Hiking Guide Training Course in British Columbia

Today you’ll learn more about British Columbia’s wilderness tourism industry. We’ll go over the hiking guide training program and map the key trails throughout the territory. This will make it easy for you to find your way around the large area and get more comfortable in the wild.

We’ll practice on-the-trail care of horses, including staking, hobbling and belling. We’ll go through trail etiquette, bears and cougars safety, and discuss what equipment is needed for long distance and day hikes. Our experienced guides will gladly share their knowledge and you’ll be able to ask any questions.

After dinner, we’ll have a short hike to warm up before the upcoming training days.

Today we’ll cover two major topics. During the first half of the day, we’ll meet our trusty steeds and learn all the essentials of horse care.

Our experienced instructors will demonstrate how to shoe horses, including hoof preparation and fitting horseshoes. You’ll practice how to lead a pack horse. Equine care is an important job for wilderness guides, as steeds are one of the main work tools as well as companions throughout long journeys.

After lunch, we’ll focus on your professional development by discussing effective leadership tactics, as well as guide and guest relations. The relationship between the guide and clients is one of the key aspects for a successful guiding business, but one that often gets overlooked by less experienced professionals.

As we get ready for our upcoming camping trip, continue to hone your horsemanship skills at the ranch. You’ll be introduced to basic horse training methods and backcountry veterinary techniques. Nature provides many natural medicinals, so it’s important to be able to recognize and use them properly.

We’ll also cover food-related topics, such as food and supply inventory procedures, meal planning and cooking in the wild. As a wilderness guide, you might have to prepare food for groups of travelers, so it’s a good idea to know some tricks for making tasty and nutritious meals using products found in nature.

You’ll have brief tests on your newly acquired horseshoeing and packing skills, then we’ll start packing for the ride to our mountain camp.

Today is hiking day! We’ll hike to our mountain camp via amazing mountain trails. The hiking track leads through evergreen forests and blooming alpine meadows. The rugged South Chilcotin Mountains never fail to surprise travelers with picturesque and breathtaking sights.

We’ll set up camp and prepare food. After a hearty dinner, we’ll wrap up the day with discussions around a cozy campfire. We’ll review the camp layout and location, and learn the difference between traditional and spike camps. Our lovely guides will share some fun and entertaining stories from their camping experiences.

We’ll wake up bright and early to continue with our training schedule. We’ll gear up and climb up to higher altitudes. During the hike, we’ll likely encounter local wildlife and learn about the wild plants that flourish in the South Chilcotin Mountains. Enjoy the sights of extensive stands of whitebark pine forests fringing the timberline in the picturesque mountain valleys.

Back at the campsite, gathered around a campfire, we’ll discuss basic wilderness first aid and survival strategies. We’ll also look into the best practices of marking paths, as well as talk about the rules and regulations for hiking guides. We’ll also talk about professional relations and discuss how they should be maintained.

We’ll prepare our last breakfast at the campsite, pack up and begin hiking back to the ranch.

Before departure, we’ll have a lovely graduation ceremony to celebrate your accomplishments during the hiking guide training course.

Pickup information

Transfers from Vancouver to the ranch and back are available for an additional charge.

Practical information

You’ll receive a detailed list of what to bring before the start of the training.

Please note

The itinerary might change according to the weather conditions.