5 Days Wilderness Camping in the Northern Mountain Rainforest | Bowron

A 118km canoe trip through the Bowron Lakes in British Columbia, long heralded by many as a world-renowned wilderness paddling trip.
0:00 Intro
2:05 Day 1
9:34 Day 2
21:28 Day 3
31:20 Day 4
44:06 Day 5
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[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Leah and I got married in October of 2020, but our planned honeymoon never got off the ground due to the pandemic. We postponed the honeymoon until 2022 and did a western Canadian road trip mixing backcountry, frontcountry, glamping and lodges. The Bowron was one of the stops on our travels.

[@musicbycandlelightmbc3225]

BC is by far the most go0rgous province in Canada and I am glad I live here and well aware of the Bowron canoe route and always wanted to do it but could never find anyone to go with. I followed your other videos regarding your Killarney trips which I done also as I use to live and was born in Sudbury so it wasn't far for me and a couple others to travel to Killarney. Algonquin was another great park to conoe with a water fall slide off of one of the lakes. Killarney is also a beautiful, peaceful, and mystical place to dip the p;addles in. Bears here in BC are one thing but grizzlies are yet another. It is unfortunate that the Stein-Nahatlatch grizzly bears are endangered in the Southwest region and among other parts of BC. The South Chilcotin Ranges grizzly bears are somewhat more plentiful at an estimate of 222 bears. I chuckle when people in Ontario talk about seeing mountains in their area and for those of us here in BC, they are just little hills in comparison. Trees here and especially at Cathedral Grove (old growth forest) makes Ontario trees look like tooth picks. Especially for those of us that live here and are use to seeing the rocky mountain and their snow capped peaks. It is a beautiful place but grotesquely expensive Province. I enjoy your videos very much dearest couple. It may sound silly but I had tears watching the Killarney ones you have because I just miss it so much. It helps me to recall all the times I was captured by such natural beauty in Killarney, its tranquility, its peace of mind, and the greatest music ever when listening to natures orchestra with loons, song birds, waves, wind, trees blowing, and rain as the musicians. As Bob Hope would sing, "Thanks for the memories." Maybe someday an opportunity will come up. I just hope I'll have the strength to do something like that now. Cheers to your belated honeymoon and my heartfelt hugs to you both. - Paul

[@chiefenumclaw7960]

The His & Hers personal pan pizzas were brilliant. Congratulations on tying the knot. If you can survive 5 days in the backcountry together, you can survive anything.

[@jeffarthur322]

Those wing tarps are one of greatest pieces of equipment.

[@williamkenyon9858]

"It JUST F&*KING SUCKS".....yep, been there. At least you guys maintain a great attitude about it all. Great video

[@OrrinLepp]

One of my “clean site bear strategies” is: if I’m cooking over the fire I make sure I have ample firewood to get a nice hot burn after cooking, get off as much of the food stink and splatter off the pit.

[@XanderBudnick]

Great video my man! loved the music maps and the food and of course the beautiful choice of location

[@user-to1to7ck8v]

Breathtaking is definitely the right word to describe your location ❤

[@bonpecheur4565]

Incredible journey ! Too bad for the rain but those trees dont grow big for nothing hey , you where part of an ecosystem , even your beard and stach where overgrown because of that rain 😉 Thanks for sharing this beautiful adventure 😍

[@donalddakota8069]

Hey Brad, glad you two got to see the Bowron. To bad the weather was crap. That trip is on my small bucket list but for at least 10 days. Time to fish and for myself, long rain days I stay at camp and eat. No problem waiting a day or two for the weather to change. Hope you have some good trips planned for this year.

[@tobiasfreitag2182]

Landscape whise it's pretty similar to my area where I normaly paddle. I live in the salzkammergut, with is a lake district in the austrian alps. You know everything is smaller and much more settled but the mountains are just as tall but closer and rockier. And the whole place is doted with towns, with history reaching back as far as 5000 years. Like the old mining town of Hallstatt witch is the source of the Hallstatt culture witch is proto celtic..... Or the pile twelling settlements on lakes mondsee and attersee wich where settled from 4000 to 3200 bc.... I'm realy jealous of your opportunity for weeks long trips but when it comes to scenery we are still hard to beat😊

[@alexs3447]

Heard Bowron was once names best place to canoe in Canada . I like those cartable portages

[@cellistefly]

Congratulations on Marriage and Honeymoon! Love the content. Outdoors is the place to be!

[@CanoeTheNorth]

What a beautiful trip. Looks like a perfect honeymoon in such an amazing place. Really nice video guys. 🛶

[@donalddakota8069]

Hey Keenen, when are you and Ashley going to do the Bowron?

[@CanoeTheNorth]

@@donalddakota8069 hey Donald. We actually went to paddle the Bowron on our way home from the Yukon a few years ago and discovered that it’s not dog friendly unfortunately. Seeing as we basically always travel with our pups when we go across Canada I’m not sure we’ll get the opportunity but who knows. It looks really beautiful and we would love to get the opportunity one day. 🛶

[@jimhanson7476]

Even when it’s pouring rain, you can still have a amazing adventure… enjoy it all…

[@camhaines5482]

Beauty Trip! I lived in BC for 20 years and did a lot of camping and canoeing. Your tarp game has to be on!

[@johnredburn3760]

Well done Leah & Brad. You have done justice to a truly wonderful part of Canada I have travelled the Bowron Park many times in all four seasons and it never disappointed me. Rain in BC is part of the cost of coming for a visit or living there! Fires are also a part of the park creating the mosaic of timber types. I have been away from it for too long I am hoping to go there on the May long w/e provided the ice is gone. Cheers

[@user-to1to7ck8v]

Oh my goodness it is SO beautiful up there in the mountains! ❤ I've always been partial to mountains when camping so I very much enjoyed this video 👍 😊 you picked an amazing place to honeymoon ❤️

[@harleyray6642]

Did you know it rains in BC ha ha lol. Enjoyed the video and the Liquid Sunshine !

[@amorimontagnus2042]

As I put my skis away, it lifts up my spirits to look forward to the upcoming canoe season waking up to a new video. I disagree with us in Ontario not having such big trees, we do, ya just have to go deep enough to find them! Wishing all the paddlers a safe and wonderful season!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

The last of the snow is fading here. We may be in store for an early iceout at this rate! Gotta agree we do have some amazing stands here in Ontario; I've been awestruck with quite a few over the years. This place just had near endless tracks of it. We felt incredibly small out there.

[@kevinstromquist5954]

nice to see the scenery on the Bowron Lake circuit Many friends have paddled it but no photos or video. Thank you.

[@robelliott4985]

So glad you 2 found each other. Enjoy the ride.

[@mattvaandering]

Wow what a trip. I've never heard of this route or given much consideration to tripping opportunities in the rockies so this was very eye opening. All the best Brad and Leah!

[@Barret-paddles]

Beautiful!! Congratulations and too bad you had 2 days of rain, ugh! Thanks for sharing 🙂

[@markmatheson603]

You guys always make great videos and you've done a super job of a place I know pretty well. I've done the route 4 times, usually with 1 of my kids as they hit the mid teen stage. My youngest and I are going this year. My first you tube video is actually this route with my oldest from 2006 (pre 4K on film haha). I don't remember getting THAT much rain... Thank you!

[@simplemanlovetocanoe6274]

Congrats guys on your marrige! Been watching fora very long time and you two make a great couple! Great trip too! Just beautiful!!!

[@CanadianSledDog]

What a special intact rainforest, the big trees of BC are a spiritual experience. I was once privileged to see the Elaho Giant (look up pics you'll be glad you did), a 1000 year old prehistoric monolith hours drive into the wilderness north of Squamish on logging roads since made inaccessible by huge fires. Another great canoeing lake in BC would be Myrtle, the largest motor free water body in BC, there is so much snow and ice up on the mountains all year it's incredible. That's where I had my first formative rough water and portaging experiences!

[@davidmodeland429]

I've been waiting for this! ❤️ Just binged all your whitewater videos and was hoping for something new. I'm so excited for the season and what's to come for all of us paddlers! Cheers You two!

[@JorgeRodriguez-nx5eq]

What a beautiful Country!

[@mollyseaton8107]

Hell yeah! Glad you guys did this circuit, excited to see your journey :)

[@madformaple]

Great trip! The views looked amazing even in the rain. Nice firewood set up they have out there - makes it a bit easier!

[@TomTirabasso]

Very cool and different kind of trip. Congrats on your marriage! You two just seem to go together very well. I look forward to seeing many more trips, thanks for posting.

[@conniewaite1371]

The colors are fabulous! Excellent adventure

[@TheOutdoorSeeker]

Congrats on the marriage. You are perfect for each other.

[@jaythomas996]

Thanks ever so much for sharing this adventure and allowing me to see areas in Canada I wouldn't otherwise ever see. Scenery was truly awesome.

[@wendyoutdoors2230]

Awesome trip. Thanks for sharing. Loved every minute of it.

[@timcrowley6881]

That was Really nice I'm gonna look into that run

[@timothyreid3061]

Fabulous. Thanks for sharing.

[@SoloSchmitty]

Nice vid! Thx for sharing!

[@paultaylor3856]

Hi from Brisbane, Australia. Thanks for awesome video, loved it as always. Love the videography and dialogue. Thanks for sharing this and already look forward to your next one.

[@leahjennings8694]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@bendrixbailey1430]

Rain-forest…. Bowron avg rainfall 60 inches, 180 days of rain. Expect rain for half the days you are on trip. But you get to see the rainforest and the huge trees. As Eric Sevareid said, “Sights such as these are reserved for those who will suffer to behold them.”. Another excellent documentary. Also, a heartfelt belated congratulations.

[@darrendavidsonoutdoors]

That was pretty cool. Such a magical place in those giant trees and the views are just breath taking. 👍

[@GAR85120514]

Always a pleasure.

[@user-xe6sp7jf3k]

Idid twice this trip)))

[@WVWes]

Love it! You guys amaze me!

[@jannie690]

Loved this

[@adventures-in-paddling]

Breathtaking, shame you had so much rain, but breathtaking non the less. Thank you guys😃

[@chiefenumclaw7960]

It's a rainforest... that's kind of what it does there.

[@raymondcava4669]

Thank you for bringing me along on your canoe trip on the Barron Lake route. I was there myself in 1979 this brought me back when I was in Katimavik i was 19 years old . Thank you for posting.

[@leahjennings8694]

That’s amazing! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@OrrinLepp]

Woot!

[@FISHNUTSS]

As always awesome video. Did we hear the word HONEYMOON???? Congratulations if so.

[@leahjennings8694]

Yes!!! We got married in 2020 with a beautiful COVID wedding (10 people!). Best decision we ever made ❤

[@colinlabelle4488]

Live in the Cariboo, you just scratched the surface! Great vid! Next trip look at Clearwater/Azure and Mertle Lake. Or one out of Parks BC Quesnel Lake to Hobson. Search “Portage the Legend” and check out more Cariboos. Cheers

[@leahjennings8694]

We love the area! Definitely eager to go back

[@brucedow3883]

Fun to watch, food looked great like always, burritos especially tasty. Just like in Oregon trees grow big with all the rain. Congrats on the marriage, many more trips for you two. Maybe a swim with some sun on those sandy beaches next time.

[@leahjennings8694]

The beaches would have been perfect on a sunny day!

[@DariuszPiatkowski_CA]

Super video, one that really captures the joys and sometimes the angst of dealing with the "elements"! My daughter and I have been canoeing around Ontario parks for several years now...she spotted this BC Park a couple of weeks ago so this story couldn't have been more timely, thank you for sharing!

[@leahjennings8694]

Definitely check it out!

[@cham3784]

Breathtaking mind blowing scenery. Thankyou for taking us along with you. I can only dream of seeing places like this as coming from the rainy U.K. we don’t have this kinda land here. Loved watching this 🙏🏻

[@leahjennings8694]

Oh but you have beautiful landscape there too! We often talk about going camping and canoeing over in the UK!

[@paularuotsalainen979]

Greetings from the Southern part of Finland! Thank you for this wonderful and so beautifully filmed video. Amazing sceneries with all those magnificient forests, mountains, lakes and rivers. Heartfelt congratulations to both of you on tying the knot 😍😍

[@leahjennings8694]

Finland was our originally planned honeymoon!!! How fitting that you commented 😊 we will get there some day❤

[@dwrivers47]

Stunning scenery. I hope to do this route at some point. I have no whitewater experience - can you portage the rapids?

[@leahjennings8694]

Yes! All the rapids have well used wide portages.

[@peterwerthner9438]

Brad What a beautiful area to travel through. I guess you have to expect rain when in that area. When you hiked to Cariboo Falls did you carry bear spray with you?

[@leahjennings8694]

No we did not! We did encounter a wasp nest though but managed to not get stung 😊

[@esthermae8710]

Honeymoon!?!! Congratulations!!

[@leahjennings8694]

Thank you!

[@CampWithMatt]

Hey Brad - how did you produce the awesome satellite Google Maps fly-through at the start?

[@andrevanheerden1088]

We have done the full circuit 7 times since 2000 and plan to go again this year. What time of the year did you do it (we are considering Sept/Oct to see the fall colors). Great video. Thank you

[@leahjennings8694]

Wow that’s amazing!

[@andrevanheerden1088]

@@leahjennings8694 When did you do the trip, looks like early Fall/? September?

[@leahjennings8694]

@@andrevanheerden1088 we actually did this mid-July! I would recommend doing it in the fall though, WAY less crowds

[@andrevanheerden1088]

@@leahjennings8694 Thank you.

[@stellaburzillo2541]

Silly question - did you lug your canoe from Ontario or did you rent/buy when you got to BC?

[@leahjennings8694]

We lugged our canoe alllllll the way from timmins across the Canada and United States for this adventure. We love our canoe 😊

[@stellaburzillo2541]

@@leahjennings8694 that's awesome! 😀

[@highalpine7321]

42:39

[@ETB9090]

Is this classed as crown land, can you take a shotgun with you on this camp if you wanted to, cheers

[@leahjennings8694]

No it’s classified as a park so no guns allowed!