The Real Wild West - Past Guests Share Their Stories From A Copper Cayuse Expedition

Every riding season we at Copper Cayuse Outfitters (CCO) welcome travelers from all over the world, each from unique and interesting walks of life. Some of our guest have never stepped foot in the mountains, while others find the backcountry is their backyard. Regardless of prior experience, we take pride in witnessing awe and amazement consume all our guests as they experience the power and beauty demonstrated by our horses, which is amplified by the breath-taking wilderness.

Start of day two on a Historic Li-lik-hel Gold Mine Horseback Riding Expedition

As hosts, we see and hear these reactions every day from our guests, both while on tour and afterwards from their glowing reviews. But at this year’s end, in celebration of another great season, we decided to dive a bit deeper and interview past guests from one of our 2019 tours.

In September 2019 we welcomed a group of renowned travel writers from all over the world to experience our 3-day Historic Li-lik-hel Gold Mine Horseback Riding Expedition. We recently caught up with two of these writers to share more from their time with CCO and Pemberton, BC. Here is our conversation with local Pemberton writer and communications strategist, Lisa Richardson, and Founder of The Honeymoonist in the United States, Susan Moynihan.

CCO - Hi Lisa and Susan! It is great to catch up with you both after our 2-night, 3-day tour in September. Firstly, what expectations did you have before going on expedition? How were those met or change by the end of tour?

Lisa - I had no idea what to expect! I hadn’t been on a horse since I was 8 years old. My husband is terrified of horses so going on expedition was never going to be a family adventure. I’m not a big animal person either… I’m not the kind of person who runs up to dogs or always reaches to stroke four-leggers. But for me, going out with guides into the backcountry behind where I live, places I can’t access, (that he adventures in through the winter via snowmobile and raves about) was such a lure - The horses were kind of a necessary evil.

I was hoping to have a neutral experience with the beasts, to be honest, and just go have my experience with the landscape that inspires and awes me. The gratitude I felt, to the horses who won my trust with their steadfastness, was really unexpected! Now I get what horse people are on about. They’re remarkable creatures and I’m grateful to have had my heart opened to that, and to glean little tips into what they’re about and how they think.

Susan - I was drawn to the trip by the chance to go back in time, explore an old mine and get out and see British Columbia the way it was initially explored. When I saw how much riding was planned for each day—6 hours on day 1 and 7 on day 2—I got nervous! I didn’t know if I was physically up for it. I’m a Gen X-era woman who loves to ride but does it infrequently; every couple of years for an hour or two. But the Copper Cayuse team listened to my fears and assured me I could do it without keeping anyone back, and they were right.

The biggest surprise for me was the fact that I wasn’t sore after long days in the saddle! I’d done an afternoon of riding in Ireland the prior fall and was stiff for two days, but there’s something about these horses, their gentle gait and comfortable saddles, and the varied terrain that let me use muscles without burning any out!

CCO - What was your favourite moment from the trip?

Lisa - It’s pretty hard to pick one. Jumping in the Birkenhead Lake, drying off and then getting back on my horse was pretty amazing. Arriving to camp each night to a fire, dinner and a glass of vino was pretty darn amazing. Sleeping in a cozy sleeping bag to the rush of the river after being outside all day felt great. And there were a series of moments that I kind of slipped in and out of, when I felt really at ease on horseback and could just soak up the forest; the lichen draped over things, the deer that stopped to observe us as we clip clopped by.

Susan - Challenging myself, being scared but trusting my horse as we made our way up a steep, switchback trail to the mine. When I first saw the mine, cut into a rockface above a pile of scree, my eyes welled up—I felt so lucky to be there, and so grateful that I took on the challenge.

I also liked our evenings gabbing around the campfire. The food was delicious, and it was wonderful bonding time—sharing an experience like this made our group feel like old friends, although none of us had met in person prior to the trip.

CCO - Those moments are so special. Thank you for sharing them with us. As you both witnessed, the natural beauty of the Pemberton backcountry is something special. How would you best describe it to someone who has never experienced it before?

Lisa - I think it’s hard to imagine a place without road noise, wifi or concrete if you live somewhere where that’s abundant. I suspect it can be disorienting at first, but then some ancient part of us unfurls and wakes back up. It’s hard to settle on a good adjective. It’s not pristine - it is a landscape that has been impacted by logging and mining and human presence… but it’s still got a wildness to it that’s really inviting.

Susan - I’ve seen quite a few mountain ranges—the Rockies, the Alps, the Grand Tetons—but the coastal mountains of BC are unique. They are definitely rugged and mountainous but they feel softer and lusher, maybe because they are so close to the coast.

CCO - Lisa, as a Pemberton local, what elements of this town keep you wanting to live here? And Susan, as a guest to the region, what are the biggest draws to keep you coming back?

Lisa - The moment Pemberton became something more for me than being the “more affordable place to live near Whistler” happened 20 years ago. A cowboy rode by as I walked into town, and said, “which way to the beach?” It was so random and awesome, I fell in love with the place, for being the kind of place that has cowboys, and skiers, and beach-hunters, and book-lovers, and mountain bikers and organic farmers, all mixing it up together. We owe a lot of the draw to the ecology of the place, but I love that it attracts people who sense that happiness is connected with dirt, sweat, running water and trees.

Susan – I think of [the Sea-to Sky Region of British Columbia] as a winter destination but I would like to come back in the summer and do more exploring—maybe a road trip visiting different neighboring towns, and spending a longer time out on the trail with Copper Cayuse. Next time I would like to stay longer! We only did two nights, and all of us said on our last morning that we could easily stay on for another night or two longer.

More About Lisa: Lisa Richardson, https://lisarichardsonbylines.com/about/

Writer. Communications Strategist. Creative at large. Currently: Senior writer for Coast Mountain Culture magazine. Editor of the Winds of Change’s Wellness Almanac. Velocity Project columnist in Pique newsmagazine. Content for Patagonia and Arc’teryx. Freelance strategy, grant-writing, copywriting and journalism for select clients and publications.

More About Susan: Susan Moynihan, https://thehoneymoonist.com/about-us/

Founder of The Honey Moonist. Traveling her entire life, first as the child of a Navy officer, and then as a travel writer (USA Today, Architectural Digest, ISLANDS, Destination I Do, Organic Spa and many more) and magazine editor (travel editor, Conde Nast’s Elegant Bride; editorial director, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons; editor in chief, SPA and Modern Luxury Brides).

Copper Cayuse Outfitters is now booking for the 2020 tour season! Don’t miss out on experiencing the beauty of Pemberton Backcountry. Book your adventure today!