Alpine Five-Day Epic Pack Trip

The Capitol Reef National Park area holds some of the most varied and interesting terrain in Utah. Part of the 100 mile long Water Pocket Fold, an abrupt thousand-foot high ridge made out of twisted sandstone, this region makes an ideal playground. The adjacent Boulder Mountain provides the elevation necessary to offer respite from the mid-summer heat and creates a cool air mass that results in more rain than surrounding areas during summer months. Traveling high up into the mountains in this region was, for the early settlers, often done on horseback. Today, we enjoy the same benefit of this timeless form of exploration on these versatile animals. Saddle up with us, and do it the cowboy way! This ride is truly for the serious adventurer. On this pack trip adventure we will ascend the verdant Boulder Mountain where lakes and streams are interspersed amongst high mountain meadows and light, airy aspen groves. Once on top, we will explore the gently undulating terrain of the Boulder Mountain (the highest timbered plateau in North America). Boulder Top, as it is referred to by the locals, features stellar views of Capitol Reef, the Henry Mountains, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and the Book Cliffs over 100 miles away! The option to extend your adventure with an extra day of fishing, biking, hiking, or horse riding make this the perfect adventure experience. ITINERARY Day One: Your adventure begins at Backcountry Outfitters’ headquarters in Torrey, Utah. We will pack for the trip and shuttle to the trailhead with our expert horses in tow. The journey today is a full day ride, having lunch and sight-seeing on the way. Be prepared for stream crossings and stunning views. As you wind your way up the mountain, keep a sharp lookout for birds of prey among the aspens and pines. We will arrive at our deluxe camp, where we will enjoy a hearty camp dinner. The camp is comprised of old-fashioned canvas wall tents; each one has cots, pads, pillows, wood stove and sleeping gear. The heart of the camp is the cook tent, with a giant stove and oven, and ample room to gather, not to mention the fresh baked goodies. The cook tent is “the place to be” in tent city. The camp has all the amenities one would never expect in the backcountry, including a hot shower and a toilet. Come stay with us and we will show you what camping has been missing all these years! Day Two: Wake up to great cowboy coffee and a skillet breakfast, as we prepare to continue on our adventure. We will explore the high meadows and alpine lakes, taking pictures and short hikes to stretch our legs. Views of the surrounding red rock desert lands far below might be visible from sections of the trail. We will return to our comfortable camp to enjoy a Dutch oven dinner and some great backcountry storytelling around the campfire. Day Three: Ride hard and long with us today. We will break for lunch and, of course, for the amazing hidden treasures of the land that only the best guides know where to find. Cozy up in camp tonight for re-fueling and relaxation. Today might be a good time to experience the luxury of a hot shower available right in camp. Option: We can also spike camp out on this trip. That would mean instead of returning to camp we take pack horses with grub and sleeping gear and spend a night out…. And we mean way out. We would return to base camp via a loop route the next day. By taking this option we are able to explore further into the backcountry than a day ride allows. However, note that we leave behind some of the plush accommodations the base camp offers. Day Four: Rise and shine to another full day ride! You will certainly have made pals with your horse by this day. Enjoy another outdoor breakfast and prepare to set out on another amazing voyage through this wonderland. Our professional and well-educated guides will give you the “low-down” on the land as you ride, telling stories about the land’s ancient pre-history, more recent pioneer and outlaw history, geology, and archaeology. This evening, ride into camp with your appetite ready for what is in store on our final night's dinner. Day Five: Giddy-Up! It is time to wrap up your extraordinary adventure. We will ride out of the gorgeous mountain wilderness on this leg of the trip where our shuttle will be waiting for us, but not before making sure you have had a breakfast and lunch that will guarantee you will remember us. We will take you back to our meeting place and there we will say our goodbyes. **Note: Backcountry Outfitters reserves the right to relocate the destination of the journey depending on weather and flood threats. Make the Most of Your Adventure Day 6—Optional: Extend Your Trip by a Day or Incorporate an Extra Day into Your Trip Make the most of your adventure by adding another day of fun, or exchange a day of your trip for another one of the following activities. These activities can elevate your experience to sublime: Guided Mountain Bike Ride Canyoneering in the Slot Canyons Day of Guided Fishing Extra day of Horse Riding ATV rental Guided 4X4 Tour Guided or Rental Mountain Bike **We work closely with all the local lodging facilities. Please allow us to help you book your accommodations for arrival and departure days. Our trips are generally FULL days. It is no fun trying to travel tired, so plan to stay at one of the many local facilities and travel at your leisure. Generally, we can get you a package price on your stay!!! Optional Extension Call for pricing. What’s Included *expert leadership *camping arrangements including camp meals, guides, and camping equipment *all meals and non-alcoholic beverages starting with lunch the first day to lunch on the last day *group ground transportation to and from head quarters Ready to go? Signing up is easy! Call us at 1-866-747-3973 and reserve a space with your credit card or a check. Frequent flyers with mileage-earning credit cards take note: you also have the option to make all your payments by credit card so you can rack up even more mileage for your next trip! Reservation/Cancellation Policy All reservations are on a first come first served basis. The only way to guarantee a spot on a trip is by placing a deposit on the trip or by paying in full. Unless otherwise noted, the amount of the first deposit is 50% of the total trip cost. A second deposit is required 30 days before launch date. If the trip is booked within 30 days of launch date then you must pay the balance in full to guarantee a spot on the trip. Cancellations If cancellations are made within 90 days of the launch date, the first deposit is nonrefundable. If you cancel your trip 30 days before the launch date all moneys will be forfeited to Backcountry Outfitters (herein referred to as BCO). Should BCO cancel a trip due to lack of participants, we will reimburse the full amount of the trip cost. Should BCO cancel a trip due to safety considerations or unforeseen circumstances such as natural disaster or weather, it reserves the right to either relocate you to another trip or issue a credit for a future trip. Then, Leave the Rest to Us Before you go, we’ll provide you with pre-departure information, including clothing recommendations and travel and lodging information. The Importance of Being in Good Physical Condition Be sure to start a moderate training program specific to the type of sport you will be participating in with us. The better shape you are in, the more you will enjoy your adventure. All of our guides are certified in CPR, First Aid, and Wilderness First Responder. We want you to have fun with us, so give us a call if you have questions about training or your ability level.