10 Days Alone in a Canoe Camping Paradise - Temagami 

Hi Jon....yea that canoe was mine. I ended up hiking back to Hap’s the following day and was lucky enough to get a float plane out. It was quite the mis-adventure!

The summer of John dropping feature-length films on youtube. The hero we need, but not the one we deserve. #startapatreon

I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry during that stirring rendition of Tolkien. So perfect for the times.

As I approach my 79th year, my trips into God’s most beautiful creation of the beautiful north country are but wonderful memories. Your cinema photography is beyond outstanding. Thanks for bringing me along on your treks.God bless and many safe journeys.

Pretty neat, I was on a 22-day solo when you passed me on your way to Sugar. I was sitting on a little island after you portaged from the south arm of L E . You warned me about the rain coming and rain it did. Cool to see this.

Just came here to praise your cinematography and excellent theatrical impressions. By god man standing ovation from me! Very entertaining stuff!

I loved watching John slowly loose his mind in the rain storm. Great content. I actually can't believe this channel isn't bigger.

Amazing work. My husband, 7 year old daughter, and I adore watching your vids before we retire for the night. It’s very calming but also inspiring. My husband and I hope to do what you and Erin do together sometime soon. Thank you for all your work.

Just watched this video with my wife. Amazing camera work, great story telling, and humour. You have made an enduring document of the joys of backcountry canoeing. The shots of spider's webs, toads, butterflies, chipmunks, and of course fish. You also captured the moods of the weather, especially the rain storm. I really loved the ways you captured the light, and mixed up camera position, for example, the underwater photography,. I also loved your rant about slob campers, as I can never figure out, why people can portage full stuff in and not take empties out. What a wonderful and instructive video. Thank you.

I used to watch a lot of movies, now I can get lost for a couple of hours with more epic camping trips like yours. The older I get, the more I appreciate the calm and gentle rhythm of life. Thanks for all your hard work to produce these films! :)

Some people would call this roughing it…but those people might not have ever seen the pure luxury and beauty of the Canadian wilderness. Great video.

This is the "Shawshank Redemption" of canoe tripping videos on RU-vid!! I laughed, I cried, and I clenched my seat with my buttcheeks so hard with the rapids sections that I have hemorrhoid's now! Seriously, I've been binge watching these kind of videos for weeks now, as part of my research to finally make the transition form front country, to backcountry camping at the ripe old age of 54. People like Kevin Callan and Jason Eke have become my "wilderness heroes", and now you are too! I have to say your videos are the best, and I've been earning a living in animation and video production for 25 years now. Thanks so much for all your efforts, cheers!

XANDER I was born here, GREW up here, my heart remains with this land. Thank you for the memories.

Loved this video... and the surprise cameo by Samwise , Frodo and Smeagol just made my day ;) I'm surprised you don't do more catch n cook, to cut down on supplies needed.

These last two videos have, imo, elevated you to the level of Director/Cinematographer! Truly beautiful, creative, thoughtful work. Thank you!

Hats off to you. Being alone like that in the areas you travel through takes a pile of courage and bush craft skills. Good for you.

I don't know of any better song than that of the hermit thrush. The best soundtrack of any of your videos! Cheers!

Your cinematography is getting to the point where it is absolutely beautiful. More people should be watching your content.

Wow! Was transported from my living room into the backwoods. Such good filmmaking.

Absolutely LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the split screen shots whil running the rapids! BUT, then again, I love all your excursions....PERIOD!!

Been a fan for a few years now! Can slowly see the progression in your videos since quitting your job, you made a good decision! Keep grinding

I love the extended length of your videos. I think most would agree. Your films tell the full story 🌿

You killed that Lord of the Rings impression, what a great inclusion that was to this trip!

I never knew 1+hr videos can be so addicting. I'm hooked like a fish on a barbed hook.

I am happy you decided to do this as a full time job! Your videos provide moments of zen in a world that feels like it’s gone mad. Thank you!

John & Erin, your videos are quite simply therapy, thank you. ..and to Xander, thank you. From Wales.

Another vid without Erin...I'm about to unsub my own channel (well...you can't actually sub to yourself). An 8-day trip with her is already being edited and I think it will be worth the wait. I really want to say thank you for your beautiful comments on the last Superior video. They meant a ton and they always do. I've been struggling to keep up with social media this summer because when I'm home I'm trying to maximize editing time so, if I didn't say it directly, I am reading them and I appreciate them so much 💚 *Filming notes:* The drone shots at the beginning are shot outside of park boundaries at the NE end of Lady Evelyn L. Although if it were up to me, you could fly a drone wherever motorboats are allowed and I find that a bit silly. The camera was ok. Has been out on a couple trips since and seems to be no worse for wear.

I grew up in Temagami... And the areas that you were travelling, the fishing has always been terrible. In fact, a lot of the area’s fishing isn’t that great, unless you’re fishing one of the bigger, stocked lakes... Very nice to watch this video. I’ve done those routes plenty of times while growing up. But it’s been almost 10 years since I’ve been back home, excellent to see you do it!

I am just so much into hiking and camping...I live in Zimbabwe..and have always admired how you folks are blessed with such wonderful places untamed. I can only watch you go for it but can't really point a place I can do the same. This is beautiful!!

I rate this video 10 out of 10! I actually felt like I was on this trip with you. It is outstanding. Your camera work and editing touched on every aspect of your journey. It is educational, recreational and entertaining. I “bonded” with you during this video meaning that I’ll not miss an episode and will anticipate the next. You gave us a full hour and 44 minutes of pure enjoyment. Thank you, be safe and looking forward to the next time!

It's amazing the incredible amount of fresh water we have in Ontario. We are truly blessed 🙏

Another great video. I especially loved the scenes during the heavy rainy day. Letting the inner crazy out a little is always therapeutic, and funny 😄. 👍 Thanks John.

" Nathan Moore - Checkmate " as soon as I heard this guitar in the back , I had to search for the music & artist, this is such a lovely song, thank you for introducing me to this! ♥️

Great looking trip! Loved the Sam, Frodo and Golem thing!

Awesome, awesome footage bud! Thanks for taking me along!😁🤙

You do such a nice job with the photography. Viewing this in the middle of the winter was such a joy. Thank you for that.

John, you have really captured the majesty of Temagami. Fantastic film making and great commentary.

My laughter quickly turned to tears while watching that LOTR skit..! LOTR and canoe tripping in Temagami were a huge part of my childhood and played a role in how I turned out as an adult. Today was a tough day. Thanks for sharing this journey you went on. It’s inspiring me to start putting together a few of my own.

Man, that trip had it all. Amazing waterfalls and rapids, great campsites, diverse weather, wildlife, fires, sights, sounds, sunsets and sunrises. Outstanding.

Fantastic vid!!! Well edited and filmed, really impressive. You have a great soul and are a worthy ambassador for the wilderness. Thank you for your work and honesty as you film. I do trips similar to yours in Northern Minnesota and have similar thoughts that I used to think were nuts. Missing people and homesickness being the most persistent. I dream about being in the wilderness, but when I'm there I dream of home. I've learned to enjoy the moment, enjoy the solitude and have optimism about the future.

I’m pretty sure I was in Temagami the exact same time because that rain was epic and I will never forget it!!! Thank god I had a large tarp so I could get out of my amok and stand around the campsite when I wanted!

Thanks so much for that "why be mad" quote. I'm sure it will help immensely going forward. 😀

I love hearing all the white throated sparrows in the background. Can't wait for summer in Silver Bay, Minnesota! The sound of lakes, pines and birds!

Super happy to see that you can start having big adventures again ! Always a pleasure to watch your videos

I watch every fishing and nature show on RU-vid and I have never enjoyed one more than this! Thank you for taking me along on your journey my friend, I feel like I had a mini vacation. I've canoed Algonquin and it was the best trip of my life but thanks to you Temagami is next on my list. BTW I'm glad to see you held onto your sanity through the thunderstorm, they can be harsh

I hear you on the constant weather checks throughout a day. I’m a commercial fisherman and totally get it. Your life and livelihood depends on decisions you make with the weather. Amazing video, inspiring.

Even when the fish aren’t biting, trips in Temagami are still rejuvenating! We started our Red Squirrel Lake to Obabika Triangle Old Growth and return 9 day trip the day after the big storm in your video (too bad we didn’t cross paths!). It was hot and still, and I’ve never seen Temagami like glass for so many days. After a few days of heat, another major storm set in with rain, thunderstorms and a major temperature change, and relief from the heat and smoky skies. Your trips inspire even old guys like me to venture a little farther each time, and your videos are always worth every minute of my time to watch. I appreciate how much work it takes to capture the video, and then the effort you take to edit, which adds so much value to us armchair paddlers, who get out only once per season. Again, thank you.

Hunkered down here in the AC in this soupy messy heat...thanks for taking me along and thanks for sharing!!

Been gone awhile… like seeing an old friend again! Looks like all is well! Best always!

I never, ever tire of gorgeous sunsets...and loon calls.

I've been watching and enjoying your videos for a couple of weeks now. Having limited canoeing experience, I can appreciate all the work that is involved in your adventures. Five portage's is beyond my physical capabilities, especially around the falls. Please keep posting videos so that I can vicariously enjoy the beautiful sights, peacefulness, and experience (without the bugs).

Great video as always! Living in Northern Ontario, from mid June to early August we had over 300mm of rain. Wettest period we have seen in 38 years living here. So sad to see so much of the west hot and with wildfires. Looking forward to your next trip.

We, who love this big ball of dirt we live on, sure do appreciate you and Erin Jon. Thank you.

Agree completely on lures with multiple hooks. Inline singles have gone into place on all my lures. No downgrade in performance, better for the fish, better for us and not so much space in storage boxes.

I know that feeling that you alluded too at the top. I've had on some backpacking trips a feeling of melancholia for the first hour. Not sure either what it is but once deep in the woods it turns to elation. Yes....anger is wasted energy. But a bit of disappointment is apropos. Be nice to have High Tea with Lady Evelyn Smoothwater. Pinkies out. Naan-Man you. Frank Falls fishing. Alliteration is Awesome~~ Thanks for filming portages as it is some of my favorite footage. Would be easy and excusable to not film. But glad that you do. Hellacious Helen. Amok lightweight! Surround view. I think you're eating better than Erin. Morning Moose Magic. Nice. Salt tablets have really helped me in hot weather but electrolytes is more fun to say. Ouch....paddle strike to me noggin after white pine dam. Shadow-Rap is my hip-hop moniker.... An angry rain and 12 hours nod. Lollygag power. My camping has been nil since Meg broke her knee-cap on July 4th. I'm man-servant and driver for a while. BWCA closed due to fires and they just closed all camping on Superior Hiking Trail here due to fires. So not the Summer we had planned. Are you not a coffee drinker? Your Lord of the Rings is like Sling Blade me. Yessir. I enjoy when you speak bait/lures/fish. Respect Mon.... Shug-er Lake. My kinda lake haaaa Smitten. A word not played enough. Spirited Introvert Society. That red squirrel was my cousin. Again, I have Nova Craft envy. Camera calamity...the price we pay. I sometimes sniff Meg's pillow if she is out of town. So enjoy Erin's toothbrush. And yes...the Good is worth the battle. The donnybrook. And it does exist. You went there. Into the Good. Enjoyed your trip on my big TV. Needed to see a good trip. Thank you too.

On your solo trips, does talking to the cameras give you a sense of companionship like Tom Hanks talking to a volleyball? Because you do a hell of a job making us feel like we are right there with you. Excellent work.

Honestly have lost track of how many times I've watched this. It's great.

I'm so grateful to have found your channel. What you share with humanity is inspiring. I'm far too old to trek like you do, but your videos share the wilderness I miss enjoying in my youth.

Discovers this channel about 2 weeks ago, I’m hooked! Awesome content, footage and crew…keep up the great work…and keep inspiring others to go outside your comfort zone!

The soul demands a nature recharge and if we ignore it we do so at our own peril. Heading up to KL tomorrow to refill at my conservation 160 acres. Great video will be passing through Temagami as I make my way Nord. Appreciate your trip and spirit.👍

What a beautiful world we all live in, there needs to more people like you that appreciate the ground we all walk or water to paddle on. It’s all so precious. 👏👏👏👏👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼🙏

That split screen on rapids was really cool. Helps to understand the stroke to match the moment.

Amazing trip. Glad you find time to immerse yourself in the lands that you love. What a journey...what a life of soul searching and exploring. Keep on keep on sir!

My neck of the woods... I absolutely live the old growth forests out behind Temagami

7 hour drive , Man some people travel the world for such beauty you are so lucky mate ...Missen Erin hope she's doing great .always enjoy the content thank you Sir ...

I suppose if RU-vid doesn't work out theatre might be a backup option 👍 I always sleep in a tent my back can't handle it plus it's better for dogs. I also bring my tarp so I can still cook in the rain 🌧️

Not gonna lie, your Lord of the Rings vignette gave me the feels...

Spectacular footage and great videography Jon. Your videos are always so crystal clear. I hope your camera dries out and works as it did before. I really enjoy your adventures. keep up the great work my friend.

Thunder storm outside while watching! Perfect!!!

Love the split screen views

Just watched this one and it sure got me excited for the summer! A special feeling to come back to the spot where your first long solo trip was. Very fortunate that there was no rain for all of those challenging portages early on! Keep at it

Hey Jonathan Ontario….you’re killing it man!!!! This video and the Northern Superior video are your best yet. Really enjoying your content. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work!

Yay! So happy to see those blueberries about 30 minutes in. My first canoe trip, more than 50 years ago, as a kid at camp, was in Temagami. And one of my fondest memories was winning our blueberry pancake contest there - a perfect flip, of a perfect golden pancake. And so, years later, whenever I made my kids pancakes at home, I would execute a flip out of the pan. And occasionally, it did not end up a mess on the floor. Ah, magical Temagami…and those blueberries.

Wow...such beauty. Had no idea there were so many little lakes and waterways off Superior talking from the American side. My dad was a mate on the ore ships on Superior. I would love to travel it the way you are.

Fan-damn-tastic video! First of all, thanks for not splitting it up into five videos. Your cinematography gets better all the time as well as the editing. Great balance of scenic landscapes and macro bugs and flowers. The whitewater split screen was a nice touch and yeah, the LOTR skit was the topper. Haha! Well done man!

A beautiful trip and top shelf production value as always.

Another fun one to watch. Got my thumbs up when you mentioned not wanting Hap or someone to see the double blade. Respect to the true way to paddle a canoe.

If anyone can make you feel any emotion, they are your master. You must decide what emotions you will allow yourself to feel.

"I dont even know what electrolytes are, but gatorade over the past 30 years have convinced me that I need them." hahaha love it

Wow, another awesome masterpiece!! Cheers Jon, Rich

That Cliff jumping campsite looked sweet!

I am so very happy that I am not the only one who randomly quotes LOTR on canoe trips. I am not alone!

*PSA about Jeff's Map (the big one I was using) and maps for Temagami:* Jeff left the business years ago and yet his former partner will take the money for orders and ship out nothing. Do not order from that site. Jeff started a new map business called Unlostify, but they haven't recreated the Temagami map yet. Digital copies of the old Temagami map are still available for free. They're posted in the Ontario Backcountry Camping Facebook group under "Files": facebook.com/groups/822052151232319/files *Ottertooth* has great free digital maps for Temagami including Donald Lake: www.ottertooth.com/Temagami/Sites/chiniguchi.htm Just click on the map for the larger scale portions. Or if you want a beautiful wall piece and to support *Friends of Temagami,* they offer an overview map: www.friendsoftemagami.org/store/temagami-adventure-planning-map *Hap Wilson also has a guidebook to Temagami*

One of your better trips Jon. Your videography continues to improve. I was wondering why you now favor kayak style paddles over your single paddle? Also, do you bring spares of any essential equipment such as an extra tarp? One thing I've noticed with your meals is that you go heavy on carbs and not so much proteins and fat it seems? Oh by the way, glad to see you're a LOTR fan...you do an excellent Gollum...I'm assuming your Amok is your 'precious' 😉 Thanks for doing these trips. I understand what you get out of them. And now that I'm too old to do this anymore, I can also vicariously relive my travels. Cheers.

Too much fun. You are such a Clown. Glad you were able to pull yourself together Jon. I was worried about you for a while. Thanks again for nature's wonder, and the music to go with it.

Your videos bring me such joy and happiness, I've rewatched many of your videos over and over again and they always put me in such a good mood!!

Great, now I have to re-watch The Lord of the Rings at 11pm, thanks Jon! Seriously, awesome work pal, your videos are always a pleasure!

What a great video Jon. Your filming and editing skills are becoming top notch!!

When I get frustrated….I tell myself it’s all a matter of perspective. I find happiness in helping. Less frustration and more help/fixing/educating makes my world a bit better= happiness for me.

As a resident of Muskoka, my wife and I "cut our teeth" canoe tripping Algonquin PP. When APP began the requirement to declare which lake you would camp on each night, we started tripping in the Temagami region. It became our favourte area, and Mowat Landing our most frequent access point. I'm 72 now, lost my wife to cancer in 2020. Your beautiful films bring me much joy now! Wishing you many many years of happy trails, be they waterways or winter sled pulls!

Love those long videos...

Great video so far! I'll catch the rest as I can, just on a break now! Thanks for posting!

All I can say is there are 91 people that need to be slapped silly. Your videos are so beautifully crafted. Ridiculously great. Visually stunning. The Sam/Frodo/Gollum sequence absolute brilliance. Lol. Thank. You. So. Much. 😎👍👍

I still don't see the reason for a camping ban. It looked like you were pretty isolated. Another great adventure. ⛺ The 2 camera split, down the rapids was awesome.l

Great video! Loved the LOTR montage. Perfect for the current situation of the world. Your videos always bring me peace. I can't wait to see your trip with Erin. Keep up the great work. Have a wonderful week!

That was some pretty impressive filmmaking and storytelling, Jon. I also laughed my butt off. Thank you. 👍🙂🚣‍♂️

Dont know if you are aware of this, silica gel packs can only absorb a certain amount of moisture then they stop working. Good news is they can be reused. After you have collected a good amount put them in the oven in a pie plate at approximately 200 F and leave them for about an hour or so. This removes the moisture contents and the packs are ready to reused. I. Worked in a paper mill for 28 years and we used the silica gel to figure out the amount of moisture in the paper. The only difference was the silica gel at the mill was not in packs but in a large bowl so we could tell by the change in colour if they needed to be dehydrated. I have collected roughly 30 packs at home and have been reusing them for quite a few years now. WORD OF CAUTION, do not set your oven too hot to the point of melting the plastic bags or setting the paper bags on fire. Low and slow is the hey.. I am really enjoying your videos and find you have a real keen eye for making videos for example the spider and the butterfly and so on. Keep up the great work for this old guy that is too old to enjoy the wilderness like you do now.

I think my favorite videos of yours are the solo trips. You, communing with your environment while talking to viewers seems a lot more raw. I hope you do more if the solo trip videos like this one….it was excellent.

I just found your channel a few days ago And already watched 4 videos. You guys are amazing! I wanna get more in to canoeing next year. I bought an old 16’ alumacraft to practice on before I set out in northern Saskatchewan on the Churchill system. I noticed you guys do lots of reading. Have you ever read Paddle to the Amazon? It’s a great read and a crazy adventure! Keep up the awesome videos.

GET THE CHICK FIL A AND POPCORN READY BOYS!!! 🍗🍿👀