Over the years, I've used the services of numerous outfitters to work with the horse-assisted hiking trips that I organize each summer in Willmore Wilderness Park. The events of 9/11 and the SAARS epidemic and now the current recession have all hurt these small, local business operators and thus many that I have used are no longer in the business.

I generally only recommend outfitters that I myself use and feel good about. At present I use and can highly recommend Tom and Shawn Vinson who operate Horseback Adventures Ltd. which offers horseback vacations and horse-assisted hiking trips into Rock Lake-Solomon Creek Wildland Park, Willmore Wilderness Park and Jasper National Park.

Feeling good means that the outfitters are committed to their clients and are very knowledgable about the wilderness places where they take them. In addition, it means that their horses are of good quality and fit for the work. Some outfitters use horses that should have been retired years ago – the Vinsons raise their own obviously superior stock for the type of work demanded of a mountain horse.

It also means that they care about the places they visit. The Vinson family has a long relationship with Willmore and the adjacent Jasper National Park back country. After being out with Tom and his gang, I've found that he's been all the places that I have on foot in this marvelous Rocky Mountain terrain. Thus he is able to provide experienced guidance to hikers who wish to use his services.

In saying this, I do not accept fees or discounts in any form for recommending this dedicated outfitting family who clearly love the places where then take people each summer.

ph:780-865-4777
fax:780-865-5433
www.horsebackadventuresltd.com
email: info@horsebackadventuresltd.com

~ Ray Rasmussen, May 2010