" The moutains are calling and I must go.”
GEt off the track
let the adventure begin
Cheechako trail13 Days pack horse expeditionThis expedition to Yukon, is a true experience of wilderness beauty: glacier valleys, , alpine meadows, boreal forest surrounded by coastal mountains, pristine rivers and lakes. An impressive 200 km ride far from any roads with elevation up to 1800 m. To the rythm of nature, you follow the path of wild animals like moose, caribou and wolves, share good stories around the campfire and the everyday life with the horses This 10 days horse pack trip is a travel and experience out of time.
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DEparture date
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ITIneRary
DAY 1 : Arrival to Whitehorse and transfert to the guest ranch, where you can get cozy in your log cabins. Introduction to our off-grid living and to our family, horse and crew member. Together we share a convivial meal before your first night in Yukon wilderness.
Lodging: Wood cabins (2 to 4 per by cabin)
DAY 2 : After a relaxing breakfast and a briefing from Pierre for the week ahead you will be introduce to your own horse corresponding to your level and personality. After we’re driving down to Whitehorse, to discover stories and culture of the town old days, the Gold Rush. Time when the city was a center for many travelling pioneers doing the long trip to the gold mines of Dawson city. Visit of S.S Klondike or Mc Bride museum or Miles Canyon and for those who prefer gift shops and some last minute shopping for the trip. Back to the ranch for a nice meal and a nice evening around the fire before a good night rest.
Lodging: Wood cabins (2 to 4 per by cabin)
DAY 3 : EXPEDITION RANCH-BONNEVILLE LAKES (4H)
The departure morning, is always full of movements, all the gears have to be set up on the pack horses, luggage are weight and distributed equally in the box and pack saddle; demonstration of the packing technique. Once we’re all in the saddle, we’re heading out to the Bonneville area. After a little hike up we’ll join a high plateau with a beautiful scenic view on Fish Lake and the mountain surrounding us. That will be you first experience of the wild open space that offer Yukon wilderness. Tonight will make camp near a lake, where everyone set up their own tent, share some chores. A nice diner is cook on the campfire, relaxation near the fire, care of the horses.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 4 : EXPEDITION BONNEVILLE-IBEX LAKE (6H)
After breakfast and packing up camp you’ll head towards Ibex Lake and enter the foothills of the mountainous region of the Yukon where snow still lingers on the high peaks. Which pass you take depends on the weather, either on the lake shores surrounded by pine forest or the 1800m high Marmot pass where opportunity to encounter Dall sheep or perhaps a grizzly or a wolf. Today you will cover around 40kms before reaching Ibex Lake and setting up camp.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 5: EXPEDITION IBEX LAKE-ROSE CREEK (6-7 H)
The morning ride takes you above the tree line, prime viewing position for wildlife, towards Mud Lake - an ancient lake molded by the glaciers. Finding some good grazing for the horses you will stop for lunch and a nap on the shores of Mud Lake. Back on the trail, looking for wolfs dens as you make your way to Rose Creek for your overnight stop. Evening around the camp fire overlooking the large pristine valley.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 6: EXPEDITION ROSE CREEK-ROSE LAKE (5h)
Up in the saddle for another day of discovery, will pass from alpine forest to alpine meadows where on the south east rise the mighty coastal mountains. The land is pocketed with lakes created by beaver dams. Our destination a pristine untouched lake at the foothill of the coastal mountains, a good spot for the observation of the rich wildlife. Once to the camp, you can settle in that would be our little paradise for the next few days. Once the care of the horse are done look at them galloping down to the pasture. And tonight we received the visit of a float plane delivering all the fresh food, a hearty meal and an evening around the fire.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 7: DAY TO ENJOY ROSE LAKE
Today is a full day rest well deserved, it’s time to enjoy all the opportunity that offer Rose Lake, swimming, some hiking in the mountain around or just enjoy a good book around camp. Time for shower and clean up. It is a good opportunity to just spend some nice time with the horse in their natural habitat.
Lodging: tent
DAY 8: EXPEDITION SHORE OF ROSE LAKE(6H)
Well rested we explore today but without the packhorse for some more freedom ride. We will ride along the shore of Rose lake, in water and in forest. Lots of wildlife around this area especially moose, dall sheep, grizzly. After the ride we head back toward our camp for a nice evening.
Lodging: tent
DAY 9: EXPEDITION CANOE
After breakfast this is trapper time, we will go get our meal for the night and explore in canoe this amazing scenery. After a briefing on paddling we head toward some nice bay to explore some wildlife and learn or enjoy some fishing (lake trout and arctic char) back to camp Pierre will explain with his knowledge how to filet the fish and as well the Yukon trapping tradition and techniques. As Rose lake is It’s a strategic location for trapping wolf, lynx, wolverine, beaver and otter and the area is still an active concessions use by trapper in winter. Care for the horse and after diner, roasting marshmallow over the camping as the sun set for the night.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 10: EXPEDITION ROSE LAKE-MUD LAKE (6h-7H)
Today we Long ascending to the alpine meadows. Hold on we are climbing high. Panoramic view towards the Coastal Range behind you. You cross a large plateau, home of many caribous, and then descent to the glacial valley, to the sandy banks of Mud Lake (where we will avoid mud hole) where you will set up camp for the night. Everyone is well run to set up camp gather water and help the cook prepare an amazing meal on the fire.
Lodging: Tent or under the stars
DAY 11: EXPEDITION MUD LAKE-BONNEVILLE (6-7H)
The land opens up into generous open spaces today, you trail for 35 km passing from land passage between water ponds create by glaciation by a beaver dams and some little rivers until you to some forest area that lead us back to alpine plateau where we settle at our first. Last time gathering some firewood, setting tent before coming back to civilisation, last evening in the wilderness around the campfire. Time to enjoy the horse company.
Lodging: Tent or under a tree
DAY 12: EXPEDITION BONNEVILLE-RANCH (3H) new route
Today is going to be our last ride day, leaving from the alpine plateau will head down toward home travelling through open ground and enter in the forest. Today is a short day last look at the wilderness to slowly reintegrate civilisation. At the end of the day will drive in town for a good shower and a good meal at the restaurant, then back for a last night at Shinevalley Ranch to share good drinks and good bye. If you wish it is the opportunity to have the scenic float plane ride
Lodging: Wood cabins (2 to 4 per cabins)
DAY 13: TRANSFERT FROM SHINEVALLEY TO THE AIRPORT
Airport transfer from Shinevalley after breakfast
Lodging: Wood cabins (2 to 4 per by cabin)
DAY 2 : After a relaxing breakfast and a briefing from Pierre for the week ahead you will be introduce to your own horse corresponding to your level and personality. After we’re driving down to Whitehorse, to discover stories and culture of the town old days, the Gold Rush. Time when the city was a center for many travelling pioneers doing the long trip to the gold mines of Dawson city. Visit of S.S Klondike or Mc Bride museum or Miles Canyon and for those who prefer gift shops and some last minute shopping for the trip. Back to the ranch for a nice meal and a nice evening around the fire before a good night rest.
Lodging: Wood cabins (2 to 4 per by cabin)
DAY 3 : EXPEDITION RANCH-BONNEVILLE LAKES (4H)
The departure morning, is always full of movements, all the gears have to be set up on the pack horses, luggage are weight and distributed equally in the box and pack saddle; demonstration of the packing technique. Once we’re all in the saddle, we’re heading out to the Bonneville area. After a little hike up we’ll join a high plateau with a beautiful scenic view on Fish Lake and the mountain surrounding us. That will be you first experience of the wild open space that offer Yukon wilderness. Tonight will make camp near a lake, where everyone set up their own tent, share some chores. A nice diner is cook on the campfire, relaxation near the fire, care of the horses.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 4 : EXPEDITION BONNEVILLE-IBEX LAKE (6H)
After breakfast and packing up camp you’ll head towards Ibex Lake and enter the foothills of the mountainous region of the Yukon where snow still lingers on the high peaks. Which pass you take depends on the weather, either on the lake shores surrounded by pine forest or the 1800m high Marmot pass where opportunity to encounter Dall sheep or perhaps a grizzly or a wolf. Today you will cover around 40kms before reaching Ibex Lake and setting up camp.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 5: EXPEDITION IBEX LAKE-ROSE CREEK (6-7 H)
The morning ride takes you above the tree line, prime viewing position for wildlife, towards Mud Lake - an ancient lake molded by the glaciers. Finding some good grazing for the horses you will stop for lunch and a nap on the shores of Mud Lake. Back on the trail, looking for wolfs dens as you make your way to Rose Creek for your overnight stop. Evening around the camp fire overlooking the large pristine valley.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 6: EXPEDITION ROSE CREEK-ROSE LAKE (5h)
Up in the saddle for another day of discovery, will pass from alpine forest to alpine meadows where on the south east rise the mighty coastal mountains. The land is pocketed with lakes created by beaver dams. Our destination a pristine untouched lake at the foothill of the coastal mountains, a good spot for the observation of the rich wildlife. Once to the camp, you can settle in that would be our little paradise for the next few days. Once the care of the horse are done look at them galloping down to the pasture. And tonight we received the visit of a float plane delivering all the fresh food, a hearty meal and an evening around the fire.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 7: DAY TO ENJOY ROSE LAKE
Today is a full day rest well deserved, it’s time to enjoy all the opportunity that offer Rose Lake, swimming, some hiking in the mountain around or just enjoy a good book around camp. Time for shower and clean up. It is a good opportunity to just spend some nice time with the horse in their natural habitat.
Lodging: tent
DAY 8: EXPEDITION SHORE OF ROSE LAKE(6H)
Well rested we explore today but without the packhorse for some more freedom ride. We will ride along the shore of Rose lake, in water and in forest. Lots of wildlife around this area especially moose, dall sheep, grizzly. After the ride we head back toward our camp for a nice evening.
Lodging: tent
DAY 9: EXPEDITION CANOE
After breakfast this is trapper time, we will go get our meal for the night and explore in canoe this amazing scenery. After a briefing on paddling we head toward some nice bay to explore some wildlife and learn or enjoy some fishing (lake trout and arctic char) back to camp Pierre will explain with his knowledge how to filet the fish and as well the Yukon trapping tradition and techniques. As Rose lake is It’s a strategic location for trapping wolf, lynx, wolverine, beaver and otter and the area is still an active concessions use by trapper in winter. Care for the horse and after diner, roasting marshmallow over the camping as the sun set for the night.
Lodging: Tent
DAY 10: EXPEDITION ROSE LAKE-MUD LAKE (6h-7H)
Today we Long ascending to the alpine meadows. Hold on we are climbing high. Panoramic view towards the Coastal Range behind you. You cross a large plateau, home of many caribous, and then descent to the glacial valley, to the sandy banks of Mud Lake (where we will avoid mud hole) where you will set up camp for the night. Everyone is well run to set up camp gather water and help the cook prepare an amazing meal on the fire.
Lodging: Tent or under the stars
DAY 11: EXPEDITION MUD LAKE-BONNEVILLE (6-7H)
The land opens up into generous open spaces today, you trail for 35 km passing from land passage between water ponds create by glaciation by a beaver dams and some little rivers until you to some forest area that lead us back to alpine plateau where we settle at our first. Last time gathering some firewood, setting tent before coming back to civilisation, last evening in the wilderness around the campfire. Time to enjoy the horse company.
Lodging: Tent or under a tree
DAY 12: EXPEDITION BONNEVILLE-RANCH (3H) new route
Today is going to be our last ride day, leaving from the alpine plateau will head down toward home travelling through open ground and enter in the forest. Today is a short day last look at the wilderness to slowly reintegrate civilisation. At the end of the day will drive in town for a good shower and a good meal at the restaurant, then back for a last night at Shinevalley Ranch to share good drinks and good bye. If you wish it is the opportunity to have the scenic float plane ride
Lodging: Wood cabins (2 to 4 per cabins)
DAY 13: TRANSFERT FROM SHINEVALLEY TO THE AIRPORT
Airport transfer from Shinevalley after breakfast
want to know more
OUR TRAVEL ETHIC are base on a desire to have true connection with our surrounding, first with our guests by co-living on the trails, sharing passions, knowledges and memories together. As well with nature, by minimizing the impact on our environnement, with an eco-tourism respectful of the ressource and by being aware of his necessity. And of course with our horses, fully part of our family, working hard and deserving care, patience and respect at all times as they are always keen to please.
-All food is cook on the open fire, tasty hot meals are prepared mornings and evenings.
-All materials and food is transport by packhorses.
-We can adapt to specific dietetic requirements but need to be advise at booking time.
-Western saddle and saddle bag is provided
-Our horse team is a mix of quarter horse/draft X, Yukon rustic horse, arab, fjord, halflinger
-Hoobles and long ropes are use at night as containment technic for the horses.
Price do not include :
-Travel insurance,
-Sleeping bag and mat,
-Alcool beverage, lunch day 2 and diner day 12
-Gratuities
-All food is cook on the open fire, tasty hot meals are prepared mornings and evenings.
-All materials and food is transport by packhorses.
-We can adapt to specific dietetic requirements but need to be advise at booking time.
-Western saddle and saddle bag is provided
-Our horse team is a mix of quarter horse/draft X, Yukon rustic horse, arab, fjord, halflinger
-Hoobles and long ropes are use at night as containment technic for the horses.
Price do not include :
-Travel insurance,
-Sleeping bag and mat,
-Alcool beverage, lunch day 2 and diner day 12
-Gratuities
payment policies |
what to bring ? |
our team of horse |