Our Story
Rocky Mountain High has been in operation since the early 1950’s, originally owned and operated by Harry and Doris Riddel as supplemental income to their ranching. After Harry passed away, Doris continued to operate, until one of her guides, Barry Scott eventually purchased and took over the area. Barry spent many years upgrading the camps, from wall tents to log cabins, cutting out trails and streamlining the business. In 1998, Barry wanting to pursue other interests, sold the business to Marty and Carrie Lightburn, owners and operators for the last 18 years.
Marty grew up in the logging business, and was a loader operator and “manager in training” to take over his father’s logging outfit. Marty’s love for the outdoors and passion for hunting steered him away from his father’s business and into the guiding industry. At 18 years, old Marty did his first guided hunt for his Aunt and Uncle, Evelyne and Richard Fahselt, owners of Ram Creek Outfitters, who had to obtain a special permit for Marty to guide because he was under aged. Since that time Marty’s dream was to become an Outfitter, like his Uncle, and he has never looked back.
Located in heart of the beautiful East Kootenays, Rocky Mountain High Outfitters is a family operated guiding territory. A husband and wife team, Marty does all the guiding and field work, while Carrie manages the office and paperwork. They have two young children, Devon and Brooke, who at a very early age have become involved in the business in their own ways, by cutting trails, stacking wood, feeding dogs, oiling saddles and so on.
A true sportsman at heart, Marty believes that hunting is about far more than just the kill. Marty and Carrie are dedicated to providing a safe, successful, and enjoyable hunting experience. Although there are never any guarantees in hunting, there are a few things that they will guarantee: warm, dry, and comfortable accommodations, hot, homemade meals, skilled and personable guides, a beautiful game rich area, and magnificent scenery.
Marty and Carrie are proud of their operation. They attribute their success to their hard work, and dedication. Much of their business is through repeat and referral, and they have established many good friendships over the years. Marty and Carrie offer some of the finest hunting opportunities available today.
Our outfit retains exclusive guiding rights to 500 square miles of exceptional mountain range with elevations between 3,500 and 10,000 feet. Over the years we have developed a comfortable and efficient guiding operation with a reputation of quality and personalized service.
Our commitment is to provide the fairest opportunity, within our control, to lead our clients to success. Success defined as fulfilment of expectations. While meeting our client’s needs we are also committed to promoting and enhancing the health and preservation of the resources that allow us to conduct our business and to do so in a manner that is ethical and professional. Communication, honesty, and hard work are the core of our commitment.
Accommodations
Our accommodations include two main camps, the Blackfoot, and North Fork, consisting of comfortable cabin style bunks, cookhouses, and showering facilities. The bunks are of simple 2×4 construction, and we stock foamies and pillows, in camp. The cookhouses are equipped with full kitchens including propane stoves, wood stoves, propane fridges, and running water. The showers we usually start up every few days, run on propane fired, instant hot water, and are a great luxury after a long day of hunting.
There are also three spike camps, Alpine, Bull Mountain, and Cliff lake, all strategically located throughout the guiding territory. All spike camps are also comfortable log cabins located in pristine settings.
Each of our main camps is limited to four hunters, with one hunter per guide unless otherwise arranged. Marty will designate you to a certain camp, depending on your physical ability, number of hunters in your party, and of course your requests. A full time cook is provided in the two main camps.
Access to all of our camps is restricted, during the hunting season, from motorized vehicles, meaning that we use horses extensively, not only to conduct the hunts but to access the camps. All supplies and gear are packed in via horseback thus the need to limit the number of bags per hunter. You can expect a 1-2 hour drive by pick-up truck to the corrals followed by a 1-3 hour horseback trip, depending on which camp you will be staying.
Location
We are located in the South East corner of British Columbia, about a 1.5 hour drive from the Alberta border and 1 hour from the US/Montana border. Our guiding territory is located in the Bull River, Region 4, management units 4-22 and 4-24. Our area covers almost 570 square miles of the most spectacular terrain in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The area is long and narrow, starting at the dam and extending all the way to the summit, allowing us to hunt year round.