12-Day Wilderness Trip with a Stranger 

This is a condensed version of my first trip with Xander in 2021. Why repost old content? Right now it's mainly due to the knee injury (slowly recovering and seeing the surgeon tomorrow but no timeline yet). But there are lots of reasons why I do this once or twice a year: -Financial: these trips have no hard expenses and with some extra polish often bring in much more ad revenue than the original which helps make doing this full-time viable -When this was posted in 2021, I was still learning Davinci Resolve (after finally ditching Windows Movie Maker) so there was a ton to clean up from the original post (trimming the fat, better colour and sound, and straight up mistakes like accidentally exporting the main audio track in mono instead of stereo) -Reposts come 1.5-2 years after an original series so hopefully if you are rewatching it (thank you!), enough time has passed for the memory to be foggy -The channel also grows in that timeframe and most new viewers don't go through a back catalogue of 300+ videos. This brings it to the surface for those people and others. -Sometimes I can't get out for a while so I time reposts to fill gaps.

The intro with Xander hitting you with the canoe is just comedy GOLD 😂

Great trip brother. One ill remember forever and ever! Heal up so we can get back out pretty please

one of my favorite trips I've watched - so I really don't mind watching it again. It's just as magical, and seeing my two fav explorers will never grow old. Thank you Jon and hope you recover soon! P.S everyone else, support Jon if you can!

Yes! This is exactly what I hoped you'd be doing. I would love to see extended versions of some of the shorter vids too if possible!

Hats off to you Jon for taking this time to improve and master the video editing side of things. You are a story teller and artist at the end of the day and it's a video format. Great job sharpening your craft during this down time. Praying the Dr. can fix you up, and for a speedy rehab. 🛶

I love how your eyes lit up when you saw the caribou.

My favourite backcountry bromance. Great to see a re-edit of this wonderful trip John.

Too many times people quickly forget the 'treasure moments' in their life and remain focused on what is not going well. You captured your treasure moment on camera, acknowledged it and have shared it with us. Thank you Jon and thank you Xandorf.

Watched the original and I'll be watching this remastered version. Your content is medicine for my mind. Hope your injury heals soon.

Thank-you for taking us along.

You have been on my mind ever since your injury video was posted, and I sincerely wish you a full recovery. Be patient and know that we will all be here when you recover to rejoin you on your adventures, no matter how long it takes. I found your channel about 6 months ago and Xander's was discovered through Lost Lakes. Your outstanding content offers much joy to us all, and these kind of videos can certainly be watched multiple times.

Dude, this was the bomb. You two are blessed to know each other. I got to see Xander through you. Sure the reciprocal is through with people discovering you. Footage seemed better than in the normal ones. It was almost like I didn’t see this trip although I know I did. God bless, heal…enjoy time with your queen.

From the “If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now” folder: Turn around and run away, Jon, as fast as you can! Except now you can’t run, so every time you turn around, there’s Xander, lurking, rubbing his hands together like Gollum over the Ring. Best wishes for the recovery!

I wouldn't mind seeing you and Xander do this trip again. Such a magical adventure.

Love this trip, hope the injury is well on the mend!

love this version....2.0.. and that Xander has pointed ears! Thank You!

I admire you guys so much. You make it look easy. Weather decisions, finding camp, taking it all in stride... I wish I knew some fellas with your knowledge, experience and drive. Keep the dream alive Jon. Good man.

Videos like this make me feel like spring cant come fast enough, I can't wait to get back out in to the wilderness. Thank you!

Watched Xander's video of this trip and now watching Jon's. Just too cool. They appear to be good mates in in the making. Love this version of the expedition.

I already watched the original a couple of times, from both your perspectives, yet here I am, ready for another. Best wishes to you, and hope your meeting with the surgeon goes well!

Sure, I’d love to watch this again!

I REMEMBER YOUR FINGER BURN, OUCH! I LOVE YOU & XANDER TOGETHER, TRUE FRIENDS, MANY LAUGHS & GREAT ADVENTURES ALWAYS. HOPING FOR MANY IN 2023. LOVE THE PHOTO ENDING

You two are magnificent. Watching makes me feel like I'm camping with you.

I personally love the weird bromance you two have and am glad to see your first date.

Really enjoyed video. Narration was excellent. Thank you for sharing trip.

John&Erin just wanted you to know that you are an important part of my life. And, I miss having new content probably as much as you miss being out there. From your psych sessions with Gary to your proposal. I’ve watched every one strait through. Thank you Erin for saving John without having to use the zolio(sp). My connection is this. Lived worked and had my family in Detroit. Went to Canada nearly every week. Almost every vacation was centered around tent camping each of the Great Lakes except Lake Ontario. The boys and I did that once for a hockey tournament. I was lucky enough to fly in fishing to northern Ontario 5 times. We caught walleye until our hands bled. Taking a sein for minnows, using leeches (under almost every shoreline rock) taught me there is nothing better than natural bait. Since that time and for the past 15 years my wife has had MS. As her 24/7/365 caregiver and with zero help I barely get time for a mile walk a few times a week. Camping, hiking, fishing just isn’t happening anytime soon here. So, I hope your knee gets back to 110% soon so you & Erin can get back out there. One suggestion while you’re down. Build your playlists so that I can just put you on to watch all day. Maybe by year? Season? One with all of Erin’s content? One for Lake Superior? Give us an update when it makes sense.

my first view of this. and now my all time greatest enjoyed asmr of all. heres grunting at ya both. glad u two met up and did this.

I'm watching this again because miss your videos so much. I have gone back and watched them from the start

Great video and I hope to find more from you. I'm terminal with cancer and being able to vicariously enjoy a trip like this takes my mind off my own situation and puts me as close as I can get to being there. Thank you

3 mins in and I already have a good feeling about this one.

The wildlife was just amazing. I'm glad you got along with that stranger and that he wasn't a serial killer.

We thoroughly enjoyed getting to see a second look at an amazing trip! Ignore the trolls and make more of these amazing stories! Hope you heal quickly and can get back to exploring!

Never get tired of watching your videos Jontario, hope all goes well with the surgery and wishing you a speedy recovery!

You two were great together back then and today make the perfect backcountry comic relief…. Haha. Hope you get some answers soon on your knee! All the best! 😊

This was great to watch again, condensed with beautiful colour is wonderful but the original is just as wonderful. I love watching you and Xander together, you both have the same awe and respect for the wilderness. Sending healing blessings your way ❤

Nice, the dynamic duo is back together for another epic adventure,,,

Never fails does it, when 2 homosapiens are left in the wild together, communication soon turns to bodily waste. Enjoyed the trip, thanks so much.

you guys are a good team, hope to see more together in the future.

Oh, fantastic! I can't wait to sit down and watch this, it was such a good trip!!

We just watched this, although we've seen it in segments when it was first posted and we've enjoyed it once again. One thing I must say is how glad I am that you and Xander made that trip and more importantly, made a friendship. We continue to enjoy any trips the two of you make together. You're a good, fun pair.

Stumbling across your channel, you guys being back nice memories.

I came for the intro, stayed for the great content!

Epic. Makes you feel and even smell the wind & the water.

This is a new video to me. I'm fairly new to the chanel. Love your videos. Good luck with the surgeon tomorrow. Don't rush to get back out, until you're fully recovered. I'm very happy watching old revamped content.

Jon hope the injury heals quickly for you. Frankly I just didn't see this previously so it was nice to see Xander & how you connected. Great idea to work on improving your editing skills it helps keep you focus on something while you are healing. Praying you get good news from the doctors. Thank you.

Love watching you and Xander ❤ it always puts me in a good mood😊

Thanks for sharing! Used to do some camping as a kid, but then I got adultified. I'm Canadian - but for one reason or another, I haven't made enough opportunity to reconnect with nature. And yet, we yearn for each other continuously. Appreciate your efforts to help some of us imagine. Peace.

Hey Jon, I've been a subscriber for a while and really enjoy your adventures. I missed this original post. Thanks for reposting! I hope your healing and will be back to 100% soon. I think it's really cool how you and Xander went on this adventure together... Hope there will be more adventures to share. What a beautiful part of Canada you live in!! Enjoy living vicariously through your adventures! All the best! Christian K, Upstate New York State.

That was great, funny at the end, and more fish than burritos...

"See it again for the first time" 😀 I love it. This trip is on my top five of your videos, It's the origin story of one of the Greatest Canadian duos since...I dare say.... Bob and Doug McKenzie. (Sorry Jim and Ted.) You rock man, I hope the knee is healing. Have a great day. 🌲

Great video! Enjoyable viewing with my first cup of coffee this morning.

Good choice on the Davinci switch; colors more saturated, storm clouds really ominous, even on a small phone. I’ll watch on a bigger screen. Fires really stood out at night too. The low light videography still had plenty of detail, helped to explain your attempt to miss the wind. Thanks, I think I enjoyed this more than the first.

Hey John & Xander, I grew up in Eastern Ontario and went to university in Northern Ontario. I have been living and working overseas the past 16 years in a few different countries and am currently living in Melbourne, Australia. I have been working through the decision of moving back to Canada soon, but it hasn't been the easiest decision given that I have gotten used to living abroad, enjoying the long haul travel, visiting bustling South-East Asian cities, and my lifestyle in general. I have been watching your videos, and the more I watch, the more nostalgia I feel for Canada, the nature, the people, the seasons. Your videos have made me realise that I'm ready to go home and begin a new phase of my life and one that will include reconnecting with the Canadian wilderness. Thank you.

Thanks Jon.....we will all stay with you no matter the content....You are a true entertainer.... Both honest and real....

What an incredible adventure, thanks for sharing the magic of the boreal woods, waters and wildlife!

I smiled ear to ear several times watching this. Real heartfelt smiles. Thanks again for sharing and taking us along. Everything doesn't have to be 'new' content to be awesome. Good productions speak for themselves.

Just enjoyed Terrific ❤️👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

The timelapse at 59:00 as you travel across the lake is a nice feature, really gives a sense of the route across the expanse of water. 😀 Don't remember seeing this in your videos before, although I'm sure there are tonnes of examples 😆

A masterpiece! You two are great together and on your own! Love you both. ❤

such a great trip! excited to watch the abridged version

Thanks for the great coverage of your back country trips. I'm pretty doggoned old now and watching your adventures brings back so many good memories. I once lived up in Labrador, a beautiful rugged place. The portages were murder. I now live in Northern Minnesota, just a few portages away from you. Xander seems to be a great paddle partner. Keep up the good work. Ron

Hi Jon, I was literally just thinking about you and wondering how you are doing. Hope you're healing up mate. See you soon on another adventure. Cheers 🍻

My FIRST time watching this video and I LOVED IT. I keep finding myself back to your channel and watching your videos. I was HOPING this was a video AFTER you've recovered(BECAUSE I AM ROOTING FOR YOU TO BE BACK OUT DOING WHAT YOU LOVE!) and then I heard the name Xander and realized this had to be an older video because I have seen him in your other videos. Our family goes "GLAMPING" in a nice 38ft camper right across the dunes from BEAUTIFUL beaches. I hope one day I my family can experience EVEN A FRACTION of all the wonderful things you get to experience.

Great recap episode Jon. Hope it goes well with the surgeon and healing!

Where it all began! 😂 Loved this trip! Love this version too!

Gah!! I don't care if this is a re-edit! Bah humbug to the jerks who complain about free excellence. What beautiful photography woven into a fantastic story!! Good luck with the knee. My son had knee stuff done and he is fully back to normal. The hardest thing for you in Canada is the wait times for each piece of the diagnosis and repair. Best wishes for speedy recovery!!

Just want to thank you for all these great videos you've been putting out! Very recently found your channel and im OBSESSED. keep up the great content man

What a treat! Thanks for sharing and wish you a speedy recovery

Like chocolate and peanut butter. Each great alone but can't get enough when combined. What a great trip.

Just a little bit ago I pressed play on your channel and I'm loving the content! You've inspired my wife and I to dust off our old Radison 13' 6" canoe, aka little water, and get back out there!

Another beauty with an additional bonus of the stranger. Many bonuses! Those lost fish haha - they were huge! The caribou, I was waiting for it to come to the shore oh oh, that would have been mighty interesting to have it sniff around. The lynx was probably there looking at you both through the branches from the shore. Yes, as another person commented - it made to look so easy because you both are experts! Thank-you for sharing your adventure.

Breathtaking scenery at the end of your video Jon, I feel like God is rewarding your respect and love for His creation. He even leads a magnificent caribou to you. May He keep blessing you and Erin. Love from Holland, Joël

What an amazing trip! Even if not experienced first hand, beeing part of it has been out of words. So happy for you and your new friendship. Really looking forward to take out my own canoue now soon. That this was a re-run does not take of the result one bit. So nice way to spend part of my sunday afternoon. Thanks to both.

Get better! Make sure you heal well! I liked that video so much! Will check this one later today.

Your trips with Xander are absolute gold. This one is definitely my favourite. You two are hilarious together. Cannot wait for more camping vids together! ❤ I just placed an order from your merch! I'm so excited!

Your videos never get old ! I hope your healing is going well.

All the best on your recovery, we all miss your videos !!!

Love this condensed version. I hope things go well with the surgeon and they can get you sorted. You should put the bug in xander's ear about doing a tandem this summer if you are still on the mend. I always enjoy watching you both. All the best Jon!

The original vid still stands as one of my favourite vids youve ever done. This condensed refresher was great too. Reminding me that a trip like this is a dream of mine I want to do hopefully not too far from now. Hope your knee improves sooner rather then later. Cheers Jontario.

Absolutely wonderful to watch this trip again. The wildlife on this trip was incredible. A great "first date" :)

tis a good day when Lost Lakes shows up on my notifications - hope you are keeping well my friend and hopes for good news with your knee bone and how it connects to your leg bone 🙂🙃🙂

I so needed this today. I enjoyed watching it again. so peaceful.

Wow! I have never seen a Caribou! What a beautiful creature 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮 🎉 I had not seen this one before! Thanks for the repost. It’s neat to see how you guys got to befriends! Great story!

Great video! Hope you have a speedy recovery.

Amazing adventure. Thanks for sharing.

I hope you get yourself fixed up and on the mend quickly, I loved this video and dont mind watching it again Xander is a awesome down to earth individual with a kind heart and A fine outdoorsmen like yourself your a great team and compliment each other always . loved the wildlife sightings sooo cool that was . Such epic cinamtograpghy throughout landscape shots and sun set sunrise gorgeouse ! the wolves howl's omg you two were so blessed . thoughly enjoyed watching this again what an epic wilderness area it is magical thank you for the video . Ontario.

Jon, great idea to offer a fresh cut of a past trip! I enjoyed this one as much as your original. One thought I had for you (if you haven’t done this already) was the potential for you and Xander to do something live where you talk about your trips, discuss gear, talk about fishing techniques, as well as maybe some stuff that never makes it to your vids like setting up cameras, doing your dishes, talking to sponsors etc. the inside scoop! Anyway, hope you are healing up well and look forward to seeing you out there again soon!

So awesome, thank you for sharing your slice of wonder! Jon the experience was fantastic, but my favorite part was you giving your thoughts and feelings...I too enjoy the lone peacefulness, but at the same time having a close friend as well! To me life has always be to experience and enjoy and you have found that in a very special way. Please continue to explore adventure and happiness and given the chance share it with us! Cheers and all the very best...

Get well soon Jon!!! This was one of my favourite trips!! Love the collaboration that you two put together!!!!

Wonderful trip guys, Thank you both So much for your content.

Good Lads. Well done. Best to you, Jon on your progression from your knee injury. Thanks for sharing.

Still catching up on these great videos but I'm a year behind. The videos are so stunning, entertaining and educational, especially with Erin.

So nice of you to drop this video. Hope you are healing and taking care ❤

I learnt about your channel from watching Xander's video of this trip. Been watching your content ever since. It's nice to go back to the trip that originally brought me to your channel. Thanks Jon.

This was worth every second to watch. Leaves me feeling warm and thankful for nature's beauty, and thankful to you for having shared such an emotionally stunning piece of film.

No problem on the re-posting. I had a great time. The northern lights with the strobing pool campfire in the foreground was my favorite shot. I also liked the mushroom shots in scenes around camp. Thanks for another great trip. Dave Purkerson

Just recently watched this for a second time, guess I watch it a third time.

needed a good video to watch tonight and absolutely glad this is here

Exceptionally well done as usual and many thanks for bringing us along! Hoping all goes well with your knee and you are on the mend. Canoe season is rapidly approaching!