Aaron says, “People are sometimes surprised to learn I grew up in cowboy culture and really didn’t have any problems coming out to my family as a teen. Rural homophobia, I guess, is a stereotype. For the most part, my family was rather nonchalant about me being gay. My uncle’s reaction was, ‘Okay… you’re gay… now get back on that horse. We have work to do.’ For the past 15 years I have loved bringing gay groups to the ranch and sharing this wonderful place.”

Your OutWest trip leader will pick you up at your hotel or the Billings airport. The hour and 1/2 drive will bring us along the Yellowstone River, through the Stillwater valley, and finally to the Lazy E-L Ranch, at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains. For lunch we’ll stop in Roscoe at the Grizzly Bar and Restaurant for some Montana beef.

Upon arrival you’ll have some time to get settled in the historic ranch lodge, a log structure built in 1919. The lodge still maintains its authentic western flavor with Navajo rugs, log furniture, and original western art. From the lodge porch, you’ll have unobstructed views of the Beartooth Mountains which rise to over 12,500 feet.

In the late afternoon, we’ll head to the barn for an introduction to horseback riding on the Lazy E-L Ranch. The wrangler teaches you how to ride, beginning with grooming and saddling your horse. After some time in the corral, you’ll head out into the open pastures for some trail riding. With only twelve guests on the ranch at a time, the wrangler is able to give you enough attention to teach you to ride like a real cowboy.

DAYS TWO - SIX.   A DAY IN THE LIFE AT THE LAZY E-L RANCH.  The Lazy E-L doesn’t arrange its schedule around the guests; rather you join the crew’s schedule. In the mornings, you have breakfast with the cowboys and cowgirls in the cookhouse and hear about the day’s activities.

The primary activity on the ranch is horseback riding. With 12,000 acres you will ride through a variety of terrain. When there is a cattle drive that week, you can join the cowboys and cowgirls as they move the cattle from one pasture to the next. You could be a part of the spectacle of rounding up 2,000 head of cattle!

On the June and July trips, OutWest offers a half-day of white water rafting. A tributary of the Yellowstone River, the Stillwater River meanders through a one-sided canyon, which was once home of the Crow Indians and buffalo herds. The river offers class II & III rapids, and is a great introduction to white water.

Throughout the week, keep your eyes open for wildlife. The ranch is home to deer, elk, coyotes, bears, eagles, and sometimes wolves from neighboring Yellowstone National Park. With 12,000 protected acres and six miles of private river access, wildlife on the ranch is plentiful.

The evening meals vary. While one dinner is a more upscale affair, most meals are casual dinners in the cookhouse with the family and staff. Another evening we head to town for shopping and a restaurant meal on your own. In the evenings, kick back on the lodge porch and gaze at the bright stars. You’ll see why Montana truly is “Big Sky Country.”

ACCOMMODATIONS.    The ranch limits the number of guests to 12. The main lodge is called “The Summer Cabin” and each room is unique. The log lodge is not a hotel, but a family vacation home. Rooms are decorated with original western art, old family photographs, and Navajo rugs. The main room has a fireplace. Some bedrooms have private bathrooms and some share a bathroom with the room next door. Bed configurations vary. Rooms have two twins, a queen, or a king bed. Several other cabins are also available that accommodate two to four people. Room preference is given to those who book first, so book early.

DAY SEVEN.   DEPARTURE.  Today, you return home as the city slicker turned cowboy. Best of luck on the trail!