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Exploring the Red Deer River Ranches
(by Joel Martens)

If you are just not sure if you're up to the challenge of an arduous backcountry packhorse camping trip, Red Deer River Ranches offers a spectacular alternative. Jason Bradley, the ranch's manager, regularly points out the ranch is a cattle operation first and foremost. The ranch offers an easy-going approach for self sufficiency based on providing it's guests with everything they need for comfortable "after hours" living. Hot tub included. I don't care too much for labels but if I were to put a label on this ranch, it'd be the "feel good ranch" of the year.

We are about forty miles West of Sundre down the Coal Camp Trail. This Ranch offers it's guests a full range of activities including river rafting, helicopter fishing charters, trail riding, horse boarding/stabling and more. I get the impression that they will work with you to get you what you want out of your holiday. Jason's guest book would include guests from Israel, Germany, Switzerland and pretty much everywhere in between.

The morning is clear and crisp, in spite of the early fall thunderstorm that pounded through the night before. The sound of water pushing over rock is everywhere. We mount up and move out, I'm riding a 4 year old Morgan stud. He hasn't been to the mountains, let alone ridden outside an arena much, so he needs some pushing out. Generally, I'm of the opinion that there is little need to use a stallion for pleasure riding. I really just wanted to get some miles on him and to "line him out" a bit. After moving him out a few times, he looks like he may just settle in. Jason's riding a well muscled young gelding of mixed decent. Possibly a Quarter Horse or Paint. The riding is good. We cross a couple of small creeks. Then we go uphill to take the edge off our horses. Brush and branches slap up between the legs of my horse almost immediately. We wrap and wind tightly around trees as we climb. I can feel the muscles ripple and almost feel them build during the ascent. This is just what I've been looking for this young stallion.

Jason points out the little things as we ride. So many people ride through here and miss so much. The quiet, the smells of pine and vegetation, the colors and sights, the anomalies, like the mushroom sitting on a branch half way up a tree. Jason explains how the mushroom was probably pulled up the tree by a bird or a squirrel. As we ride I get an insight into what God felt when He looked at all he had made and He saw that it was very good.

When we reach the top, Jason explains how he takes the guests to this spot overlooking the ranch on their last hour of riding. He takes them up and tells them to take a look and to remember: When their back at work, sitting at their desks and things maybe aren't going so good, he tells them to remember this place. To remember how beautiful it was. Hopefully, that will help pull them through the hurdles at the office or at home. As for me, it's the air I'll remember. Sure, I've been to the mountains before and it's always refreshing. Maybe it's the moisture in the air, the taste that lingers in your mouth after each deep breath or perhaps it's just the absolute purity of it all.

After a good day of riding, we return to the ranch. I brought along a young Tennessee Walking Horse to put some miles on so I mount up again. This time alone, I ride up the steep climb we had climbed earlier in the day. I catch myself laughing out loud and just enjoying the ride as the little three-year old gelding works his heart out for me. It's a good climb and we stop about two thirds of the way up. Something clicks for me. I'm overwhelmed by the moment and I pull off my hat for a moment of quiet reflection. God is right… it is good, it is very good.

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