Category: Fresh water

Arrive at the lodge around noon, settle in and I will present your horse. Chosen by personality and ability, especially for you. We will take a short ride before supper to insure that you are comfortable with your horse. This trip takes more preparation, as we have to pack our entire camp with us. With packhorses in tow, it's off to Stickelan we go. Through Billy goat wash and on past the towering peaks. Mountain Goats on the crags looking down at us and the river crashing over the falls to our right. Our destination is the lush meadows 2/3 rds of the way to the headwaters we make our first camp (16 miles). With a natural mineral lick just across the river to attract them, the wildlife watch us from a safe distance. We will be using this camp for two nights so make your bed comfy. By the time you have finished, a hot supper and its smells attract you to the camp fire. After gathering the picketed horses and saddling up we go to the end of the valley. There is a family of Wolverine living there in the open alpine, dining on the Marmot (or Whistling Pig). Seeing Maggi's Icefield and the glaciers that create the Stickelan River impresses the eye and stimulates the mind. Packing camp we travel the west side of the river up through the pass behind Lone Mt. with its clear brooks crashing down the steep slopes, occasionally dashing you with spray. Camping at tree line in Rafertys Basin and taking a hike up to the original mining claim staked in 1937. If you can catch the sunset from here its a beauty. Back for dinner and relax. Riding some trails that I can't explain and give justice to, we get to the Copper Zone with its seven switch backs taking us down to the bottom and rocky Goat trail that takes us out the other side to an old mine road and the Morris Mine with its two tunnels, one 750 feet and the other 270 feet, all done by hand. Getting to Copper Creek Ranch at the base of the mt. by evening. Now this is a place where you can play, and we stay here this day and just have fun. You can ride four miles on a old mine road that is great for running the horses, (and they love it ) and go fishing for 2 to 3 lb Rainbow trout in Tatlayoko Lake. Or ride down to the original mining camp with its remnents of a dream long ago. Pan for gold. At the right time of year the berries are lush and diverse, Saskatoon, Rasberry, Strawberries, Goose Berries, Thimble Berries and Choke Cherries. Well here is where we start thinking about going home. Pack up and ride the 15 miles back to the lodge. A hot bath and exchanging stories rounds off the day.

Arrive at the lodge around noon, settle in and match a horse for you. We will take a short ride before supper to ensure that you are comfortable with your horse. Early the next morning after a hearty breakfast mount up and ride up Potato Mt. to the 2 story cabin, at 6100 feet, approx. 9 miles. Unpack and settle in there, after lunch, go for a ride to Lingfield lake and check out the fishing, and back to the cabin for a waiting supper and comraderie around the blazing campfire. ( your choice of sleeping arrangements, Cabin, Tent or under the stars). The next morning after breakfast, head off to Chilco lake rim Tsylos Park with views of impressive Chilco Lake, Tsuniah Lake, Nemiah Valley and surrounding Coast Mt. Having lunch and spotting for wildlife bedded down in the breaks. Maybe a closer inspection of a fossil outcrop and ptarmigan. Back to the cabin by the long way looking for and stalking wildlife for some excellent photographs. Supper awaits. This morning we are going to the north end of the Mt. 10 miles or so through Marmot Basin with its whistling pigs and Monkey head flowers and on to the grave of Killer of white men, the last Native from the Wadington massacre that refused to surrender, then ride back along the rim overlooking Tatlayoko Lake, Niut Mt. and the coast range with views of Mt. Wadington, our highest mountain in BC. Across the moonscape and if the snow banks are there, traverse across them to the main fossil beds with 50 to 75 million year old fossilized clams. Home feels pretty good this night and a sauna may be in order with a dip into Echo lake after. Well some easy riding this day, after a relaxing breakfast ride around Middle hill past an old range rider shelter and through nice open alpine meadows. Destination, the south end with it's flowers and beautiful views and a really good chance of seeing some Mountain Goats quite close. Lunches in the open with a nice fire and if the day is warm enough a dip into Gillian Lake. Back past the ice tunnel draw and special rock garden with its delicate wild flowers, a beauty of their own. It's funny how a small delicate thing of such beauty can withstand the harsh environment. Back to the cabin for supper and stories around the fire. Well, today I'm sad to say we have to pack up our personal things and head back to the lodge for the last night. Dinner and eager listeners waiting to hear our stories, not to mention a real bath with hot running water and private room.

Lodge Based skiing: Base out of the lodge and ski the mountain sides in view of the lodge or follow miles of trails leading into the valleys from the property. The 360 acres of property has a mystique of its own and can take days of skiing to explore. Trails that interconnect and lead down to Tatlayoko Lake the three miles and 1500' of vertical could take a week to follow each one. Snowmobile returns you to the Lodge. Call for details. Nordic Skiing: Ski up to our two story log cabin at 5400' on Potato Mt. and enjoy 100 sq. miles of alpine / Nordic touring. Something for everyone from 6 mile gentle runs for practicing telmark turns or steep runs for 1000 to 1500 feet vertical. On your own in the solitude of a whole Mountain. Call for details. Snowmobiling: Potato MT is 100 sq. miles of alpine touring with views of the coast Mt., Mt Waddington, Chilco Lake ( Tsylos Park ), Tatlayoko Lake. We enjoy the company of fellow snowmobilers especially those who like to slow down and enjoy their surroundings. The trail head is at the Lodge and Accommodation can be either the lodge, the A frame chalet or Two story log cabin on Potato. Depending on group size and dates. Bring your snowmobile, rentals can be arranged from W.L. Call for Details. Fishing: Ice fishing is available on Potato Mt. 1/2 mile from ski cabin. Rainbow and Dolly trout are caught up to 3 lb. Call for details.