek, Divide Pass, Elkhorn Lake, Snowpass Creek, and Red Deer River Falls. This area actually gives us more options than we have days to ride!  You will enjoy wildlife sightings, jaw-dropping vistas, and the beautiful trees and wildflowers of the region. This is a photographers dream come true . . .

Trail Riders1

Objectives of the Trail Riders are to “encourage travel on horseback through the Canadian Rockies, to foster the maintenance and improvement of old trails and the building of new ones; to encourage the love of outdoor life, the study and conservation of birds, wildlife and alpine growth, to assist in every possible way to ensure the complete preservation of the National Parks of Canada for the use and enjoyment of the public.” The T.R.C.R. continues to operate with a volunteer board of directors as a non-profit organization, and this year will celebrate its 90th anniversary.

For further details about the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, check out their website. Contact them for help planning your trip to Banff in the beautiful Canadian Rockies, and/or the world famous Calgary Stampede.

Address:

Box 6742 Station D

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

T2P 2E6

www.trailridevacations.com

Phone:      403.874.4408

Email:       admin@trail-rides.ca

By Stuart R. Watkins, President, T.R.C.R.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Announcing Our First-Ever Ski Contest Winner

Posted on: February 5th, 2014

We were thrilled to hold our first-ever ski contest, and we’d like to congratulate David Seretny of Edmonton Alberta for winning.

David will receive a 2 night stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and 4 adult lift tickets for Jasper’s Marmot Basin. Hearty thanks to all those who entered.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Due to the tremendous response, we have acquired a few more vouchers for lift tickets at Marmot Basin and are
offering them on a 2 for 1 basis. Come celebrate Marmot Basin’s 50th anniversary this ski season and save 50% on your lift tickets!

Purchase online with your credit card through PayPal and we’ll mail your vouchers to your home.
Simply click the PayPal button below. Supplies are limited and the tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.For more information, phone Bob Harris in Calgary at (403) 259.8290 or write to Bob@CMIpublishing.ca.





Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin

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Congratulations to Our TWO Photo ID Contest Winners

Posted on: February 3rd, 2014

Congratulations to our January Photo ID Contest winners, Mark Greenfield and Mavis Drouin! Mark Greenfield won a copy of  Canadian Rockies Explorer and Mavis Drouin won an autographed copy of  Take a Hike With Your Children.Our monthly “trivia quiz” has been featuring Canadian landscape photos from Graeme Pole. January’s picture, shown below, is one of the Paint Pots at Kootenay National Park.

January Photo

January Photo

Graeme Pole has generously supplied us with copies of his book Canadian Rockies Explorer  to use for prizes. In January we also had a second prize supplied by author Lynda Painosi. She gave us an autographed copy of her book Take a Hike With Your Children (from Tots to Tweens in the Canadian Rockies). This book features hikes of 5 km or less. Both books are great reads on snowy days, and they offer plenty of inspiration for outdoor adventure.

Can you correctly identify February’s photo (shown below)? If so, you could win a copy of Canadian Rockies Explorer! Click here to enter. And don’t forget to enter our annual photo contest and vote for your favorite picture!

February photo

February photo

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January Photo ID Contest Ends in Less Than 48 Hours

Posted on: January 29th, 2014

Do you know where this photo was taken? Submit your entry for our photo ID contest by midnight tomorrow (January 31) for the chance to win a copy of Canadian Rockies Explorer, a Canadian Rockies Companion Guide by Graeme Pole. It’s full of beautiful photos, maps, historical information, and tips for exploring the Canadian Rockies. It’s a great resource for enriching your mountain park experiences. Click here to enter our January photo contest – but act fast!

January Photo

January Photo

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The History Wrangler Visits Stettler School Children

Posted on: January 27th, 2014

Rob Lennard, aka The History Wrangler, was in Stettler this week promoting our Alberta heritage to 70 students in the local school. He makes Alberta history come alive through his singing, songwriting, and performing. His passion for local history led him to become the Director of The Alberta Heritage School Fair program, which enables him to present memorable and fun educational programs to students. He’s also an award winning author of action-packed historical fiction novels for children.

The History Wrangler

We appreciate all of his support and the articles he’s written for our publications Experience the Cowboy Trail and Kananaskis Country. Watch for another great western story from Rob in our 2014 edition, which will be on the shelves May 1.

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Banff National Park Snow Days Offer Fun for All

Posted on: January 24th, 2014

Outdoor–and indoor–fun abounds at Banff National Park’s Snow Days events, which last through February 9. Connect with the park through live theatre, photography presentations, old time movies, guided walks, lantern tours, stargazing, learn-to programs, and geocaching.

Photo by P. Zizka

Photo by P. Zizka

With the variety of programs, you’re sure to find something to suit your preferences. If you want outdoor adventure, you can learn from the expertise of guides, or you can explore on your own with the self-paced programs Geocatching on Snowshoes and The Cave and Basin Discovery Camp. While you’re out exploring the trails, you may be inspired with a winning submission for the Name the Trails Contest at Lake Louise.

Indoor activities range from nostalgic (films played on a 16mm projector) to educational (Wildlife Detectives) to dramatic (Voices from the Archives).

Most programs are no additional charge after the park or national historic site admission fee. Some programs require pre-registration, so check the Parks Canada SnowDays calendar soon!

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Photo Contest Underway

Posted on: January 20th, 2014

The end of our annual photo contest is less than two and a half months away. If you haven’t already entered the contest, don’t miss the opportunity to win one of several valuable prizes. Your Mountain Experience photo could win you a Dream Getaway to Radium Hot Springs, a Glacier Icewalk for a family of four, a Portable Campfire (courtesy of Campfire-in-a-Can), 4 Ultimate Rockies Explorer Passes (courtesy of Brewster Travel Canada), or an HD Camera Outfit (courtesy of The Camera Store in Calgary).

See below for an example of one of the entries.

"Yellowhead Lake" by Mark Greenfield

“Yellowhead Lake” by Mark Greenfield

We’re thrilled that The Camera Store is a sponsor again for our photo contest, and we look forward to presenting one of our contestants with an HD Camera Outfit from The Camera Store valued at $1,500. If you’re looking to improve your photography skills, check out the Camera Store’s events page. They offer a wide variety of classes and all the equipment you need.

Click here to submit your photo, or to vote for one of the beautiful entries. You can submit as many entries as you like, so enter often!

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Win a Ski Weekend for Two in Jasper!

Posted on: January 8th, 2014

To mark our 25th anniversary of the production of The Jasper Map and the 50th anniversary of Marmot Basin, we are delighted to unveil our first ever ski getaway contest.

Our Prize Package Includes:

–          Four (4) Adult Daily Lift Tickets at Marmot Basin (retail $328)

–          Two (2) Night’s Accommodation at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (approx value $500)

Enter Now:

Simply purchase a voucher for two (2) lift tickets for only $123 (regular price for the 1 st ticket and 50% off for the 2nd) and your name will be entered for the draw. Only 28 lift tickets are available to purchase this way, so your chances of winning are 1 in 14!

Fine print:

Lift tickets are valid only until the end of the 2013-2014 ski season.

Contest closes January 31, 2014 or sooner if all 28 tickets are purchased.

Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

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Announcing Two Prizes for January Photo ID Contest!

Posted on: January 7th, 2014

We’ve launched our January Photo ID Contest!

What is this? Tell us what this is and/or where this photo was taken for a chance to win a copy of Graeme Pole’s book titled Canadian Rockies Explorer.

January Photo

January Photo

Added bonus this month!

We are also going to draw for an autographed copy of Lynda Painosi’s book titled Take a Hike With Your Children (from Tots to Tweens in the Canadian Rockies). This book features hikes of 5 km or less.

Congratulations to Ken McLellan for winning the December photo contest! He correctly identified the picture of the Sulpher Mountain boardwalk at Banff National Park. Thanks to everyone who participated last month!

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Last Day To Enter The December Photo ID Contest

Posted on: December 31st, 2013

Today is the final day to enter the December photo identification contest! For a change of pace, our monthly “trivia quiz” currently consists of asking readers to identify location of a scenery photo supplied by renowned author Graeme Pole. We’ll continue with monthly photo identification contests through April 2014, and then revert back to trivia contests. Click on this link or on the contest tab above to enter the December contest.

December Photo

December Photo

And don’t forget to enter our annual photo contest, too!

We wish you and your loved ones a happy new year!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
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