17 Days in Uncharted Wilderness | Where the Waters Begin | Full Documentary

Where The Waters Begin documents a 17 day, 300km expedition by canoe across the geographic heart of Quebec and expansive wilderness of Eeyou Istchee. Our goal is to descend the remote Tichégami River; a river perhaps never attempted by modern paddlers. The route begins in the remote and rugged Otish Mountains. Following in the footsteps of the Cree peoples, our journey would guide us along headwater courses, who shepherd us across the height of land and out beyond the abyss of Quebec's largest lake.
This is the full length documentary of our expedition across the wilderness of Eeyou Istchee. This long documentary version combines the four episodes from this adventure with a few editing tweaks.
0:00 Intro
3:55 Day 1 - Arrival
5:08 Day 2 - The Mountains and a Setback
14:33 Day 3 - Emergency Repairs and a Trek
20:28 Day 4 - Down the River
34:06 Day 5 - Rapids and a Rescue
48:15 Day 6 - Wind, Rain, Endless Rapids
1:07:28 Day 7 - Bushwhacking the Tiaga
1:22:53 Day 8 - The End of the Tichégami
1:32:00 Day 9 - Rest on the Endless Beach
1:38:05 Day 10 - Beautiful Baudeau
1:44:15 Day 11 - Push to the Height of Land
1:55:48 Day 12 - Downstream on the Wabissinane
2:06:04 Day 13 - Last of the River Days
2:16:22 Day 14 - Windbound
2:21:26 Day 15 - 14km Open Water Crossing
2:29:48 Day 16 - Portage to Lake Albanel
2:39:47 Day 17 - End of the Adventure
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[@patriciawilson5950]

As an old lady who cannot longer do this, I thank you. It really makes you appreciate the people who paddled this the first time.

[@Joeafterdark]

Your not old ! You just have to take shorter trip more frequently 💙💙💞

[@Joeafterdark]

I like to live another life with videos like this 💜

[@missionwilderness208]

I couldn't be more excited to see another high quality trip from the people who brought us "The Little North!"

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks!! And with a return to the Little North this summer, there will be a Little North II this winter/spring!

[@raymondcava4669]

😂 The popcorn sequence. (excellent group laugh)

[@JoshWilborn]

Such a pleasure to view this through the eyes of those with a true heart for the outdoors and all the grand adventures it provides. I felt the passion and the joy of laying eyes on something mostly unexplored. Thank you.

[@robertdiehl1281]

Breathtaking wilderness. Rare chance to be so isolated and removed. Fantastic video. Appreciate tremendously you sharing this journey.

[@garth6665]

Love the views, thanx

[@theglamgram]

This was an outstanding video showing a bucket list worthy trip. I enjoyed every minute. Thank you!

[@csiebester]

Amazing to see canoes do this kind of white water. Great job.

[@PocketKnivesBlog]

Somehow ended up in my feed....and I am pretty stoked as I love looooooooooooooong outdoorsy vids!!! TY

[@williamleopold507]

Beautiful scenery , must be great to be young and so full of energy !! Those rapids are amazing and scarey . My husband and I are seniors and loe watching these videos . Be safe everyone !

[@ANLWhip1]

Absolutely craftsmanship video and canoeing, every video i have watched is great❤

[@ryandeboer5346]

I'm clapping !!!! Awesome!

[@davkumi]

Thank you so much for sharing this incredible adventure! Plus all the extra effort to film as you paddled.☺

[@stephenelderkin5022]

What a special journey to be part of! Beautiful scenery!

[@bcaruthers7674]

Thank you so very much for sharing this. It was amazing!!!!!❤

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@boatman222345]

Wow, National Geographic eat ya heart out! To quote one of the paddlers, "It's been an in incredible journey!" Easily one of the best wilderness canoeing documentaries I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing! Spectacular photography, narration that always matched the tempo and mood of the action, and a willingness to endure made all the more impressive by optimistic laughter. Thanks for letting an elderly retired Maine Guide tag along…an incredible and tremendously enjoyable experience! Job way, way, way more than well done!

[@Fungi884]

amazing and inspiring! Québec is really a beautiful country

[@David-ng7cr]

Quebec is a province of Canada. It is not a country.

[@mwrench4185]

​@@David-ng7cr Nah, it's a country.

[@316maxwell]

Simply Amazing and beautiful!!!!!! 🙏👍🤘

[@alexandervalaris72]

Nice a new video!

[@juelsitner3667]

I have been waiting- and here you are with this exciting, gorgeously filmed, and enriched narrative journey. You never fail. Grateful.

[@claireleboucher4597]

Thank you for sharing ! Amazing fabulous adventure. Kisss from France

[@ezlow1065]

Blooming brilliant! Thankyou for sharing your gorgeous country, stunning sunsets! Greetings from Aus

[@willminnery8198]

Wow this looks so pretty . Can’t wait to watch all of it . 👏👏👏🤟

[@jimhanson7476]

Stunning…… so many beautiful runs of river… well done all

[@philhurst9053]

Excellent video! Thank You! Enjoyed every minute, makes me wish I was young again.

[@cliffordwright342]

Was this last year before the fires. After watching it all I realized it was a collaboration. Thank you for the long format. What an amazing adventure

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Yes, unfortunately quite a few fires have happened since. The portage between Mistissini and Albanel burnt this summer. We had another big Quebec trip planned for this summer, but had to switch to Manitoba at the last minute due to fire.

[@user-to1to7ck8v]

Really enjoyed watching this 👌 beautiful untouched nature with some thrilling rapids sprinkled in 👍 loved it! ❤😊 very well done 👏

[@danilointhewoods]

Amazing. Watched every minute of it! Love the group dynamic. One day I'll get there... =)

[@starkravingmadadventures6038]

Phenomenal Video and Trip Brad. You and Leah worked perfectly as one going through those boney rapids in such quick succession. So many lightning quick decisions to keep on track. Your communication together is incredible. Love what you guys are doing out there. Looking forward to the next one. Cheers!

[@kristennoelle9447]

Absolutely beautiful doc!! I'm in a Canadian backwoods conoeing/kayaking video rabbit hole & may I never be rescued 🙏💜ty so much for this!

[@looking4leasuretime]

Sweet. Thank-you for sharing.

[@williamleopold507]

We really enjoyed going along with you all on your incredible trip . Great video ! Thanks for sharing .

[@josephheili718]

Awesome adventure, thanks for sharing!!

[@mnolan1122]

Wonderful to watch. Thanks for sharing.

[@davebanner4060]

What an incredible adventure!! Thanks

[@interestingspagetti]

Loved this! Be my dream. Always a tiny window in Canada, if you don't like bugs or cold. Seems you picked it. New sub & liked. 😀

[@alexs3447]

a great trip for sure . All cdns should do such a trip

[@donnicodemo9263]

Enjoyed and subscribed. Thank you.

[@billsmith7357]

Thank you Dave and Carrie. That was so awesome! It won't be long before you are celebrating 300,000 subscribers. We hope you have a great week. Love Bill and Ellen Smith

[@marianfrances4959]

Made it 1/2 way through...bedtime for me. Pick this up tomorrow...👍😎🌊🇨🇦💫

[@MrDiceman1967]

Waaaaaaaaaw, thanks for charging this adventure. Greetings from Belgium ❤

[@leemowers9395]

Very Well Done, thanks to everyone. Thanks for all the video work, great job there. Happy Paddling. Stay Blessed.

[@Nena84734]

Incredible trip, thanks so much!

[@SarniaKid1]

Absolutely amazing!! I literally had tears in my eyes at some points---such a wonderful place and you guys are totally incredible! How you navigated the rapids was mind boggling! There were so many fantastic shots---all the beautiful beach sites and I especially loved the aerial view of you portaging 3 colourful canoes along the old trail! Just fantastic from start to finish! How do you ever settle down when you return home? One thing I am wondering---you didn't mention about wildlife nor did you show any. Did you see moose, bears, deer, etc.? Just curious. Thanks so much for this great doc---Brad and Leah, your Dad Wayne has got to be more than proud! All of you deserve huge recognition for this feat!

[@looking4leasuretime]

Thanks!

[@robertdrolet5785]

Wow super expé au Québec, il y a plein de classiques et de projoets potentiels ici. Au plaisir de se croiser peut être !. En passant le brochet est délicieux, plusieur le préfère à la truite, on peut aussi le fumer ce qui le conserve de nombreux jour dans les bagages.

[@Canoejerry]

This is really great. Thanks for taking the video and posting, I enjoy watching on a treadmill and while I'm training for my own trip which can only occur once or twice a year (in the Adirondacks). It must be something special to be able to do > 3 or 4 days, maybe one day.

[@deadpinecollective]

An amazing adventure

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Amazing place. Great video

[@halpashler3557]

Many years ago my wife and I paddled the Temiscamie River in the Mistassini region. I think its headwaters are in the Otish Mountains where you guys were, right? The Temiscamie is a nice benign river for people who don't want to deal with rapids as big as what you negotiated there. But at high water campsites were hard to find and of course it required a floatplane to start with (not for the finish, though).

[@alanbierhoff6831]

Oh yeah! As Marty would say: Let’s Go! lol I think I liked watching this better in long format than when I watched it in episodes. It was more cohesive (?) 🤷‍♂️

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

It was mainly edited as one entire long format and then split up for the episodes. So the pacing and flow was always set for a longer format. So maybe that comes through more in this version?

[@Tastewithnewdrinks]

Amazing adventure, absolutely I like your video.😍

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

So glad!

[@alltheangels648]

Beautiful video wow

[@dwc1109]

I go to Colombia twice a year it’s awesome. I Stop in Panama on the way to Colombia my friend is a fishing guide there.

[@JosephStealin]

The Gash was much dryer than you would have liked.

[@Mamatessandmatt]

Baha nanaman ito,grabe kalakas

[@ritaswedia399]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@goinagain2013]

LIke a letter from home.... Thank you All!!!

[@bw1earth]

Yo, where's your mustache? Thought that was your trademark Fantastic video 👍👍

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Ha, pre-stash trip. Have a few more here and there to put out if I have time. Stash remains though.

[@ryan.m990]

okay, so when u guys gonna paddle thru pugetawagun ?! or up in churchill ,keg lake n nistowiak falls ? ! thru voyageur lodge ?!!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Well... we got up to Poplar River MB this year on a 600km trip (look for that vid this winter/spring!). I don't doubt in the future we'll get further north out in SK, MB or NWT!

[@CSI2006]

im personally for apreciate this video with THUMB UP and keeping do making this 'excellent' video next day, next week or next years. kiss dear => from east jakarta, (visit #indonesia guys,for your relaxing destination)

[@bigbarracreekaussie3449]

Rodney went well, float lining snapper, yupp the only way fore

[@fonkapollo]

I’m kinda surprised that yall think that 28° Celsius is a scorcher. I live in Wisconsin and 83° is no big deal; we go to Ontario fishing every June and it’s almost always that hot or hotter. 90-100+° Fahrenheit is a scorcher for me.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Not necessarily a crazy scorcher, but a big temp swing when it dips down to 3-4C a few days later. Though, where I live in northern Ontario, we only go above 30C a few times a year. The average high is 24C in the summer. You get used to that milder weather and anything hotter is really noticeable. Typically also dips to -40C a few times each winter here (maybe not this winter....), so I'm definitely more alcimatized to a colder temp. I always find over 28C when paddling with no wind and no clouds feels much hotter than a similar day at home.

[@jeffreypierce1440]

How'd they get the boats there?

[@charleydahl2057]

lot of pushing pulling, lifting ,hauling ,toting , carrying awkward objects , walking thur ruff terrain , only for the young at heart.

[@fgcbrooklyn]

"So, how is it?" "Incredible" (repeated 5 million times).

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Ahhhh yeah. I was at a loss for words to describe it. Still am.... It is.... incredible!!!

[@alltheangels648]

Were there many bears or predators?

[@paulgilson9876]

Would a alloy boat be better than fiber glass

[@CampWithMatt]

Is this a new trip, or a full version of an existing trip?

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Full length of Where the Waters Begin (4 episodes released last December).

[@CampWithMatt]

@@ExploreTheBackcountry yeah, figured it out. Unfortunately I've already watched all the content! Was super excited that it was a new trip!

[@tomschwab9230]

So, who picked up your cars you left behind ???

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

We did. We self shuttled with 3 vehicles. Our take out was on our way north so we left a vehicle there and took 2 up to the put in. Drove to get the other 2 at the end of the trip, and back down. Roughly 4 hours for the shuttle.

[@michaelpowell964]

one thing you need to do is when you make camp for the night, show on your guide map where you started that day and where you stop to camp so people can follow you on google earth as you go on your journey!! makes for better videos!!

[@geowallace9758]

you have everything including the kitchen sink. enjoy the walk

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Majority is food, which 2+ weeks worth of tasty meals adds up. There's really not much camp items beyond sleep systems. Of course camera equipment and safety equipment also take up a huge chunk of space (6 person med kit, whitewater gear like pin kit and throw bags, repair kits). On expeditions like this, a lot of extra river gear for a remote and undocumented area is needed. You'd be foolish to trip without as rescue could be 24-48hrs away (always plan for delayed extraction and how to mitigate impacts while waiting). Bonus is we ran/lined the majority of rapids and didn't have to portage much!

[@MrBangbangjim]

I thought they were going to paddle, to canoe??

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

We did? 300km

[@303storm]

It's a bit nerdy but nice to watch

[@larstueschjth2658]

Hi,i would like to 'say' nice vid ...but the 'quality' of the opload is....kind a weird, look's kinda a fake reality too me🕵️ i've never seen this before,and i use yt everyday with multiple different channels/categories🥴

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Interesting take. Definitely 'real reality' though. Wish the blackfly bites were fake 🤣

[@topher4251]

Ummmmmmm. How am I just seeing this content?

[@imalright1660]

not one fish was caught

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

2:11:09, 2:34:09 and a few others

[@dalevodden1359]

And none of you thought of bringing bug spray or is it the simple fact you're a bunch of tree huggers that don't like chemicals, to get rid of the bugs or keep them off of you ,

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Lol wut? We mentioned applying the Watkins bug cream a few times (has deet). But your best defense is a big jacket and shelter. I find any deet product wears off pretty quickly when you're sweaty and in the water. You could douse yourself in gallons of deet but the sheer amount of bugs up there will find you anyways. The jacket is a physical shield and is much better imo. You get used to them, and after years of exposure get much less of a reaction. I barely swell up or itch these days, but some, like Emily have bad reactions.

[@mikemarley2389]

Leave the womans and take some gold pans instead.

[@losratitos8277]

What are the dates of this trip? June?? July??

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

This was early-mid July

[@SaintSkanderbegus]

Awwww poor things suffering sooooo much .