Meet the 2010 Team

Now that the season is well under way, it’s time for you to meet our exceptional staff of 2010. With guests from the UK arriving this Sunday and the first Cowgirl Bootcamp next weekend, we are keeping busy with our gravity fed irrigation system, riding/ training horses and clearing new and exciting trails. After a solid day’s work, it’s back to the Lodge for some of the most delicious food that Elkin Creek has tasted.

Happily living by our new motto, it’s sure to be an amazing season!

Ian - Ranch Manager

Susy - Lodge Manager

Angela - Chef

Darcy-Ranch Hand

Elizabeth and Kat- Wranglers

The 2010 Elkin Creek Guest Ranch season has officially begun! Branding and Turnout Weekend was a great success and a wonderful time was had by all.

With returning guests using skills acquired from previous brandings to newcomers experiencing this tradition for the first time, everyone participated in various activities: roping and flanking calves, administering injections and finally tagging and branding.

Following the hard day’s work, everyone enjoyed a hardy meal and headed to the Lounge for a Country Hoedown with great sing-a-longs to a variety of live talent. After a cozy night’s sleep everyone was up and at ‘em to saddle up their trusty steeds and head out on the authentic cattle drive.

What a memorable start to the season!

20th Annual National Festival of the West draws crowds from all over North America

....... including Jake Conkin!

You all remember Jake Conkin, guest at Elkin Creek Guest Ranch and our very own true blue buckaroo.  Well, he's spent the last week strutting his ol' west duds in Scottsdale, Arizona for the 20th Annual Festival of the West and I've recieved some reports on the fun.  It was the place to be for any true cowboy/cowgirl and western fan in North America.  With nonstop cowboy entertainment and western music, guests could toe tap their way through the western tradeshow and log home show, all the while stopping to catch cowboys presenting poetry or to collect signitures from some of Hollywood's best known western film stars.  From costume contests to chuck wagon cook-offs, I'm sure it was a 'hay day'.

Jake made his way through the crowds dressed head to toe in his western duds, dining on chuckwagon biscuits and dutch-oven-made peach cobbler. We're hoping he sends a few pictures our way, but for the time being, check out the website for a peek into this grand Festival of the West @ http://www.festivalofthewest.com/

Adios

Who needs a gym when you've got a guest ranch...burn calories while you play!

Did you know that horseback riders can burn up to 650 calories an hour while in the saddle?

Ranch Rider offers up a pretty darn good idea for those fun-loving travelers who are looking to live up to their new years resolutions.  Kill two birds with one stone this summer by opting for a vacation where it's possible to have a blast and keep active at the same time!

Check out the article below posted online in CANADA Magazine:

Saddle Up & Get Back In Shape

With the recession finally relinquishing its grip on those pursestrings, we can all focus on our personal health rather than that ofour bank balance. According to Ranch Rider, fitness holidays are not simply concerned with trekking and hiking into the hinterland(although many guest ranches will offer these pursuits), as riders can burn up to 650 calories an hour while in the saddle.

So if that New Year’s resolution to get back in shape has been shelved along with your gym club membership, grab the reins and head to Canada with Ranch Rider.

 Why not take your girlfriends along for theride and opt for the Cowgirl Boot Camp at the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch in British Columbia. There will be opportunities to hit the trail, rope the livestock and enjoy a few pre-dinner drinks and horsd’oeuvres with your BFFs in the unspoilt Nemaiah Valley.

The complete health and wellness package, yoga, massage and life-skillscoaching round off the 2-night stay. 7-nights from £1,145pp.

Departures: 11 – 13 June. Excludes car hire from £249 per week andgratuities left to guests’ discretion. Return flight from £579pp.

All prices (unless otherwise stated) are based on two sharing andinclude full board accommodation, all ranch based riding, use of allfacilities, gratuities, taxes and transfers. Subject to availability.

Telephone Ranch Rider on 01509 618811, email info@ranchrider.com orvisit www.ranchrider.com for further information.

Getting excited for the 2010 events at ELKIN CREEK GUEST RANCH

The sun is still shining across the lower mainland here in beautiful British Columbia. The record breaking warm weather over the last week has me daydreaming about summer. Warm against my back, the sun beats through my office window, creating a glare on my computer screen and distracting me from my usual duties....I begin conjuring up visions of hot summer days. Of course, my thoughts drift to days spent at the ELKIN CREEK GUEST RANCH, where some of my fondest memories were created (lucky me!). Reminiscing over last year’s events, I start to get excited for our 2010 season, which starts in less than three months...Yeehaw! I’m not too sure which event I’m looking forward to the most, although, because it’s all about the ladies, I do play favouritism to our Cowgirl Bootcamps. Each and every event is an adventure...and, best of all, inspires a unique and true sense of the west.


What would you be most excited about?

Broncos kicking up dust storms as they buck and toss denim clad cowboys from their rippling backside... soft winds catching the brims of well-worn felt cowboy hats...the scent of warm leather... (Nemaiah Valley Rodeo)

A sense of victory as you and your horse collaborate to conquer the minds of cattle... navigating your way through the unspoiled, luscious countryside...cooking up a challenging feast over an open fire, glasses of wine clanging as you cheers the accomplishment and satisfaction of teamwork... (Cowgirl Bootcamp)

I could go on and on, but instead come check out the ELKIN CREEK GUEST RANCH EVENTS PAGE for more details or check out our FACEBOOK ALBUMS for pictures of the events.

Say 'Happy Valentine's Day' with a COUPLES BOOTCAMP GETAWAY at the ELKIN CREEK GUEST RANCH

Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day tickles our taste buds...and our waist lines. With shelves full of cinnamon hearts, sweet tarts, and red foil-wrapped chocolates, how could we forget, right? Not only are we stressing over our caloric intake, but we are increasingly stressed over how to romance our partner again this Feb 14th. Each year couples across the globe struggle with ideas of how to surprise and impress their loved ones yet again.

Some don't agree with Valentine’s Day. They would argue that everyday should be a celebration of love. Ok, maybe a more familiar argument would be that it's completely commercialized, and a way to make money from mass purchases of junk food and sweets. I would have to agree with both.

Here is the thing about relationships though. They DO need to be nourished and cherished and sometimes recharged throughout the years. Couples often forget what it's like to have fun together..I mean REALLY HAVE FUN! In order to reawaken the puppy stage, we need to show appreciation, change things up a bit, challenge each other, work as a team and set new goals together.

I've got just the thing....ELKIN CREEK GUEST RANCH’S 2010 COUPLES BOOTCAMP!! It's a fun and exciting way to rekindle the LOVE.

For the second year in a row, Elkin Creek Guest Ranch is hosting a Couples Bootcamp. So what, it's not your typical lay by the beach, burn your buns type getaway. It's even better! You'll learn to lasso, let loose, and laugh your boots off. Expect plenty of riding, challenging relays, hilarious couples games, chef-prepared meals and drinks with new friends.

So, if you want to knock the socks off your loved one this year, and beat out all your friends with the BEST GIFT, then enjoy the EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME this September 23-26 at the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch.

Visit the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch website to find out more about our events and packages.

Jake Conkin makes the Vancouver Sun - Tales of the Cowboy Life

I just wanted to share a recent article in the Vancouver Sun...Jake Conkin tells more tales of the Cowboy Life.  He spills about when he was a lad growing up near Nelson, BC and about more recent experiences at some well-known Canadian ranches.  Follow the link below to have a read....

Tales of the Cowboy Life - Vancouver Sun

Buckaroo Jake visits Elkin Creek Guest Ranch

So, looking back at last season, Elkin Creek Guest Ranch was delighted to host some very fascinating and entertaining guests. There is one in particular that I would love to tell you all about, a fellow who stayed with us this last September. He goes by the name of Jake Conkin. Yup, that's thee Jake Conkin, beloved children's author of the Little Jake western tales trilogy, which is being created into webisodes (animated snippets) as we speak. You may also recognize him from his kid's show 'The Buckaroo Jake and Calico Carol', which he co-produces with his wife. And lastly, he's made his mark in the western world through his talent for cowboy poetry, performing at events all over the United States and Canada. His book Silk 'n' Silver, was published in 1991 and has been featured in prestigious magazines such as 'American Cowboy'.

I think you've got the gist...Jake's created quite the name for himself. His successes are apparent in his zest for life.. “I'm happier than a cowpoke in a saloon full o' purty buckarettes...yepppasiree!”

Having ridden alongside 'buckaroos' on some of the biggest ranches in Canada, I recall the ranch staff worrying whether we could meet his expectations. We were all pleasantly surprised the minute he entered the main lodge, when his warm smile radiated nothing but patience, charm and kindness. Silly us! That’s exactly what we should have expected from a man whose passion is to entertain children.

Dressed from head to toe (as above) in western attire, Jake eased right into the Chilcotin lifestyle, sipping his coffee on the front porch. His boots lay lazily stacked as he crossed his denim-clad legs, sitting back and fondly breathing in the fresh air. I could sense his deep appreciation for the country.

Jake's perpetual love for the cowboy way was infectious as his charismatic story telling abilities captivated the other guests. Group trail rides were anticipated, and as they rode through the countryside, all heads were cocked in an attempt to learn of his adventures over the horse's clopping hooves.

Over hearty, chef-prepared meals, Jake would tell of his experiences eating chow from the camp cook out on the range (you know, the real deal!). “There's a condiment wheel/lazy-susan style on the grub table so no one has to ask anyone tuh pass anythin', meanin' they's not into any palaver whatsoever and they kin jest turn the wheel and git what tis' they needs.” With a sparkle in his eye, he'd explain to the guests what it's like to participate in a cattle drive with cattle as far as the eye can see - the thrill of riding days and days in unspoiled, rugged wilderness. “Big ranches have cowcamps which are camps out on the range where the buckaroos and buckarettes stay lookin' after the herds. Yup, they's out there being tophands too...there's a cookshack and bunkhouse (if buckarettes are hired they have separate accommodation). These are purty rustic and the hands turn in purty early every day since their days are long and hard. They's usually up well 'fore daylight and have tuh git their cowpony caught and tacked in the dark... give it a feed 'fore they head for the cookshack for breakfast. Not much if any cowpoke conversation so early in the morn...mostly grunts and head tosses.”

 His stories leave us all fascinated and absorbed with the ways of the west….perfect for a guest ranch holiday. When we would all hit the hay at night, we'd dream of what adventures tomorrow would bring.
Thank you Jake, for sharing such an intriguing passion with the staff and guests at Elkin Creek Guest Ranch, and for your buckaroo charm and Wild West dialect.

On behalf of Jake Conkin, we would like to recommend his books. To learn more about Jake and his books, please visit his website at http://www.littlejake.tv/. Also, keep your eyes peeled this spring as the Little Jake webisodes are set to air on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

For anyone who wants to give Elkin Creek Guest Ranch a go themselves, saddle up for an incredible ride. 2010 offers lots of exciting events and weekend getaways. Giddy-up!

Article published in AOL Canada Travel Guide - Elkin Creek Guest Ranch Cowgirl Bootcamp - Experience BC from the West Coast to the Wild West

Downtown Diva Turns Cow Girl in British Columbia: Part 2
Written by Elizabeth Haggarty of AOL Travel

Cowgirls at the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch relax on the lodge deck

An hour and a half after my Pacific Coastal Airlines flight left the Vancouver cityscape behind I arrived on the tarmac at Williams Lake, in the province Brittany Triangle, my once slept on city-styled hair blowing in the breeze. Having left the plush comfort of the Four Seasons Hotel and surrounding spas I stood waiting for the cowboy I expected to pick us up, with a group of other cow girls. I made sure to check the mini Grand Marnier bottle, the Four Seasons chef had put in my Tiffany lunch bag, was still within reach. Entering the wilderness can be a shock.

Our cowboy/Head Wrangler Travis Baldwin arrived in his mandatory rural pick up truck and, accompanied by the strums of Johnny Cash, we drove along the bumpy logging roads for an hour and a half to the Elkin Guest Ranch. As Baldwin joked about people who had tried to make the trip in a yellow mustang we passed a pack of wild horses munching on brush at the side of the road. I’ve never seen a wild horse before, let alone a pack of them, and a feeling of awe combined with a worry that they were going to charge us soon rose in my chest. I was in a land where these magnificent creatures were a daily occurrence, like the raccoons in my Toronto apartment building’s garbage bin. As the truck moved on kicking up a small storm of dust I kept my eyes glued in their direction, only shifting my gaze when our pick up pulled over the cattle grids that marked the entrance to the Elkin Guest Ranch and we were left, with our luggage, on our log cabin door steps.

The scenery at Elkin Creek Guest Ranch is spell-binding, too beautiful to be real. As I slept I expect a crew to take down the blue mountain, with its white patch glacier accentuated by the warmth of the glowing golden fields, to put it back in the Hollywood box once filming was done.

While waking to a glass of champagne and plush bathrobe is nice, there is nothing like opening your eyes to the morning sunlight accompanied by the sound of charging horses. As I opened the cabin door I watched the Lodge Manager, Kerrie Robinson, on top of her steed Knight, running the ranch’s horses in from their night long feast, of wild grass, to get ready for a day of being ridden by want-to-be cowboys.

In the cabin I walked past the pre-worn cowboy boots, the lodge was loaning me for my stay, and the copy of ‘Born to be Hung’, a cowboy novel that replaced a copy of the Holt Renfrew catalogue on the night stand of my travel accommodation, I went to dress for a day on the ranch.

For us cow girls, the day started off with breakfast. At Elkin Creek don’t expect a secluded dining experience. As soon as you enter you are greeted by the lodge’s open kitchen where you can tell the chef your morning order, ranging from eggs and bacon done however you like them to crepes with fresh fruit. Breakfast and diner are often taken at the dinning room’s main table with guest sitting together and helping themselves to the jugs of juice in the fridge found behind them. The ranch’s lodge house boasts a comfortable bar complete with stone fireplace and hunting trophies. Lunch is taken in the wilderness, with the lodge’s chef driving out to set up plates of sandwiches, cheese and fruit and a cooler of beer, to greet riders amongst the trees at the end of a long trek.

After breakfast, a farmer’s coffee and a pep talk from the other guest about the glory of riding I was off to meet my steed. I don’t ride. Not because I have anything against dotting equestrians, but because while my friends learnt to jump and canter I was content to sit on the fence holding the bridles, a child-like fire hydrant to tie your horse around.

But under the watchful eyes and instruction of Baldwin and Robinson I, along with other cow girls, was soon comfortable brushing and saddling up my assigned neddy; the last remnants of any nail polish quickly ripped off as I tried to ram the bit into the mouth of Roan-y, my sleepy stallion. The ranch pairs horses with guests according to their riding level. My level was beginner, slow moving, much like the pale speckled horse that was to be my weekend companion.

Whether you are a rider, or not, Elkin Creek accommodates you. While the more advanced equestrians took off for a canter the rest of us were taught the basics of Western riding and how to direct our horses around barrels and get them to trot. After squeezing my heels hard into his ribs, I got my horse to walk into the barrels, by the end of the third go we wandered around them. I was ready to head onto the trails through the hills and around the clear, still lake next to the ranch.

But don’t think you’ll only be riding; the ranch works hard to give you the full farm girl experience. A real cowboy from next door stops by, with his horse and herding dog, to teach lodge goers how to lasso a haystack. It doesn’t stop there. After you’ve demonstrated you can throw a rope cow girls are lead to wrangle some real cattle, on their horses, and then lasso some calves from the ground.

While thriving to give you and authentic farm experience, you can treat the Elkin Creek experience with the level of seriousness you see fit. Case and point, I was awarded a lovely rustic picture frame, complete with plaster skull and barbed wire to commemorate my fast calf roping time. While other cow girls demonstrated the lassoing skills they had learnt while running after the calf they were meant to rope and release, I quietly snuck up behind my prey, slipped the rope over its neck and pulled until the release clasp let the animal break away. Victory for a fast time– yes. Sportsmanship – maybe.

After a day on the ranch mum’s who had a fear of getting into a saddle after years of not riding were drive their horses into the thick of a herd to scare out a crowd as social workers from crowded cities force their horses to stand their ground as cattle race towards them.

Elkin Guest ranch also provides relief for your bruised, stiff body. Borrow one of their bikes to cycle down to the lake, whose clear serenity buffered from the sky by craggy mountain peaks can be observed from the Ranch’s hot tubs or one of the kayaks or paddle boats they leave out for guests.

By the end of the day all thoughts of the city had faded from my mind. Relaxing spa treatments were replaced by tranquil night kayaks around a moonlight lake, fusion food replaced by hearty meals and picnic of cheese, fruit and beer with my horse in the wilderness.

Read More: Downtown Diva Turns Cow Girl in British Columbia: Part 1


Source: By Elizabeth Haggarty, AOL Travel

Posted: 01/06/10 1:13PM
Filed Under: Canada Travel Guide

Healing Lifestyles

Healing Lifestyles & Spas - From Cowgirl Cool to City Chic

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enRoute, Air Canada's online magazine - Couples programs far and wide

enRoute, Air Canada's online magazine, has published a list of Couples programs across the globe... Notice that Elkin Creek is #1...yahoo!

Together Wherever - Couples programs far and wide

 
1. Wrangle your partner (literally?) into attending Elkin Creek Guest Ranch’s three-day Couples Bootcamp and Fall Getaway Weekend, held every fall in B.C., where “togetherness” means learning how to rope and handle livestock à deux.
On Elkin Creek at the south end of Vedan Lake, British Columbia, 877-3GO-WEST, adventurewestresorts.com/elkin

2. Get deep with Miraval Arizona’s couples connection program and learn all about “intentional dialogue.” Then head to the spa for side-by-side massages.
5000 E. Via Estancia Miraval, Tucson, Arizona, 800-825-4000, miravalresort.com

3. At the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, ironically where the flick Couples Retreat was filmed, the real-life romantic package (sans Vince Vaughn) involves a private bungalow, award-winning cuisine galore and champagne.

Join Adventure West Resorts in our social networking frenzy :)

So, I've just created a Ning netowork for Elkin Creek Guest Ranch, adding yet another to our list of existing social networks.  I wanted to share part of the blog that I just posted on Ning as it pertains to Adventure West Resorts as a whole and gives you some insight as to our game plan at present and into 2010:

Of course, we have recognized the importance of word of mouth advertising, so social networking has become a big part of who we are. We get a lot of support from our guests, who largely return for a second, third and sometimes fourth visit.  For this, we would like to assist and encourage them by helping spread the word as well. 

With our social networks, we hope to promote communication and create a sense of community. It is very important to us that both our existing and our potential guests understand the authenticity of our offerings, as we promote a genuine British Columbian holiday experience.  We appreciate comments and suggestions and we work our best to cater to everyones needs.  Returning guests keep us striving to be the top guest ranch in BC!!

If you have been considering taking a holiday in BC, please take a look at what Elkin Creek Guest Ranch has to offer. With a never-ending list of activities, it is a great place to take the family. Horseback riding through the Chilcotin valleys and mountainsides is such a majestic experience. Elkin Creek is also a great place to experience BC's unspoiled wilderness and to just relax and unwind. For hubby/dad, lake fishing is a very popular activity.
Top all of that off with spacious, yet cozy, log cabin accommodation, gourmet chef-prepared meals, a sauna and hot tub by the lake, games room and fully stocked bar and lounge....you've got the holiday of a lifetime.
 
So, here is what I mean....we are spreadin word online....
Adventure West Resorts also has a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Adventure-West-Resorts/18595774491?), a Twitter account (http://twitter.com/BCguestranch), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39259834@N04/) and like I mentioned, a Ning network ( http://bcguestranch.ning.com/profile/MeghanStJean) Oh...and I can't forget our website (http://www.weekendcowboy.com/)
 
Thanks for checking us out.  Our best wishes for 2010!!