9 Days Canoeing Wabakimi and the Kopka River | Northern Ontario Wilderness | Boreal Bound 

I've lived in Alaska all my adult life but i still miss Ontario. Thanks for taking us along.

It’s so fun watching you two on an adventure together! You guys are great!

I live in northern Indiana and I have a true story I would like to share with you. We have a cabin about 300 miles NNW of Thunder Bay Ontario. We drive till the road stops then take a float plane in to our cabin. My Dad built our cabin in 68 and we go up 3 times a year. The end of May, mid July and early Sept. One fall trip maybe 15 or 20 years ago now, we wanted to portage to a different lake. In the spring and fall if the weather was cool we would go after some Lake Trout. If I had to take a guess, I have been on that lake 30 to 40 times now. We are the only cabin on our lake and there is no cabins on the Lake Trout lake. We have 3 small boats we just leave on that lake because we go there so often. We had 6 men in 3 Boats that day. We all kinda went our own way and started fishing. It was maybe 4 hours later (around 2 or 3 pm) all 3 boats meet back up in the middle of the lake and we all killed our engines and started to eat our lunch. It was a beautiful sunny day with no clouds and the lake went completely flat, no wind at all. Ok now this is the part where you are going to think I'm nuts, so here I go. The first sound came from our north (the way back to our lake) The best way I can describe it was someone holding a note on a freaking pipe organ. The notes were perfect, not flat or anything like that. The notes would last maybe 5 to 8 seconds, that's a long time to hold a perfect note. When the one would die out, another would start from a different shore at a higher or lower note but all just perfect and sounded like a pipe organ. All the sounds were just single notes, we never heard 2 different notes at the same time. This lasted for maybe 15 or 20 min. We all 6 were hearing 20 + pipe organs play single notes around a lake with no cabins in the Canadian wilderness. The notes were extremely loud (like feel it in your chest loud) and with no wind and land no more the 400 yards away in any direction the notes would echo around a bit. My brother did not want to make the portage so he stayed in our lake with one of my uncles. Later back in our cabin we all were telling my uncle and brother what we heard. They both said they could also hear the notes from our direction. We never saw a thing and I don't know what we heard. We didn't see anything on the ground nothing in the trees, or water and boy we all were looking. About the only thing I do know there is no pipe organs around that lake. Over the years we have been back to that many times and nothing. Over the years we have asked State biologist, they look at me like I'm nuts. I even have asked a First Nation friend from that area. At least he gave me a kinda answer. Are you ready, I sure was. He said some things in nature are best left unknown. lol What that is your answer, I was so ready to find out and that's what I got. I'm the last one of the 8 people still alive who heard the pipe organ notes around a lake in the Canadian wilderness. I don't have a clue but something was making the sound and I'm just trying to find out what. Thank you. Greg 24 Modern Explorer

This is probably one of the longer videos I’ve watched end to end. Not only is it great to imagine being there but it’s wonderful to see you discover it yourself and really feel the enjoyment. It comes through in the video well.

What I really enjoy about your videos is that many of your routes are loops. It seems that northern Ontario's geography allows for this more than other places in the world, which takes a load off your logistics. The other thing I like about your videos is your maps! When watching any kind of tripping video, I try to follow along on google maps, so I love it that you provide nice detail of where you're going at the beginning of your videos. Very cool! Thanks for sharing these.

I’m exhausted just watching this! lol. Great job guys! Nothing like this in Texas...especially in summer. Just dry creek beds and snakes! Beautiful country!

Great video. Music and editing top notch. Loved the clouds and lightning in the evening sky

Brad and Leah you guys always nail your videos 🇨🇦👍

Stunningly beautiful. Wow. So pretty. Love it. Picturess. THANK YOU. And as one of you other viewers said a really good 💑 couple too. You two are really good together.

Fantastic video, trip, and couple. Much enjoyed guys!!! Keep zesting Leah. You've got us inspired to make cocktails

what an awesome trip you guys!! You're such a sweet couple!! Very engaging edit, great music addition to keep it upbeat throughout!

Moose: "Cool. Two humans paddling across a lake. It's not every day you see that." Great adventure! Thank you for sharing.

I logged up near Manitouwadge for years and did many trips by canoe or just drive the logging roads or fly in.I have just bought a home in Manitouwadge and will retire there next year my health is still quite good at 59 so here's hoping I can make many more trips. Your trip was awesome and very well filmed and documented...GRATZ..If you want to do a trip that I did with 3 others in 1988, I think you would enjoy the Churchill River...We flew into Sandfly Lake close to the Alberta border and did 10 days with an extra 4 days north on Mountaney Lake for awesome Pickerel and Lake trout fishing. It was 14 days of heaven only one day of rain. We came all the way back from sandfly to Lac La Ronge. Bear Island Lake can be challenging so many islands.All Boreal forest with well marked Portages and beautiful campsites. The Churchill river is like one big lake after the next joined by rapids. You can even paddle this river going upstream in July and August,its that calm. In our trip we had about 16 portages and only shot 6 sets of rapids (only did class 2 ) so we portaged 10 to 12 times which is decent in 200 plus miles.We hit Blueberry season too. Our outfitter flew us from Lac La Ronge into sandfly and we saw every part of the river by air that we were going to do...it was incredible!CHEERS TO YOU AND GOOD TRIPPING!

Your vids are awesome and your wife is a trooper thanks for the trip

Nice to see that spray deck and a rescue knife equipped to your PFD! ;-) Cheers folks! Great vid!

I've been to the Boundry Waters several times. I have to say I can't remember seeing it in more splendor. You two times it perfectly. PERFECTLY!!!

That was your best video yet. You guys get better every time you put out a new video. Thumbs Up

I'm kayakist from France , so unfortunately I will never be able to get there, but I was enjoying this video trip a lot ! Thank you for sharing 😀

What a trip Brad & Leah! You guys killed it out there! So many different landscapes, the sheer rock cliffs and the Seven Sisters...wow! The filming of this is the best of seen, thanks so much for all the extra effort you guys put into filming to make us feel like we were right there! 🇨🇦 Doug

I’m glad to see you guys doing more fishing. And just enjoy the trip without rushing all the time. Taking time to smell the flowers. 🇨🇦👍

Although a belated comment, I must say Sean you have one fantastic, very strong, beautiful lady with you. A real trouper and such a lovely spirit. Makes all the difference in the world. Awesome video and really well done. I was hooked right in it. I miss canoeing and miss a partner to do such great outdoor excursions with. I left behind all my great gear as I was moving to BC. Some portages reminds me of up in Algonquin. Ugh...grueling. I liked the canyon. Killarney will always be my favorite. Done short bits of the Vermilion River - flat water. Also the Montreal River in Timiskaming up to the first train trestles. Launched from the power damn. Gawd that river is black and spooky...shiver me timbers. Gawd, that poor canoe's bottom...lol. Is it the Prospector? Fiberglass or TuffStuff? I love to get either the Haida 17 or especially the Cronje 17′. Had a Kawartha speed canoe similar to the cronje but was only a 14 foot. What a beast it was. Although low profile hull, we put a Sponson kit to deflect potential high waves. Man it was a fast canoe and could handle a lot of weight. Was straight as an arrow in high winds. I don't think the company exists any longer though but they had made one heck of a fantastic canoe. They had the 16' version as well. Brand new it cost 700 dollars CAD in those days. Now the same thing are anywhere from 2 to 3K or more...Ouch. Sometimes I dream of just going deep inland, spot a beautiful spot and never leave. Great video Sean and Leah. What a great trip and beautiful scenery.

What a great trip and what great videography. So many times, only one person's personality shines through on these, but I felt I got a sense of both of you as partners. Well done!

Every video is better than the last. Especially great to sit back and watch this while we are stuck at home. That was some serious portaging!

Awesome scenery thank you for posting

Lovely couple!!!!! And, they keep everything so clean. The young lady is an excellent canoe-ist!!! OK, him too! Enjoyable way to spned a covid afternoon.

Well done Brad, well done Leah, a FIVE STAR FILM ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🇨🇦

I've been to the Boundry Waters several times. I have to say I can't remember seeing it in more splendor. You two timed it perfectly. PERFECTLY!!! You guys are a heck of a team. You really compliment each others knowledge well.

Impressed with how mint the canoe looks after all that beating!

I had no idea we had so many beautiful falls on just one river in Ontario! Another great trip guys! 🙌

A very nice part of your videos is when, in a rapid, the communication from the back to the front of the canoe. It is polite, respectful and complimentary. When paddling rapids I used to follow the 'no fault rule' with my partner which if something went wrong, we missed a move or swam, I would not blame them and asked they not blame me but get on with what needed to be done.

Stunning........well made video........thank you!

You are with somebody very special God bless you both

Brad and Leah, incredible trip. I was looking up the Kopka river as I might travel Up river to get into Wabakimi at the end of May this year. Your footage and the incredible scenery convinced me to take this route up and into the park unless the current will be too strong to paddle up on my own by then. Thanks for this video guys! 👌

Love watching your team work going through the rapids! You guys are definitely in sync! And the scenery was spectacular

The Collins and the rock formations are breathtaking.

It will end up being a trip of a lifetime never to be forgotten

Brilliant! Thanks, guys!

SpecTACular! We may have the beautiful images but you two have the lifelong memories, what a blessing! Thanks for taking us along.

Wow, thank you! Stunning!

So I hooked in to your guys channel about 6 weeks ago. I’ve really enjoyed all your travels, this is the best I’ve seen. Canada you are beautiful, I’m from New Zealand so I should know, what we have, you simply have much more . Brad, Leah you guys are awesome, eat well, drink well, work well. Onto it, experienced, prepared, tough as old boots and yet you are still the people from next door, love it. Great to see a little more of the portage lowdown, not something we do much here, thankfully. We’re more sea/whitewater kayaking here, the canoe doesn’t really suit our rivers. This has been my lockdown sanity, and I’m passing this on to all my Kiwi kayaking buddies. Good health and good luck. Thank you!

BREATHTAKING BEAUTY COLORS SCENERY VIEWS VIDEO ! GODS PAINT BRUSH IS MIND BLOWING BEAUTY ! BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAG ALONG WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY ! ENJOYED !

Awesome vid Brad! Thanks for sharing.

Excited to see this journey!!

We need this right now. Thanks guys. 👍

You guys really know your stuff. It’s nice to see you enjoy your trips. I sure enjoy watching your videos. Thanks.🇨🇦👍

Amazing and thank you both for such a great trip. Cheers. Keep up the great work. Really enjoyed it.

What an incredible trip! So stunning! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

What a great trip! Really enjoyed your enthusiasm and sharing of this gorgeous place! Like the food too.

Just love watching your videos guys, and love those opening drone shots.

fantastic, thank you for sharing

Completely Brilliant! An amazing trip! Thank you for sharing, your filming skills are getting so good.

Brad, I hope you know how lucky you are to have a woman that loves to do what you guys do! Love the videos, keep them coming!

I love your videos. What a great trip!

i see it's woods surprisingly keep up the good work

Very nice landscape, the video is great straight to the end.

Great video, you guys rock. that's lots of dragging !!

Great video !! Thank you both for sharing your adventures !!

Big thanks for all the effort you guys put in sharing this amazing trip!

Excellent video, thank you!

Well done you two! Amazingly documented trip! Beautiful sights and awesome food. Thank you for sharing!

Great video! Thank you for sharing especially the way things are looking for the coming season!

Excellent trip guys! Awesome!

You guys are making so many great memories for each other

You are very lucky to have a lady like that you guys have a great time

Very nice trip. Thanks

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

Fantastic scenery

​yess i cant wait to go up there one day soon! thanks brad and leah you guys always inspire me to go deeper into the bush

Awesome job Brad!

Fantastic journey, fantastic film. Thanks for taking the trip and making the movie for the rest of us to come along with you. One more trip to add to my list.

Ontario has some truly amazing places to visit. Endless gorgeous spots.

This has got to be my new dream trip! Thank you both once again for taking us along!

So loved this video you guys, awesome trip. Thanks for sharing, made my day.

Very fun watch

Awesome scenery, great filming! Thanks for taking us along!

best video yet! What an amazing trip.

What a wonderful video! I’m so glad I found it. Such a beautiful place.

Well that was epic. Very creative route choice with big payoffs on those amazing waterfalls and cliffs. Definitely on my bucket list.

Lovely couple in beautiful places. Thanks for your video 👍👍

Not even done watching this yet, but it already makes me want to go on my first canoeing trip!

Truly amazing , you both are had a adventure of a lifetime ... And cheers ....

Love the PACKER HAT

Awesome trip! And a very professional put together video! Thanks for sharing!

The extra time you had in the editing room is shining through.

Awesome trip video! The landscapes in Northwestern Ontario look amazing!

Magnificent adventure. I had to just stay on the edge of my seat. Thank you for sharing.

Brad and Leah, great to see you guys doing another trip and sharing it, love it so thanks heaps👍👍

great video, and good footage of beautiful landscape and waters, you two had to be in good shape for some of those portages, my hat's off to you too for such an adventure, thanks for sharing

Leah's response when she gets hit with the lure... OMG that is everything. Awesome trip guys! Makes me want to head north when all this quarantine mess is over and find myself some wilderness!

Whoa, epic video, epic landscapes and looks like great food too!! You guys never disappoint, but I must say this was my favourite. Loved seeing more of Leahs point of view and character. I have been itching for my May canoe trip which may not be able to happen now considering the current situation, but I have been inspired to spend this time dreaming of canoe trips in Ontario 😍

Great video! I paddled the Kopka ten years ago, one of my all-time favorite trips. Your video really has me wanting to go back and do it again!

Nice to watch you guys paddle in time.

Good Morning, I am quickly becoming a fan of your Canoe trips and videos , i hope to be able to get to this place 1 day . Thanks for sharing your experiences !

Beautiful trip. You did a great job of documenting it. Leah is a trooper.

New friend to your channel - found this video from a suggested video and thank god for RU-vids mysterious algorithm. This video was epic, loved the narration, the 7 sisters was breathtaking, especially, 59:25 . Left you a big thumbs up and can't wait to see the rest of your videos... now time to binge watch.

Going up the Collins! Stunning and cool from the air too. Portages were cleared by a Wabakimi Project crew in 2017. Great to see our campsite on Rushbay. This section may be included in the Wabakimi Canoe Routes guidebook that's in the works. Did you encounter a difficult portage on the lower part? The portage I'm referring to is 136m on river right...our reports says, "The portage has two very steep sections and the last 50-60 m crosses an area of large boulders and rubble from the steep canyon walls. This is the worst footing and most treacherous portage I've seen in ten years, don't try this portage in wet weather!" Now I'll watch the rest of your video.

The moose were thinking the same thing! You two really struggled on some of those portages, but it was pretty easy for me! I can so relate to the end of a trip on the final day. Heaven is a trip like this, that never ends. Thanks so much for bringing us along!

That was a fantastic video! WOW!

It's so breathtaking. Your amazing commentary and impeccable camera work are so immersive I don't even care I'm not there; you truly open a door to your incredible voyages... Thank you so much

Incredibly enjoyable video, and breathtaking scenery. Thank you both for bringing it into our homes.