Hiking Guide vs. Horseback Guide

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Hiking vs riding guideLast week I had the amazing opportunity to be a Hiking Guide for a 3 Day Hiking Trip for the first time since I’ve been at the ranch. I worked as a Horseback Guide before, but I knew it would be different this time. When you are a Horseback Guide, you have the honor to work with our amazing, sure footed and trust worthy Mountain Cayuse Horses. As they’ve been on my side since my very first trip into the mountains, I got used to being around them and enjoy every single minute. With the horses also comes a whole bunch of work. They have to be chased down from their night pasture early in the morning, you feed them oats, groom, saddle, bridle and pack them, before the trip has even started. In between the rides, you need to constantly check on them, see if they have any sores, feed them and love them, of course. All these tasks don’t occur as a Hiking Guide, at least if you’re not going for a Multi Day Tour into the Mountains.

Actually, I should have been glad about less work load, but it felt like something was missing. The horses became my partners in crime, my guides, leaders of the trips, life insurance and they are the best company you can have. Starting off for the first hike to beautiful Carpenter Lookout, my assistant decided to take his best friend Zola with us. I enjoyed her presence and as I saw in their interactions, so did my two guests. During the hike, I saw the trail from a different perspective for the first time. Everything seems bigger and further by foot. Some views I can’t even see because I’m not tall enough. I definitely missed the wide overviews you get by horseback.

I also discovered the amazing feeling you get out of hiking as well. You accomplish every single step of the journey with your own feet. You get a feeling for distance and exhaustion and learn what it takes to travel all these miles. From walking flat to steep, uphill to downhill, stumbling over roots, branches hitting your face, slipping on rocks, without giving up, that is something you can be proud of. It gives you a feeling of strength and success. And when you feel every single muscle the next day you know, you will be even stronger on the next trip.

In the end, to me it doesn’t matter if I explore the beauty of the Chilcotin Mountains by foot or by horseback with my guests. Guiding people to stunning 360 degree views, blooming wildflower meadows or along breathtaking mountain ridges is the most amazing experience I’ve ever made and I can’t wait to return for another season next year.

Fenja, 24, Germany

Find out more about hiking in Chilcotin Mountains here.