Deep Canyon Guest Ranch

Owners of Deep Canyon Guest Ranch.   Tim and Sharyn look forward to spending much of their summer on the ranch.  They will still be busy running their other companies but are eager to interact with guests.  You can expect to see them on trail rides, hikes and around the lodge helping with meals and activities.   Sharyn has extensive horse experience as her family was very active showing Belgian horses and has driven teams for work and competition. Tim is more of a cow guy. He loves animals and the beauty of horses, but will probably not be leading the group rides! The Abbotts love to hike and walk and are avid University of Vermont Basketball fans.  The two have a love for music and look forward to bringing some of the best singer songwriters from Nashville to the ranch.

Julie first arrived at the ranch in 2010 as a guest on a pack trip, and it didn’t take long for the mountains to win her heart. After a pack trip she asked Chuck—on the way to the airport—if she could volunteer the next summer. From that point on, she was hooked. Each visit deepened her love for the rugged beauty of the mountains and the welcoming rhythm of ranch life. 

In 2018, Julie fulfilled a long-held dream and moved to Montana permanently. She now teaches special education in Great Falls, but every summer she eagerly returns to the mountains—the place where she feels most at home. 

Julie enjoys taking guests on horseback rides, sharing stories along the trail, and connecting with visitors over a warm cup of coffee in the early morning light. Those simple, meaningful moments are what keep her coming back year after year. 

Chelsea will be involved with all aspects of the ranch, but her passion is certainly the horses. Chelsea enjoys hiking and skiing, recently taking up the winter sport of Ski Joring.   She loves exploring the beautiful scenery in MT, be it on foot or horseback!  She and her fiancé, Trent, like to hunt, fish and explore the wilderness.      

While Chuck and Sharon have sold to the Abbott Family, they will still be a big part of the ranch.  They spent 50 years of their lives on this property and are legendary figures in the community and industry.   We hope to have them out to meet guests, enjoy the ranch and be part of our ranch family for years to come.   We can’t wait to sit by the campfire with them and hear stories of building the place, learn about the land and property and facts about the area.  We are fortunate to have them in our lives and can’t wait to share them with guest!  But remember, Chuck is going to be 90 this summer and says “maybe it is time to slow down a bit”.  Slow down for him is a full day for most of us!

Dave first arrived at the Deep Canyon at the age of four, when his parents purchased the ranch in the 1950s. For the next four years, his family operated the property, offering backcountry hunts, guest ranch experiences, and his mother’s well-known Sunday fried chicken dinners. When the family eventually returned to their farm in Wisconsin, Dave famously stomped his foot in protest, vowing that he would one day come back. 

He kept that promise. At nineteen, Dave returned to Deep Canyon to work for Chuck and Sharon Blixrud, beginning what would become a lifelong career. Over the past 45 years, he has guided countless backcountry pack trips and hunting expeditions. Today, he leads guests on horseback from the ranch and shares his extensive knowledge of the region’s geography and history. 

In 2014, Dave was honored as Guide of the Year by the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA), a recognition that reflects his expertise, dedication, and decades of service. 

Ella is a wrangler returning to the ranch for her fifth year with Deep Canyon Guest Ranch.  Ella was born and raised in the small town of Choteau, just down the road from the ranch, where she learned the importance of hard work.  Ella will graduate in spring of 2026 from the University of Montana in Missoula with a Bachelor in psychology.  When Ella is not wrangling, some of her favorite things to do are go fishing, hiking or paint. 

Caitlyn Abbott will be at the ranch from time to time this summer but will continue her full time job as a traveling NICU nurse.   You never know what part of the country she might be in! Recently she has had assignments in Charlottesville, VA, Raleigh, NC,  Charleston, SC, Colorado Springs, CO, Bozeman, MT and Boise, ID. She will be involved with helping plan bigger events at the ranch like music festivals, corporate retreats and weddings.  She too likes the outdoors and loves to hike and explore nature.