‘Nothing made it:’ Ranch that offered trail rides gutted by Waterton wildfire
WATERTON, Alta. — A family-run horse ranch that was gutted by a southwestern Alberta wildfire this week was a major fixture in Shelby Barrus’s childhood.
Alpine Stables, which offered guided trail rides to visitors in Waterton Lakes National Park, was founded nearly a half-century ago by her great-aunt and great-uncle.
Barrus, 22, recalls staying there as a girl and waking up in the morning to see bears ambling through the yard. At night she’d go to sleep to the sound of elk bugling.
She has worked at Alpine Stables since she was 14, first helping to lead guided rides, now in the office.