OGILVIE MOUNTAINS

Day 1

Day one is a driving day up to the Ogilvie Mountains passing Carmacks, Pelly Crossing, Stewart crossing

and driving along the Yukon River. Then we will take the famous Dempster Highway which goes all the

way up to the Arctic Circle and Tuktoyaktuk North West Territories. Once on the Dempster Highway it

will be a 1.5 hour drive through the Tombstone Mountains/Tombstone National Park finally arriving at

the trail head, where we will set up camp for the night.

Day 2

The second day of the tour will begin with breakfast, coffee and packing up all the gear to go on the

horses. Once the horses are packed we will begin our trip into the Ogilvie Mountains. Day two takes us

over Austen pass a beautiful plateau pass that occasionally holds grizzly bear, dall sheep, wolves and

Caribou then finally down into the Blackstone River; a well known river in the Yukon. After roughly 5

hours of riding we will make camp on the gravel bar of the Blackstone River, dinner over the fire, tents set

up and off to bed.

Day 3

This day is a beautiful day that takes us up over another pass out of the Blackstone River valley and into

Seela creek valley. This pass is unique for its tight but gradual pass and often only used by wild game. We

will stop for lunch in a nice grassy meadow overlooking Seela creek then make our way into another

valley to set up camp that overlooks where we have traveled that day. Approximately 5 hours of riding

this day. Everyone sets up there tent, dinner over the fire and time for bed.

Day 4

Day four is a beautiful day with a good majority of the day high up in plateau, above the tree line. This

wide valley of plateau is a common migration route for the Porcupine Caribou Heard which is the heard

the migrates all the way to and from Alaska every year. Making our way over the plateau and stopping

for lunch in a desired location you will finally arrive at Kit Lake which is a lake just big enough to land a

float plane on. Approximately 4-5 hours of riding this day. Everyone sets up there tent, perhaps some may

want to bath or swim in the lake, dinner over the fire and time for bed.

Day 5

Day off at Kit Lake with your choice of hiking, riding or taking it easy by the fire. Enjoy a day of

swimming. Tell stories by the fire, drink coffee/tea and look out for animals passing through.

Day 6

On this day you finally drop down in elevation enough to see some spruce trees and ride pass them as

you make your way to Olsen Flats, a shallow yet spread wide creek with many small channels. This day

is a shorter day with approximately 4 hours of riding and camping near Olsen creek, where there has

been moose and seen before. Clients are welcome to bath in the creek, have dinner over a fire and enjoy a

soothing sound of water flowing as they fall asleep.

Day 7

This day consists of another gradual pass that takes you in to a now a days untouched valley, our very

favourite valley of the whole trip. This day is approximately 5 hours long with some amazing view of the

Ogilvie Mountains and as far North as your eye can see. Once dropping down off the pass you will

follow a creek that takes you to our Camp in the middle of the valley where there tends to be manyCaribou, sheep and occasionally a grizzly bear. The Caribou in this valley are Woodland Caribou, which

tend to be darker in colour and a bulkier/bigger build to them, with magnificent antlers. Once in camp,

clients are welcome to hike up the small peak in the middle of the valley or help with chores. Dinner over

the fire, tents and bed.

Day 8

Day eight will be a day off with a extra long coffee in the morning, breakfast and the possibility of a hike

or a ride if the group desires it. Stories and tea by the fire, then to bed.

Day 9

This day will involve a bit of back tracking to get back over to the Olsen Flats valley. Once arriving at

Olsen creek we will start heading up it and find a nice camp by the creek where everyone is welcome to

bath, wash laundry and laugh by the fire. Tents set up and bed time. Time riding for this day

approximately 5 hours.

Day 10

This is a slightly shorter day however the views are quite different but raw at the same time, the

mountains on this day have a different look and atmosphere to them, with a green tinge of the Caribou

moss it makes you feel like your in medieval times. This day you have a decent chance of seeing moose,

sheep, caribou, wolf and especially grizzly bear. Where the camp is located is up on a bench which is the

beginning to a high basin filled with lots of caribou trails and moss, with a oasis like creek you camp

beside. Keep a look out for animals this night because you are able to see the main stream of wildlife right

from your door step. Approximately 3-4 hours of riding this day with lunch. Tents set up and bed.

Day 11

On this day you will notice you have made a big loop and will start you remember your surroundings

and footsteps when you hit them that evening. A majority of the day is over grassy plateau and common

sightings of the Porcupine Caribou heard and hopefully a moose or two in one of the many willow

draws/dried creek beds you ride through. Camp at Seela Creek or up in the hidden pass.

Day 12

The last day of the tour, with a slightly longer day riding for Approximately 6-7 hours, along the

Blackstone River and up over Austen pass, finally arriving back at the truck and to civilization wishing

you could go back in. Dinner over a fire for the last time, tents set up, reminisce about the amazing

adventure you just had and finally spend your last night in a tent in the Yukon.

Day 13

Get a decent start in the morning so you can enjoy the evening back at base camp. Load the horses in the

horse trailer after breakfast and coffee and make your way down the Dempster Highway to the North

Klondike highway where you’ll turn towards Whitehorse. Once arriving at back base camp you’ll have a

nice dinner either in town or at the house, chat about the trip, take everything in and finally pack your

stuff for the following morning when it is time to depart.

All riding days will have a lunch break whenever there is a good spot to do so even though it is not

always mentioned. Each day on average is 5 hours of riding