Wilderness Beyond Mountains: Exploring Canada’s Parkland

In the Canadian prairies, there is an instinctual drive to make the most out of our two-to-three months of warm weather. You can feel the earth trembling ever July 1st as residents make their annual pilgrimage to “The Lake.” Tensions are high and we're all trying to get the most out of a summer that seems to get shorter and shorter every year. This is precious time—time you would rather not spend around 40-foot RVs, wake boats and disgruntled campers looking for a parking spot in the shade.

It’s better to keep things rustic if you don't want summer to be like one big, long disappointing New Year's Eve party. That’s why we started looking down the roads less travelled instead.

My name is Andy and since 2014, my friends and I have hiked, fished and camped in places that are generally overlooked in our corner of the world. Our travel philosophy is to keep it short and out of other people’s way, while using local research to keep things new and exciting. Our situation keeps things simple, close to home – mainly the Duck Mountains, Porcupine Hills and Pasquia Hills – all while sticking to something between a shoestring and extension-cord-for-a-belt budget.

This is the story of our initiation by the outdoors and the vast, humbling wilderness that is the Saskatchewan border.