Casselcreek  Australian  Shepherds

Ya Ha Tinda Ranch
Alberta Canada

The Ya Ha Tinda Ranch sits on 10,000 acres of prairie grasslands and is home to a few ranch hands and more than 150 horses used by Parks Canada wardens and researchers in each of its Mountain parks. The Ya Ha Tinda provides the setting for miles of horse and hiker friendly trails, located 75 miles west of Sundre, Alberta.  It is also home to thousands of head of elk, as well as deer, sheep, and bear.  I recently had the opportunity to make my annual trip "out west" to enjoy a long weekend of R & R with some wonderful friends and great horses. 

My buddy, Chance Whittemore, grilling me a perfect burger

lunch along the trail en route to Ribbon Flats

a million dollar view
with camp down in the valley along the river

a shady spot to rest

the trail up to James Falls

Gord Whittemore at James Falls

my girl, Sage, enjoying a snack along the ridge

the goat trail down to Hidden Falls

the beautiful Hidden Falls

My name carved in shale, tucked into a wall at Hidden Falls

August 2006

What an incredible few days in the beautiful majesty of the Rocky Mountains.  We covered about 20 miles each day of tough mountain trails and beautiful open meadows, sharing the land with elk and deer.  The kids swam in James Falls, I dangled my feet.  Our trip to Hidden Falls was spectacular and, given my extreme fear of heights, a personal achievement for myself. 

To prove I was there, inside the Hidden Falls