Back to Days 1&2 Back to Days 3&4 Day 5 A day behind schedule, we awoke before dawn to the sound of silence; the wind had finally subsided. The morning air was damp and cool, and a faint breeze carried with it a waft of oceanic-esque scents. As the sun slowly crept over the horizon, we swiftly tore down camp, all too eager to get on the water and put some meaningful distance behind us. Our planned destination for the day was Cascade Falls. I had been captivated by this spo

Back to Days 1&2 Day 3 We awoke to the sounds of rustling leaves and bending branches. A cool, stiff breeze had blown in overnight and we became increasingly discouraged with the prospect of a productive early rise and launch. After encountering less than ideal conditions the previous two days, we were beginning to think Gitchi-Gami was doing everything in her power to stymie our southerly progress. Clambering out of the tent, I swiftly traversed the coast in hopes of catchin

Join us for a 10 day canoe expedition along the rugged Northern Lake Superior Coast.

The 2015 Photo Recap 2015 has been quite the year! Our explorations saw us travel over 3000km by canoe and foot. We paddled in 3 different countries and spent over 50 nights in a tent! In looking back on the year, we've assembled a collection of photos from our numerous adventures. It's been quite the experience! The 2016 explorations are already in the planning stages, so please feel free to follow us for updates on future adventures! Winter Winter Storm: Silent Lake Backcou

I'm not quite sure how I got myself into this predicament. One leg was wedged between a rock while the other was submerged waist deep in the river. The canoe was precariously balanced on my shoulders, slowly slipping while the weight of my laden pack threatened to pull man, boat and gear into the adjacent waters. It was mid-July and we were somewhere on the Shakwa River, deep in the wilds of the West Spanish Forest. Somewhere, deep in the West Spansih Forest. Just days before

The 2014 Photo Recap 2014 was certainly a banner year for Explore the Backcountry! Our explorations saw us travel further off the beaten path down seldom traveled routes to places few have been. In looking back on the year, we've assembled a collection of photos from our numerous adventures. It's been quite the experience! The 2015 explorations are already in the planning stages, so please feel free to follow us for updates on future adventures! Winter A Curious Onlooker: Ka

It's that time of year again! Paddles and hiking boots have given way to snowshoes and cross country skis! The canoe is stored away for a well deserved hibernation, a sad sign signalling the end of the Canadian paddling season. However, this does not mean your explorations should be put on a frosty hiatus! Southern Ontario is blessed with a plethora of prime backcountry destinations and winter is a perfect time to embark on an exploratory trip or two. Ontario is a vast provin

Are you a gear junkie? Do you paddle or hike with the latest lightweight equipment, or are you a traditionalist and stick with tried and true? We'd like to think we fall somewhere between the two categories. We're always open to trying the latest equipment (especially if it means less weight on a bushwhack portage!) but we bring some battered regulars with us. In the next few days we'll post about some of the "new" and "old" equipment we've been using on our trips. This seaso

I can safely say I have not experienced many blunders on a backcountry trip! At least I think I can? Just what is a blunder anyways; a goofy mistake, stumble or a carelessness inducing hilarity? Okay, well maybe my paddling companions and I have experienced a few…. There was the time my father attempted to put out a campfire with the clear fluid contained in a plastic water bottle we found lying around our campsite. That clear fluid turned out to be lighter fluid and not the