Blue Creek Outfitting

The greatest mountain horse that ever was is home again . More news tomorrow.

Blue Creek is turning a page . But far from the final chapter

No offence to anyone’s religious beliefs.but it’s forcast to be 40 degrees here today. Stay cool

Thanks Heather !!

Let’s be careful out there ...

A story from our past.... Who ever said a dog was mans best friend just may have never owned a good horse. As I looked over years of photos this morning , I picked this one from 25 years ago to share. I still remember that day in the picture climbing higher up that mountain side in the August sunshine . ... I miss that blaze faced horse. He carried me over countless mountains for many years. A kind and sweet horse who saw more wilderness in his life than most men ever do. But , there were other horses.The smartest horse I’ve owned was an grey Arab mare that was like a shadow on cattle. Up close and chasing cattle at a gallop ...that horse could do the steering and I could just focus on swinging a rope . A running bull turned on us once and that grey horse took me outta what coulda been a bad jam in the blink of an eye . Another time a Latigo strap broke as we crossed a mud hole checking calves and I landed on the ground face first in front of a ticked off Charlais cow . The horse didn’t freak out as I got things tied back on with a cow breathing in my ear . She lived out her life peacefully retired in the pasture behind my house. The most sure footed horse I rode I also retired a couple years ago . That horse always had a bit of a wild looking eye but I wish I could turn back time and have another 20 years exploring mountains with them. They gently call out to me each day when I go to fork out the hay . The wild eye is gentle now .They have a smooth shuffling jog that made countless miles feel like I was floating on a breeze . My latest project horse has to be the most powerful horse I’ve ever ridden. A strong draft cross that has more hot blood than cold . I’ve conceded to the idea that if she ever blows up I doubt I will be able to stay in the saddle after a couple jumps. So far , that’s never happened . But ...we are a team for the long haul now. She is steady on the trail , cover’s 40 miles a day like it was nothing if we have to and as a bonus is my favourite colour for a horse - grey ( practically white ) . She also doesn’t freak out if there is a grizzly 30 yards away , crosses deep rivers well and has a smooth gait. I still have to do all the steering for now when I ride but I expect in time she too will have become one of my new best friends ...on the trails . Throw your own diamond. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Ryan shared this recent photo of some Alberta saddle time. Ryan completed our Guiding program and has logged some incredible miles packing in BC . HTTPS://www.bcoutfitter.com

Happy new year everyone, have a great 2021

Client - I wanna shoot that one Guide - I wouldn’t , to small ... Client - why not ? It looks good enough to me ! Guide - ask yourself if better is possible , is good ....good enough ... Client - you’re bluffing , there’s nothing better out here! Guide - I’ll send you a picture this winter of what can roam these mountains ...... Client - rolling his eyes ..... To this day , I live by the code - if better is possible , good is not good enough. As the Christmas season approaches , Blue Creek wants to thank the hundreds of followers to our page in the two short years we’ve been on Facebook , and we appreciate the comments , and the likes. We hope the short stories and photographs ( all true ) are an inspiration to the next generation of backcountry explorers. Don’t forget to check out the web we site for merchandise and clinics And don’t forget to throw your own diamond in the new year. Ps. Take lots of pictures too. We only live once ! Happy holidays !

CHANGES FOR 2021 MESSAGE FROM STAN 2021 will see significant changes to the operation of Blue Creek Outfitting. First, I take this opportunity to sincerely thank our many wonderful guests and customers over the past 20 years who have attended our clinics, programs, used our horses, and purchased books and gear.... Sincerely, THANK YOU! I have said it many times before people who ride the trails and head into the back country with horses are good people. My kind of people, people who have made these years worthwhile and enjoyable! In case you have not noticed, we are not getting any younger. It is time to reduce the numbers of horses and, in general, be less busy. We do not want to quit the Trail/Packing Clinic because it has been so valuable and enjoyable for so many for so many years. So, we are reducing the number of guests to 10 or less per clinic, and 2 clinics per year. As before, one week each, the last two weeks of June, ending the first Saturday in July. This will allow more personal attention than in the past few years, and, fewer horses to manage, feed, and train all year long. We will be reducing our herd from about 28 to 14. Also, this coming year, 2021, will see the last Guides Program, so if you were thinking about it, now is the time! Call me anytime to discuss 1 250 569 7575.

A great Christmas read for the backcountry horse enthusiast . Check us out on line to order . Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Breakfast , brunch, or whatever ya wanna call it .... coffee is always hot , fresh and there’s always an extra cup . Good morning y’all. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

From Blue Creek...to the blue sky. A pack trip with a guide graduate from one of our programs. Thanks for sharing Ryan .

Patiently waiting for the backcountry ... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

It’s sunday morning . There’s just enough flour in the kitchen supplies for this mornings breakfast. Last evening , two cups of blue berries were picked on the slope just above camp. Those will be tossed into the pancake batter . The maple syrup direct from a Quebec sugar shack , is running low but there will be just enough for this morning...... The coffee pot is almost at a rolling boil with the creek water scooped from the glacier fed stream just above camp . That coffee smell drifts around camp. Thick sliced bacon is frying in a pan over the fire while 3 slices of heavy rye bread is toasting . The eggs are waiting their turn to be fried over the smoky coals in a well seasoned cast iron pan. The jet black cowboy coffee is now ready and poured into tin coffee cups . The wrangler is sitting on a pack box rolling his smokes for the day . The client is watching his horse eat the morning ration of oats. You stand and watch it all .... Throw your own diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com Clinics , gear , rentals and more...

November 11. We acknowledge and thank those that gave up their today ....for our tomorrow. And to all those who have served ,and those who still do. Remembrance Day - Canada. Veterans Day - USA

I was following his tracks for two or three hours. The river bar sand made them pretty obvious. We were both headed down the same river valley. I had kept my horse moving at a quick pace all that time and I was beginning see more damp sand in his horses hoof tracks on the river crossings. I was gaining on him. ... The fourth hour passed. The only sounds I would ever hear were the squeaky saddle leather or hoof beats on the trail as my saddle horse and two pack horses would pop out from behind various trees and brush along this desolate mountain trial . I was expecting to see this elusive hermit who was wandering the same valley I was guiding in, any time. I wondered if he knew he was being followed. I wondered if he’d try to circle back and try to stay hidden on the side of the trial and watch me go by. I kept my eyes moving . I watched the ground in front of my horse , and also my horses ears for any indication something might have changed . If he was near.... This Bushman had a reputation to not being very polite or friendly. I had also recently finished reading a book about some other individual who was living the hermit life and eventually succumbed to mental illness and cabin fever and had a shootout with the local police. Perfect timing for reading that book ! If I did catch up to him , I wasn’t sure if I’d do anything more than just wave and say hello and keep on going. What I did know was that someone was encroaching on our camps more and more as I’d find sign later that this elusive person had been near. Sometimes , possibly watching . Around the 7th hour I figured I had to be getting real close. A big pile of Steaming horse crap on the trail.... He had to be within a half mile of my position by now. But so too was the trail head... Then , I heard a truck start and drive off. And I rounded the corner to see the trail head and my truck . I had missed him by mere seconds after following him all day. ..... in some ways it may have been better I never did catch up. It wasn’t too much later that season that this elusive hermit shot another guide in those mountains. Up close too. That guide spent the better part of 24 hours waiting for a helicopter for help to deal with damage from a high powered rifle. He never guided again .... And ... I never ever did catch up to that hermit. I still keep a sharp eye out on my travels in the out back. And I still think of that day when I ride alone. I wonder if that hermit is still wandering around some where too .... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com Clinics , supplies and more

Mid October and it looked and felt like mid January . For two days we sat on the next ridge over next to a giant rock for shelter , glassing a thick timbered valley below where more than a few ravens were hanging around a tall spruce tree. Something had to be be there to keep the birds attention. ... Then with a couple hours of daylight remaining that day ,I saw the head of the grizzly move in the shadows at the base of the tree. His profile silhouetted when the sun light changed angles. Just a glimpse , but it was enough. That tree was a mile and a half away. My spotting scope cranked up to the maximum zoom. A plan was made with the fading light and the next morning my bow hunting client and I would test our stalking skills .... and nerve . That bear was guarding some sort of kill he had under that tree. His head was huge. His ears looked tiny. I glanced at the client who was holding his bow and arrow now , and wondered what the odds were they would be up for this. One thing was obvious , the odds were not in our favour . And It didn’t get anymore real than this... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com Clinics , books , DVD’s and other merchandise.

Smoke curled from the confused wind then reversed completely. For crying out loud! I gagged and jumped from my sleeping bag to escape the choking billow of smoke . My eyes stung for the third time this morning and gave me a good excuse to wash my face. ... The cold water felt good ... Excerpt from Cordillera by Stan Walchuck . 1982’s expedition across the Rockies

Closing up camp was a bitter sweet time as a guide. I often was the last to remain to get the job to winterize camp. That meant putting dry goods into 45 gallon steel barrels with lids ( I did find the odd barrel with bite marks and puncture holes from bears ) . Draining the water pumps for the shower house and kitchen cabin and figuring out the right nail studded window boards for the appropriate cabin windows.... The leaves would have all fallen by then and the mornings were guaranteed to have frost . Snow on the mountain peaks and cool winds while fishin for those last few lake trout made for times of deep reflection as it would be time to soon leave that paradise and head back to civilization . Once everything in camp was secured and I was confident the Cabins were going to be ok on their own through the upcoming winter, I would pack my horses and ride out leading them for that last trip of the year from the high country. Throw your own diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

I remember the morning I got bucked off and hung up like it was yesterday .... The sun was shining ...:warm , and a horse that must have been a three year old colt. An Appaloosa to boot. I had my square toe boots with a set of spurs on as we came to a trail crossing and we stopped to see a person on a mountain bike to my left a hundred yards up the trail .... We had been riding for about four hours when that Appaloosa turned to look at the biker too. The next thing I knew I was going up and backwards over the back end of that horse and I hit the ground on the back of my right shoulder . Then the horse took off bucking down the trail with my left boot hung up in the stirrup. The hind feet would come down next to my head as I was looking up at the horses belly. All I was thinking about at that point was how the heck was I gonna get out of this wreck and about some advice an old cowpuncher once gave me to roll inward if I ever ended up in that type of situation . So I rolled inward towards the horse. Whether it was good advice or not ,I figured now would be a great time to try it out. Thankfully It wasn’t to long and my foot came free. I honestly don’t know if the inward roll helped or if it was just dumb luck but my boot didn’t pull off my foot like it should have and I got away without a horse shoe stamped on my forehead. Tonight I stopped to look at my saddle as I walked by it for a few minutes. I now often use extra big and wide stirrups for winter riding with heavier boots. I also wear the looser fitting boots for the bronc type horses rides. And I do avoid Bronc type horses . Thankfully , I have not been tossed like that in years.... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

I prefer cooking over a fire compared to the stove in the kitchen any day. It’s gets a bit tricky baking bread or a pie, but half the fun of being in the backcountry for me is cooking over the coals . Tonight’s meal was simple , and sometimes simple is best. ... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. Mark Twain

Morning coffee that day was no better than the coffee the day before. It wasn’t the coffee itself , but the 9 days of rain that just fell. It was now day 13 and day 14 would be a 35 mile day ride back to base camp so the client could catch a float plane ride the following morning of day 15. So today , was our last try. ...Continue reading

It’s been 15 days since we left base camp. In those 15 days we covered a couple hundred miles. Never saw another sole . It rained a lot this trip. Sunburn wasn’t an issue....... Sure as heck wasn’t any cell service either . There was however an XJ phone in the tack shed back in base camp. Two clips onto a car battery and that was the cell phone complete with a hand held cb type mike... For this trip I brought along a pocket novel to read . Most of my free time however was only when I was in the saddle so that is when I’d read ... while I rode . I would glance up now and again to make sure there were no un wanted surprises ahead. I was looking forward to a hot meal in the cook shack that I didn’t have to make and not sleeping on the ground for a couple nights. The 2x4 bunk with a four inch foam mattress.... heaven ! It was almost like going to town , if you can imagine that. I might play a game or two of chess against the cook . I think I was ahead on wins... I would do some laundry with the old ringer washer that was set up behind the log shower house too. The horses would get extra grain before being turned out . They might wander a few miles from base camp grazing . I also wondered what the float plane would bring for mail this time besides a new client. Would there be any news from family or friends? Would there be a news paper or two ? I wondered what was going on in the world .... I really hoped the expeditor didn’t forget them this time. The only radio that could be tuned in at base camp was some station out of some little Alaskan town when the sun , wind and clouds were in the right mixture and the signal skipped off a couple mountains. There was even program on that radio station where people could send messages that would be broad cast at a certain time to those out in the backcountry or whoever lived remotely . The few of us in base camp sat around the kitchen and tuned in for anything interesting ... I might write a letter or two or get caught up in my journal notes of the past trip. Update my own hand drawn maps with any new information. But , for the moment , I’d savour the last of these 15 days .... Throw your own diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

In case you’re wondering what’s in the picture, it’s a couple bars of soap for washing clothes. I’ve lived off grid and in the back country for what amounts to as years , and there has been more than once I needed to do some laundry in a bucket. Bar soap worked. I recall stories from my grandmother talking about washing clothes down by the creek near her cabin homestead which was nearly a hundred years ago now . I don’t think she had a handy little product like this either.... She’s been gone for many years now , but as I was wandering the aisles of a little Mexican grocery store the other day , I picked up a couple bars .... ..... I guess that means I should be going off the grid out back ...sometime in the future , and reliving the past. Throw your own diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Wishing those who are venturing out to the backcountry a great day. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Client - what’s for supper tonight ? Guide - Garlic mashed potatoes - the potatoes are fresh - flown in last week , Morel mushrooms fried in butter , grilled asparagus, tostada salad and Dall sheep steaks grilled over the fire. For desert ....baked apples with some fresh blue berries on the side. . And fresh coffee made with glacier water ....all served under the Yukon sky Client - but did you pack the ketchup ?... Guide - ( pauses for a moment and stares at the potatoes he’s peeling ). Ketchup ?.... yeah , I brought the ketchup ... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Guide - Over there , Client - Where ? I can’t see nothin . Guide - Over there. On those far mountains. See them ?... Client - Um , Yeah I see them. We’re not going over there are we ? Guide - Yup. There’s nothing on this mountain except us ... besides , It’s not that far, maybe 3-4 hours walking and we’ll be there .... it’s mostly down hill anyway . Client - four hours ?! It’s one o’clock in the afternoon ! Guide - And ....? Client - we won’t get back to camp before dark ! Guide - Think of the stories you’ll be telling your friends and family when you get home .... Client - ( just stares back at the guide ) Client - we’ll be able to find our way back ? Guide - ( stares blankly back at client ) we? Guide - this is what you came for right ? We will most likely be heading back around dusk. We can decide then if we want to either make a fire and wait till morning to keep going , or just keep hiking back at night. I think it’s gonna be a full moon. That’ll be handy because I lost my flashlight yesterday ....We can be back here by 1 or 2 in the morning . This is your chance of a life time . Client - I didn’t bring too many extra smokes though .... Guide. ( stares blankly at client ) Guide - we’re burning daylight ..... we leave in five minutes.... it’ll be the easiest walk you’ve ever had .... trust me ... haven’t seen too many bears this season either ( says this trying to not look like he’s lying )..... Check out our website for our guide program . Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

What’s your favourite hitch when packing your horses ? Even though I’ve learned a few ways to pack horses , my go to is the single diamond hitch. I first learned to tie it when I worked alone with Mules and to this day it’s my main go to and can be done quickly. ... The Blue Creek Trail manual has picture instructions for it and others too. Throw Your Own Diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

The rain is falling today and I was rummaging through the tack shed moving some saddles around. I saw some saddle bags hanging on the wall, but I stopped to look at the saddle bags hanging off my saddle . They are the ones I bought 30 years ago for $20 new out of a hardware / feed store in a tiny four street town. ... They are smooth out leather. Not too thick and not too big. Two straps to buckle them closed and they always keep the rain out. They have travelled across a lot of this beautiful country and I have no reason to ever want to replace them. Best twenty bucks I ever spent ... Blue Creek wants to also wish everyone a happy July the first. Happy Canada day. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Once in awhile something comes along to shatter our beliefs and make us question things ...... .... I have learned the hard way to keep my options open . Excerpt from Common Man , Uncommon life. Walchuck Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there.

What’s in a name ? I listened to someone talk about second cut hay last night. They used the term second cut more than a dozen times in a couple minutes , while referring to their hay and it being the second cutting of it this season ...... I’ve heard similar repetitive uses of various people’s names over the years too. The hay thing got me thinking .... I worked with a guy named Murphy once. Around camp Murphy seemed to be said a lot more than the other fellows name Dennis ..... (Murphy wasn’t the greatest at much either ... so some people musta liked the sound of it only ....) Some one called me mule skinner once upon a time. I figured it had to do with the pack mules I was leading. I stopped using Mules and the name vanished. There were also - Turkey , Perogy , Sonny , Cowpuncher , Rolly , Ski , Smoky ...Stash .....and too many others I can’t remember after 30 years. And of course many who were referred to by only their last name. You know ......a Kramer type of thing ... To this day I get a kick out of the camp fire settings where someone who for one reason or another will be referred to in such a way . Over and over. There was this nice fellow called Leroux.... every third word around the tent was leroux... I never did figure out if it was a first name or last . I’m amused Not so much by the name , but the coincidence it’ll get repeated a little more than the person named Dennis or Walter ( no offence to anyone named Dennis or Walter ) . Regardless. Enjoy the upcoming summer around a campfire or two. I was blessed to spend over 30 years meeting people from around the world .... many with interesting names . The memories made as a guide were priceless. Feel free to share some nicknames if you’d like . And consider this year to Throw your own Diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

The first time I loaded the float plane with supplies the pilot chuckled after it was all crammed into the aircraft. He amusingly asked me how much I thought the supplies weighed ..... I shrugged my shoulders grinning back. ... He now pointed to the pontoons which were mostly submerged under the water. It was his way of saying it was maybe a few pounds too heavy. On take off , the pilot was At full throttle and pulling only one pontoon out of the water which increased the planes speed. A moment later both pontoons where clear of the water and the 1950’s era piston pounder climbed up and over the trees at the lakes edge and then up over the next mountain pass finally disappearing from my sight. I was soon back on my horse and hit the trail to the camp where the plane was landing at. It took him less than a half hour to get there . It would take me more than 8 hours at fast pace as I rode the trail alone for the rest of the day... I still ride alone most of the time these days.... If you’re interested in a guiding career or just want to read something at the lake this summer , check out our website for books or dvds. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

A long time ago , a month in the Yukon was spent building a cabin. Peeling , scribing and notching logs during a summer where daylight was abundant and crowds weren’t. By October , I was baking cherry pies in that cabin. ... Throw your own diamond. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com Guide , trial riding and packing courses

The plane was loaded and the crowd climbed back up to the bank top, except for Brian, Bill and I. We stood in a wooden river boat that acted as a wharf and did our final farewells. We choked back a multitude of emotion as we gripped each other‘s hands, The last sharing that we would know. Between our pride and the spurting prop, nothing remained but goodbye. So long, take care, good luck . It was feeble, but it was all there was.... Passage from the 1982 expedition covering 1200 backcountry wilderness miles of Stan Walchuk as written in his book , Cordillera . Https://www.bcoutfitter.com Guide, trail riding and packing programs. Rentals .

To the farmers still dealing with last falls harvest ( this May long weekend ) , and to those seeding the new crop , stay safe , and here’s to a sunny sky ....

It was like a scene out of movie.... My buddy had convinced me to tag along while he rode a new horse . I must have had sucker written all over my face because it wasn’t gonna be any ordinary or easy trail ride. Of course it was also after supper in June. Lots of evening daylight. I was also wearing my government issued Stetson with an obvious government buckle smack dab in the middle of the leather hat band. And me on a dapple grey horse I called Smoky ....Continue reading

Best sound I ever heard.... was the rain on the tent at 525 am . It had been over a month now of traveling different mountains and valleys, and I was tired. That sound of drizzle on the tent meant the clouds would cover the mountains from view. The willows and brush along the bush trails would be very wet so even the idea of riding all day lost its appeal. ... What that sound of rain meant was a chance to sleep a couple hours longer. Extra cups of coffee at breakfast and a chance to sit under the tarp and just gaze out at the endless Yukon Backcountry. The horses would get a well deserved day off as well. I figured we were two days ride back to base camp and there was only a grouchy old cook there so base camp had no appeal over this spike camp. The tent was pitched in a grassy basin just below tree line. If the sky was clear a glacier was visible out the front . It was that sound of the rain on the canvas , and silence of this wilderness ..... best sound I ever heard . Throw your own diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

I didn’t feel like writing much tonight. So here’s a horse named Blue to look at instead. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Between a rock and a hard place, from the frying pan into the fire, call it what you want but there was no such thing as a good trail, only one poor choice or another. For a few yards we ride on the stream bed gravel then the stream banks narrow and the stream narrows and the stream deepens. It is full of boulders so we nose the horses up the stream bank on a beaver run, hooves digging into soft dirt and slipping to knees then scrambling and making the forest floor. Then thro...ugh an old burn, weaving around cross fallen fire burned logs, so many dead grey bodies, wretched arms reaching up nail hard claws grabbing and tearing at horse's legs and our chapped legs and saddles and packs. In and out of the spruce thickets, on moose trails, or no trails. A hand sized scab on a big spruce, an old axe blaze, so....old timers used to come up this way. Felix had been up here many times , named this creek in fact. Used to be a good trail, he said. So much for your good trail ,Felix ; Mother Nature don't care about man's plans, then again, man don't care much about Mother Nature either... An excerpt from " Common Man, Uncommon Life". Walchuck . https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Somewhere up on the pass ...27 years ago . We packed the horses and left by noon. We had a long ride ahead to get to the first spike camp. We got over the first pass and made it to the camp around 6 pm. After unloading a few hundred pounds of oats and a quick coffee break it was back in the saddle and over towards the next mountain to spike camp number two. There were a lot of hornet nests on the trail for this stretch . Both us and the horses got stung several times. None ...of the packs shifted so we just kept going. Arrived around 10 pm with low clouds and patchy drizzle settling in. We decided by the time we could turn our horses out and make camp for the night , we could instead just keep going to the next base camp and we’d probably be farther ahead time wise for tomorrow’s trip. After more grain for our horses and a pot of fresh hot coffee for us , we took off around 11 pm for the final leg. It was getting darker. The clouds were socked in now and there was puffy clouds both above and below us for the next few hours while we kept riding . It was a weird experience being above the clouds and riding at night . Around 2:30 am we rode into the next base camp. Dog tired , cold and wet from the hours of rain . Horses were fed , turned out and I quickly fell asleep in my bedroll. Tomorrow was coming fast . Throw your own diamond. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

There’s just something about a tent in the backcountry. .... Throw your own diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Enjoy the Easter long weekend everyone .

Who ever said a dog was mans best friend just may have never owned a good horse. As I looked over years of photos this morning , I picked this one from 25 years ago to share. I still remember that day in the picture climbing higher up that mountain side in the August sunshine . I miss that blaze faced horse. He carried me over countless mountains for many years. A kind and sweet horse who saw more wilderness in his life than most men ever do.... But , there were other horses.The smartest horse I’ve owned was an grey Arab mare that was like a shadow on cattle. Up close and chasing cattle at a gallop ...that horse could do the steering and I could just focus on swinging a rope . A running bull turned on us once and that grey horse took me outta what coulda been a bad jam in the blink of an eye . Another time a Latigo strap broke as we crossed a mud hole checking calves and I landed on the ground face first in front of a ticked off Charlais cow . The horse didn’t freak out as I got things tied back on with a cow breathing in my ear . She lived out her life peacefully retired in the pasture behind my house. The most sure footed horse I rode I also retired a couple years ago . That horse always had a bit of a wild looking eye but I wish I could turn back time and have another 20 years exploring mountains with them. They gently call out to me each day when I go to fork out the hay . The wild eye is gentle now .They have a smooth shuffling jog that made countless miles feel like I was floating on a breeze . My latest project horse has to be the most powerful horse I’ve ever ridden. A strong draft cross that has more hot blood than cold . I’ve conceded to the idea that if she ever blows up I doubt I will be able to stay in the saddle after a couple jumps. So far , that’s never happened . But ...we are a team for the long haul now. She is steady on the trail , cover’s 40 miles a day like it was nothing if we have to and as a bonus is my favourite colour for a horse - grey ( practically white ) . She also doesn’t freak out if there is a grizzly 30 yards away , crosses deep rivers well and has a smooth gait. I still have to do all the steering for now when I ride but I expect in time she too will have become one of my new best friends ...on the trails . Throw your own diamond. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Just adding some colour to our world we have these days. The snow is still lingering.... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

I know winter is dragging on for a lot of ya. Here’s thinking ahead to summer. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Bell horse.... was term I first heard used often by a camp cook in the Alberta Rockies where it was a solid two day ride to get to her kitchen. As I rode further into the mountains over the years the term wasn’t so commonly heard but the sound of horse bells was still always present in the background. Either just behind base camp , in front of a spike camp tent , or far off in the distance barely audible in a mountain alpine breeze, horse bells became peace of mind comfort ...for me. If you can hear your horse you know the horse is around . And you aren’t walking home . Today I still keep some horses belled in the pasture. And you can always spot my horses in a campground staging area because they are the ones wearing bells ( although silenced ). I have my saddle horse often wear one as I ride and occasionally let it ring in areas where I ride alone at night and the bear populations are just as thick as the cover around the trail . Sometimes I’ll even tie a horse bell to my saddle where I can clang it as needed if I think I might stumble onto a bear as I round a corner in timber . Those little bear bells don’t cut it for me .... As cool as it’s always been to see bears , I have no appetite to see one too close with my horses. I’m just not a fan of rodeos in the backcountry. Sometimes , I’ve not used the leather slotted strap to tie silent the ringer mechanism but rather I’ll jam moss into the bell to keep it from clanging. I’ve had a horse or two take off from a pack string over the years and in time that moss will dry up and fall out and activate the bell. Red neck Gps .... Horses can get pretty good at keeping the bells quiet too. On many day break search’s miles from the tent , I’ve barely heard one tinkle of one bell as the other 7 stood stone still a mere 50 yards away behind thick tree cover. I suppose they were trying to avoid going to work like anyone else .... A couple years ago I woke in the tent to hear a few horses go past the tent heading down the valley for parts unknown. The bells made catching up in the dark a whole lot easier . To this day I love hearing a horse bell. Whether it means it’s the kitchen that’s getting close , or it’s my horses that are getting close .... Throw your own diamond. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

A river ran through it ... and as much as l love water , it’s always on my mind in the backcountry as something to be careful of. What can start out as a sunny week can turn into a few days of persistent rain. Of course everything flows down hill. And in a few days those little water crossings a foot or two or three deep , can change into 6 foot deep fast moving muddy river crossings. These crossings are truly my biggest fear in the backcountry. ... The first time I had to cross a deep fast moving creek I figured it was at least 200 feet across . The gravel bars had vanished and it was water from bank to bank. Even the gentle sloped trail from forest to creek bed transformed into a drop off into dark muddy mountain water. I was practically a kid back then that first time....I was somewhere further back in the string of horses making that crossing and when my horse failed to touch bottom when we jumped off the bank into the creek , things got serious in a way I had never experienced before. Of course once in the water your now going down steam ...and fast . The saddle disappears and your feet are out of the stirrups . Heck , except for your horses ears ,eyes and nose , the whole horse and saddle disappears .... Water is boiling over the top of the saddle . The awesome power of the water forces me out of the saddle and I was now trying to body surf while hanging onto the saddle horn and let my body get pulled .... The power of the current made it impossible to stay upright without risking being swept away. Before I knew it I was hanging onto my horses tail. Being towed by my horse as it swam for the other side . Water was everywhere, and I was hanging on for dear life. The horses had drifted down stream enough and the river was about to make a turn and a high gravel bank and log jams were patiently waiting for us ... Then , the happy feeling of horse hooves on the bottom. The horses speed picked up. Dragging me into shallower water , I regained my footing , and I stumbled back onto my feet all the while my adrenaline pumping . I was soaking wet as the rain kept falling adding more water . Ten minutes of draining saddle bags , boots and rifle scabbards . Adjusting saddles and packs and it was back in the saddle and a few more hours to camp where I was able to dry out for the night . There’s nothing prettier than the sight and sound of a mountain stream , but it’s to be respected. Just something to consider if you travel the backcountry, because there’s probably a river running through it.... Throw your own diamond. Https://wwwbcoutfitter.com

August 2 , 1982. Very worried about Brian and Bill. Rafting is dangerous business, especially on tight corners because you can’t maneuver . So, I went out to clear trail so that I could leave tomorrow and have good travel in case we do not find each other ....

Social distancing .....my style ... Learn how to pack so you can try it to. We have books and DVD’s if you wanna learn from home. Visit our website for details . Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

August 4 , Yukon 9:15 pm. It was a warm day. I woke up at 5 am . I was still tired . I had breakfast made by 6am when the Wrangler came back without the horses . They had found them , but was bucked off on the way back and then the whole bunch took off . We both went looking for them after breakfast . We found them up near where the alpine switched to rock above and behind our spike camp. We saw them by accident actually. The directions the wrangler was giving to follow them... when they were bucked off would have put us up and over the pass on a dead end trail with no horses. Enough of the day was burned up getting the horses back to camp that we ended up just glassing another closer mountain and decided to turn in early to be rested for an early start tomorrow .... I made spaghetti for supper and the horses were picketed in the grass in front of camp for the night. I decided to take a bath in the pond tonight . The water was pretty cool . Just another day.... Through your own Diamond - and take one of our horse packing clinics this year. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

July 30, 1982 Bill and Brian built a raft and headed down to Ware to tell the folks not to worry ; we are just late . I hope they made out o.k. They should be back in three to four days . The horses need this break badly. Good thing. I rest today. There are two cabins. They are trapping cabins, rustic , dirt floor, but very serviceable . Many fine raspberry bushes all around the yard. Yum! Yum! Tomorrow I must work on gear . Incredibly fine weather this month . Thank you God . Http://www.bcoutfitter.com

Walchuck’s 1200 mile trip in the 80’s across British Columbia to the Pacific ocean . Read about it or get the DVD off our web site. Http://www.bcoutfitter.com

The 2020 Guide , packing and trail clinics still have some spots available. What are you waiting for ? Https://www.bcoutfitter.com And thank you to the thousands of visitors to our page. We appreciate the likes and shares .

A long way down .... was putting it mildly. By mid morning we left the horses and climbed up a grassy slope towards a group of rams perched even higher up along a sharp ridge about 3/4’s of a mile away . From the bottom of the valley , this grassy slope looked like the best route to get on top of this mountain. ...Continue reading

It’s too dark - Are not the words you wanna hear as the sun goes down on a mountain top. Last night I was going through some gear when I paused to look at my little cook stove and coffee pot I often now carry in my saddle bags ....Continue reading

We are putting the word out. Experienced outfitting camp cook looking for a camp kitchen for 2020 season. send us a message for name and number. share please

Not all stories are scary .... Very recently I attended a fundraiser banquet for the Friends of the Eastern Slopes in Alberta. And organization of volunteers looking after campgrounds and trails on the eastern edge of the Rockies in Alberta. Good food , an array of silent and live auction items , music , dancing and of course conversation with friends ...about horses and more .... Old horses , new horses , pack horses and saddle horses . Training styles , hay prices , client inquiries and the depth of the recent snows. Future plans , past ideas and optimism for the new season. Pack boxes , diamond hitch’s, and used Packer books we found at trade shows . And as the evening came to a close , I reminded myself of the countless people and memories I’ve met and made all because of horses. What are you waiting for? Throw Your Own Diamond Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Close encounter . My wrangler and I split up to cover more ground one afternoon in the hopes of finding a group of horses that were out grazing. We were both riding our saddle horses . It was a sunny hot afternoon on a river bar in the Yukon. ...Continue reading

A Long Trail It’s been a long month for me . As I lay awake in the early morning hours today , I reflect back to the nearly 6000 kilometres I’ve traveled in the past few weeks. I’ve crossed western Canada a few times and I was able to revisit and pass through many places along the way that I either once called home in my younger years or made a temporary home as I worked various jobs in my youth ....Continue reading

Cabins .... everywhere . I distinctly remember looking at one cabin in the summer time. It was the late 80’s. I happened upon it in my wilderness travels and thought to myself I should be photographing them. What an amazing collection they would be many years down the road... That very same thought passed through my mind again some 30 years later as I stood beside the remains of an old trappers cabin while I stopped to stretch my legs on the ride back to camp . My horse seem...Continue reading

Horse roundup . The valley we went into was huge. I remember it being hot that day with patchy cloud cover. Not much wind . The river bar was covered in a patch work of water channels , scrub willow or gravel , sand and rock ....Continue reading

Things you see when you get a drink of water. .... August 15. Yukon. I honestly can say there is something peaceful to me about having a spike camp set up , horses turned out to graze , my bedroll unrolled and ready for cool night ahead , supper cooked and dishes done and a stack of dry fire wood ready to be added to the toasty fire which is burning to which I sit next to , soaking in the heat . And It’s easy to have a couple hours pass telling stories with your client and w...Continue reading

Whether you’re spending today with a house full of family or friends , or taking it much quieter and slower ... Whether you’re cooking or baking a kitchen full of delicious holiday food or treats , enjoying someone else’s feast or maybe just sticking with the usual... ....the Blue Creek Family wants to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone .... No matter where you are , and no matter what you’re doing today , we .... are thinking of you .....

Where did the time go ? Yukon territory. A long time ago..The next morning I was awake by 6 am. Breakfast was made , horses saddled and we were riding out of spike camp by 830. Four hours later we were up higher in the alpine and today we rode higher to reduce the amount of walking the client might have to do. He was in his late 50’s and packed a carton of smokes in his gear. Looking back , I can’t remember if it was him who had the nitro patch and glycerin pills .....th...Continue reading

October 3. Yukon Territory . I woke up before daylight at base camp. I tossed a few more sticks of firewood into the cabin stove and sat in the silence listening to the wood crackle as the fire warmed the room up and the coffee pot started boiling . Snow started falling during the night. Winter arrived in the Yukon without a doubt. ... After a quick breakfast and coffee, I went out to corral and gathered my horses. I pulled the horse shoes off for this last trip of the season before saddling up. By noon the horses were ready and we were packed . Six inches of fresh snow had already fallen that morning. I lead the string ponying a big sorrel mare that was a calm and steady pack horse. Two more pack horses were being towed after her and my client followed us all. In this weather at this time of year the horses needed to be lead or else they’d try to sneak off all day. About an hour into the trip and half way across a small river that was maybe 75 feet wide , the middle pack horse decided to start bucking while he was tied to the horse in front and he was pulling the one behind him. Round and round we all went. The water was only about three feet deep but it was cold and full of ice chunks as the pack horse eventually finished his bucking fit . I quickly repacked him on the far shore and we kept going . I really wanted to get to our camp spot and set up before dark . The trees and willows along the trail were covered in heavy fresh snow and the lead horse always gets to knock the snow off those branch’s. By 6 o’clock that night camp was set up . I packed an 8x10 canvas wall tent along with a new wood stove for this trip as the nights would be at least 10 degrees below freezing . Warming up and drying cold wet boots and gear would be important each day . The horses were picketed in a meadow full of grass a few hundred yards away from the tent after they got their supper of hay cubes and oats . We had our supper after that and I finished up camp chores by stock piling enough firewood to last the night and next morning. For the next twelve days we were going to be looking for an Alaskan-Yukon moose. But , the first business the next day would be to back track trail down the mountain in the fresh snow ..... looking for the clients rifle. Apparently it fell out of their rifle scabbard that day we rode up to spike camp , and it wasn’t noticed until we got to camp. It was one heck of a way to start things off ..... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com Throw Your Own Diamond ...

Sept 30. Yukon Territory. We woke up early to move camp. It snowed the day before and October 1 often means winter ... we hadn’t gone very far when one pack horses load shifted. The wrangler packed him on his own . We got off our horses to fix the shifted pack and as usual the wrangler never tied his horse and in a few seconds his horse walked away . It only took a few more seconds and the pack string tried following the wranglers loose horse. I suppose they wanted to go ho...me too. We had been out for 14 days in the backcountry. Four pack horses sped up to leave us and were now running and bucking down the trail through the spruce trees. I jumped on my saddle horse and went after two of the packhorses who were in the lead. I eventually caught up with them a half mile later. They had wrapped a lead rope around a tree and came to an abrupt stop. I had to cut the lead rope to keep things from getting worse and when I did the two managed to take off again , only this time running over me in the process. Keep in mind it’s big spruce and moss covered ground and no trail ... My saddle horse had also taken off with them but it was only 50 yards before the trio were stopped by a thicker patch of trees. The wrangler caught up to me by now and we repacked the two horses and went back to the original spot where the fun started. The wrangler had tied the other two pack horses there. Unknown to us when we had stopped but there was some sort of soft spot with a hollow cavity next to where a pack horse was tied and the next thing we knew he broke through what we thought was solid ground . There was now a loaded pack horse five feet down in a sink hole. I was sick to my stomach. We had been out for two weeks in fresh country and no one knew where we actually were. We were on our own to get out of this mess . We used our axes to break down the bank of the sink hole . The unpacked horse was patiently waiting even though he had a reputation as being a horse as unpredictable as they get ...I pulled him with my saddle horse and out he came. Although it wasn’t as easy as it sounds ... It must have been an hour before we got the horse out and repacked the outfit. We had a long day ahead of our selves at this point. . I was finding a new way back to base camp as we had made a giant loop on this trip and only had some vague descriptions of the country to complete the route ( no maps either ) . Later that afternoon as the sun was setting we cut the familiar trail that would lead us out . Warm cabins for us and fresh hay and oats for the horses that night. The memories and experience would / will last a lifetime . Https://www.bcoutfitter.com Throw your own diamond

This little cowboy insisted on forking some hay to the horses at chore time . I’m betting someday he’ll throw his own diamond too ... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Long winter weekends sometimes means browsing through the book collection for a peak back in time and reading the words of packers from days gone by. This one dates back to 1959. It also has some great art work by the author . Next week it’s time to throw some diamonds ....

Happy US thanksgiving to our neighbours !

Little incidents such as getting horses down in glacier crevasses and in quicksand, or having them washed down stream when crossing dangerous rivers and being obliged to unpack and dry their loads , as were incidentally referred to upon returning over the same trail , were not worth speaking of. They are men a few words. G.O.Young. 1947 Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

" as I looked back at him winding his way over the crest of the moraine, followed by his eight sturdy horses in the same manner that dogs follow their master, I thought what a lonely life it was for anyone to lead." G.O Young

The lush green alpine meadows ... Are quickly givin way to the bitter winter snows ... Https://www.bcoutfitter.com

Still Holiday shopping for the horse people in your life ? Here’s an easy read. DVD’s available too. Https://www.bcoutfitter.com