Smoke-choked skies, waves breaking over the canoe, and a plan that has to work even when there’s no cell signal. That’s the reality of the kind of wilderness canoe tripping Eric and Hillary from Tailwinds North love most, and they join us to share what it actually takes to travel farther off the beaten path without turning every day into a crisis.
We start with how their story grows from paddling around Bancroft and Algonquin into bigger routes like the Yukon River, the Snake River, and a fly-in canoe trip to the East Arm of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. They walk us through the trip planning process they use each winter: researching maps and trip reports, checking satellite imagery, sorting logistics like boats and access, and then getting into the gritty details of backcountry food prep and dehydrated meals. If you’ve ever wondered how people make 11 to 15 day trips feel manageable, you’ll hear the systems and habits that make the difference.
Then the conversation turns to the moments that test your judgement. Eric and Hillary describe paddling through heavy wildfire smoke in the Yukon and how they used an inReach device, firefighter guidance, and constant observation to stay safe. We also unpack a humbling Great Slave Lake launch that goes sideways fast, plus what they learned about wind, cold water, spray decks, and when to call it and head for shore. Along the way we talk flatwater versus whitewater, fishing plans that assume you’ll catch nothing, and why time is the hardest resource to budget.
If you’re into canoe camping, remote paddling routes, Ontario Crown land, or Yukon and Northwest Territories adventures, you’ll leave with practical planning tips and a clearer sense of what “prepared” really means. Subscribe for more, share this with a paddling friend, and leave a review, what’s the biggest trip you’re planning next?
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