WYOMING, BITTEROOT RANCH - USA

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You can enjoy some of the best and most diverse trail riding in North America at the 1,300 acre ranch in Wyoming on this riding holiday. Located at the end of a remote valley bordering the Shoshone National Forest, 50 miles of unspoiled mountain wilderness separate the ranch from Yellowstone Park. While a guest on the ranch you can also take a 1-3 day pack trip into the Wilderness Area for a small additional fee. The ranch affords easy access to the high plains around the Wind River Indian Reservation which is ideal for faster paced riding. Your enjoyment and safety is their focus and so the ranch has a broad range of horses for all skill and confidence levels. You always ride in small groups with people of similar riding ability. The ranch has three certified riding instructors at the ranch who give optional video taped lessons twice a week. This is a working ranch as well as a 'dude ranch' and during your stay you will have frequent opportunities to help drive cattle, which graze in the adjacent national forest during the summer. Many of the horses enjoy cutting and driving cows and you will appreciate getting the feel of this traditional western way of life which is still very much alive at the ranch.

Trip length 8 days / 7 nights / 6 days riding (5 days/ 4nights/ 3 days riding also available in Sept 2008) Ride only price From £1,065 per person sharing depending on dates in 2008. See table below Departure dates Sunday to Sunday 25 May to 30 September 2008 Half weeks avalabile in September 2008 Approximate riding time per day 4 - 6 hours daily Riding ability required From novice onwards Group size up to 6 in any one riding group Meeting point Jackson Hole, Wyoming or Riverton, Wyoming, USA Transfer by taxi from meeting point, cost divided by number of people sharing Flight guide London to Jackson return from £740 - £870. See below for flight info. Single supplement £189

NOTES - WYOMING, BITTEROOT RANCH

This is a family run guest ranch in operation for over 30 years. The atmosphere on this riding holiday is informal and unstructured except for the horseback riding. Here you have an opportunity to meet people from places and professions you would rarely contact elsewhere. Many guests have formed life long friendships at the ranch. While horseback riding is the main focus of the holiday, the ranch also has excellent trout fishing both on the ranch and in the immediate area. There are two stocked ponds on the ranch, ideal for beginner fisherman, so your vacation can also be an introduction to fly fishing. Half week stays with 4 nights and 3 days riding can also be arranged for £779 in 2007.

HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS
This ranch is especially proud of the approximately 170 strong horse herd which they have been improving for the last 30 years. Many horses have been raised and trained on the ranch (using the non-confrontational techniques of Linda Tellington-Jones ). Others have been carefully selected over the years. There is a ratio of more than three riding horses per rider so that your mounts stay fresh and ready to go throughout the season. The horses have a good life and are well treated, happy animals. The ranch herd is made up of many different breeds including Quarter Horses, Mustangs, Percherons, Appaloosas, Icelandic, Arabians, and crosses. The horses born on the ranch are mainly Arabs, a breed well suited to the rugged terrain and rigorous trail rides. The aim is to raise friendly, sensible, steady Arabians with good manners as well as comfortable gaits, endurance and beauty. Horses are trained Western style and are used to neck reining and going on a loose rein. English tack is available for advanced riders. The horse herd is the primary focus, followed by the cattle, but this is also a family farm with sheep, llamas, ducks, geese, chickens, peacocks, dogs and cats. Children love the lambs and foals. Since the ranch borders the wilderness areas of the Great Yellowstone ecosystem there are many wild animals about including deer, elk, moose, bear, coyote, wolf, beaver, big horned sheep, antelope and numerous others.

RIDING
This is a land of vast expanses which offers you an exceptional variety of interesting terrain ideal for horse riding holidays. Sagebrush plains, grassy meadows and rocky gorges give way to pine and aspen clad mountains with alpine clearings. Spectacular new views keep opening up for you and perpetually snow clad mountains frame the scenery. You seldom see other people on the rides and you are 17 miles from a paved road in the closest direction. There are a number of interesting historical and geological sites which provide interesting destinations for horseback rides like an old hideout of Butch Cassidy and a site where many petrified bones of prehistoric animals can be seen. The week begins with a demonstration of riding techniques followed by an evaluation of the guests' riding ability and a short ride. Monday afternoon there will be an opportunity to groom, saddle and bridle horses under wrangler supervision for those who want to gain this experience. Video taped lessons are available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for riders wishing to improve their skills. On Friday afternoons there is a friendly team sorting competition, which provides an introduction to working cattle. A final all day picnic ride is scheduled for Saturday. In July, August and September this often includes moving cattle to different sections of the grazing allotment in the National Forest. There are several certified instructors at the ranch and you are offered a chance to take video taped lessons at beginner and intermediate level on two mornings a week if you wish. These lessons can often increase your enjoyment dramatically. Your hosts especially like to welcome inexperienced and uncertain riders who want to learn and gain confidence. A week can put you on the right track and open a new world of possibilities. The ranch has built a cross country course of over seventy jumps which advanced riders can usually attempt twice in the week if they wish. It is not an intimidating course since no jump is more than 3" but there is a wide variety of obstacles including ditches, drops, logs, oxers, pickets, co-ops, and walls. Your safety on horseback rides is of vital concern. Rides are kept small, horses are carefully matched to riders, people of similar skills ride together and ride leaders are trained carefully. Riders must wear hard hats and mobile phones are carried to summon help in case of an accident. Your hosts, Mel, Bayard, and their son Richard lead rides personally nearly every day because they regard the quality of the horseback riding program to be of paramount importance at their dude ranch and because they enjoy riding so much themselves. They make every effort to see that you will gain a new appreciation of the way horses can enrich your life.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
The ranch can accommodate up to 30 people in twelve charming cabins, each with private bathrooms, wood burning stoves and electric heat. They are situated on either side of a trout filled stream for maximum seclusion. Guests gather in the main lodge for meals and relaxing evenings. The main lodge has a sitting room, large living room, library, game room and a dining room. There is a hot tub nearby, where guests can soak tired muscles. A special effort is made with cuisine. Salads come fresh from the garden, ranch raised beef and lamb are served, and bread is baked in the kitchen. Wine is served before and with dinner. Meals are all served buffet style in the dining room. Most special dietary requests can be met. Since the ranch does not have a liquor license, please bring your own hard liquor, beer and sodas.

CLIMATE
The climate is changeable and unpredictable due to the high altitude (7,500 ft). The mornings and evenings can be quite cool, 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the days warm, 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall is about 12 inches per year and the humidity is very low.

PACK TRIPS
The Ranch borders the Shoshone National Forest which extends to the borders of Yellowstone Park and is part of the largest wild ecosystem left in the lower 48 states. These pack trips enable you to explore the wildest parts of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem near the Continental Divide. The best way to experience the full majesty of this country is by traveling on horseback with pack animals to set up camps in the remote heart of the wilderness. Our experienced and sure footed ranch bred pack trip horses are ideally suited to the spectacular and rugged terrain covered during the trip. A cook and wrangler provide excellent service and tents and mattresses are carried for those clients who want to experience an escape from the pressures of the modern world in comfort. The route can take you over spectacular passes of between 11,000 and 12,000 ft. and through pristine mountain valleys with little human presence. The mighty rivers of America have their beginnings at your feet as tiny springs on the mountainside. Each valley has its own distinct character with meadows of lupine in one and craggy cliffs in another. In the middle of longer pack trips we will be camping in the same spot for two nights to allow guests to ride out for the day, hike, fish, or just relax. These are £30 per day extra to the ranch stay. Contact us for longer itineraries.

CATTLE DRIVES
Guests who ride well enough can help the cowboys with the challenging work of herding the cows into the mountains the first week of July and rounding them up again the last week of September. The cattle are spread out over fifty square miles of high mountains, forests, clearings and river valleys so that riders are often off the beaten path in grizzly country where one encounters wild game like elk, deer and moose. Return to a cosy bed in your log cabin each evening at the end of the day's drive. The itinerary for these rides is subject to change and totally dependent upon the location of the cattle. Riders participate in the routine of a working cowboy gathering scattered cattle, driving them to and from summer pasture, and sorting animals. This routine is varied and unpredictable but requires long hours in the saddle. Please note that weather, unexpected movements of cattle or Forest Service instruction could change plans for these cattle drives.Planned date for 2008 is 23 - 30 September. Contact us for details.

2008 Prices per person:

GETTING TO the Ride

As a fully ATOL bonded and registered agency we would be delighted to book your flights for you. Should you wish to book your own flights please see our flights page for some options.

The weight limit for this ride is 14 st/200 lb/91 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
Rates include accommodation, all meals, including wine with meals, fishing and daily riding except for Sunday, a 15% gratuity and all local and state taxes.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights to Jackson Hole or Riverton. Transfer charges: One way, to or from Jackson Hole is $280 per vehicle for up to 4 people with $70 for each additional person, one way transfers to or from Riverton are $60 per person. Transfers are between 10 AM and 8 PM

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