Outdoor Skills and Stories with Josh Crumpton and Swarovski Optik
at the Paintrock Canyon Ranch
BOOK NOWPaintrock Canyon Ranch, Wyoming
September 13 - 18, 2026
Join Josh Crumpton and Swarovski Optik’s Ben Lizdas for a five-night immersive journey into the heart of the sporting life at Paintrock Canyon Ranch. This retreat moves beyond simple outdoor technique to explore the deeper human connection to nature through the development of skills, stories, and the senses.
This program is proudly supported by Dometic. Throughout the week, Josh will demonstrate how he integrates their rugged mobile power and cooling infrastructure to build high-performance kitchens in the wild and transport wild harvest safely across the country.
The Program
This workshop is designed to transform how you perceive and engage with the natural world. Facilitated by professional guide and rancher Josh Crumpton—host of the Field Standard Podcast and the upcoming television series Undercurrents—and optics expert Ben Lizdas, the program bridges the gap between observation and active engagement.
Participants will cultivate the skill of seeing through tracking, birding, and reading the subtle signs of the wildlife habitat. The experience culminates in the opportunity to observe a live hunt, followed by the hands-on process of honoring the harvest through wild game processing. Josh will lead sessions on maintaining the cold chain using Dometic’s professional-grade mobile cooling, sharing his methods for preserving gourmet standards from the remote backcountry to the home table. Technical instruction includes an introduction to long-distance shooting and precision optics, delivered by Swarovski Optik experts, ensuring every participant gains the confidence to engage with the landscape ethically and skillfully.
About Josh Crumpton
Josh Crumpton is the steward of Spoke Hollow Ranch, where he articulates the deep connections between habitat stewardship, sporting heritage, and culinary tradition. A former restaurateur and wine distributor who has "gone feral" to return to the wild, Josh brings decades of gourmet culinary expertise to the field. Through his conservation leadership with organizations like Trout Unlimited and American Rivers, he translates complex ecological relationships into accessible wisdom. He is the host of the Field Standard Podcast and the creator of the forthcoming television series Undercurrents.
About Ben Lizdas
Ben Lizdas spent nearly two decades as an expert in optics and birdwatching before merging those skills with his passion for locally sourced food. As an adult-onset hunter, Ben brings a unique perspective on how lifelong nature observation evolves into the pursuit of wild harvest.
Itinerary
Day One
After arriving at Paintrock Canyon, we will gather for an introduction to the program’s core philosophy: reconnecting with the wild through our five senses. We will discuss the concept of rewilding and explore what each participant hopes to gain from the week ahead.
Day Two
The morning begins with a silent trek to read the landscape, focusing on wildlife tracking and the discipline of observation. Following a discussion on the ancestral connection of the field-to-table lifestyle, we will review the essential gear—from Swarovski optics to navigation tools—needed for the backcountry.
Day Three
We start by scouting habitat for the week's hunt before transitioning to the range for professional rifle shooting instruction hosted by Swarovski Optik experts. The afternoon includes shotgun and clay pigeon practice, concluding with fireside stories regarding the heritage and ethics of the hunt.
Day Four
Participants will head out for a morning hunt to put conservation principles and stalking skills into practice. If successful, the remainder of the day is dedicated to live demonstrations of field dressing, butchery, and the art of cooking over an open flame or field stove.
Day Five
Depending on the results of yesterday's hunt, our final full day might include an additional hunt, continued field dressing and butchery, and the preparation of a celebratory group meal. If conditions allow, we will forage for additional wild seasonal ingredients before gathering for a final evening of reflection on the personal impact of the experience.
Day Six
A final breakfast in the canyon before departures.
Accommodations
Guests will stay in private, safari-style canvas tents located along Paintrock Creek. These elegant accommodations offer the comfort of full-sized beds and bedside tables while keeping you intimately connected to the sounds and rhythms of the canyon.
Meals
All meals are prepared by a private chef in collaboration with Josh Crumpton, featuring wild-game-inspired menus that highlight Ranchlands meat and local produce. These seated, casual gatherings serve as a space for exploring how transforming a wild harvest into nourishment creates contemporary relevance and a deeper commitment to the land.
Location
The ranch, located near Hyattville, is 1 1/2 hours from Cody, Wyoming, and 3 hours from Billings, Montana. Both cities have airports with multiple daily flights from major airports. Roundtrip shuttles from the Cody airport to the ranch can be booked via Explore Cody Transportation.
Rates
$4,475 includes all activities, amenities and meals. Taxes, fees, and gratuity not included.
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