Five Days in the Backcountry - E1- Heart Pounding Rapids
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ม.ค. 2025
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In this video, Alex Traynor of Northern Scavenger and Brad Jennings of Explore The Backcountry show up at my place on Friday evening with plans of paddling the upper Magnetawan River. They'd reached out to me asking about water levels and I joined in. But my plan was to paddle from my house all the way to Georgian Bay, and I'd made some loose plans with my brother Ted who was going to solo out and find me camped on a lake part way through the trip after Brad and Alex had compleated the upper river. Of course, my dog Buck would be coming along as usual.
Alex and Brad showed up fairly late and we stayed up later than anticipated sharing stories and having a few bevvys. Our start the next day was a little slower because of it but, getting on the river at 9am, we still had plenty of time to tackle all the Upper Magnetawan River had to offer.
The water was already unseasonably high and the persistent rain had brought it up even higher. This was the latest in the season I've ever run the river but also the highest water levels. It made things really interesting. The bugs made things really interesting too. They are bad this year!
The Magnetawan River actually starts well to the east of me, with its headwaters deep in Algonquin Park. The portion referred to as the upper runs from Ahmic Lake to Wah-wash-kesh Lake, and the lower runs from Wah-wash-kesh Lake to Byng Inlet in Georgian Bay. It's a legendary whitewater river that boasts deep, spectacular canyons, good camping, and good fishing too. A pool and drop river, with deep open channels, it can be paddled at any time of year but the whitewater is best early in the season. The river became more known when canoeing icon Bill Mason paddled Canal Rapids (which lies at the bottom of 100' cliffs) in his film "Water Walker"
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Northern Scavenger:
/ @northernscavenger
Explore The Backcountry: / stajanleafs
Ted Baird: / canoebeyondted
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Check out E2 of this adventure here.
👉 th-cam.com/video/3vRvZqMiOjQ/w-d-xo.html
In the second part, my brother Ted joins me and we make our way through some dramatic scenery and many more heart pounding rapids to reach Georgian Bay. We also get into some good fishing. Be sure to subscribe to my channel for more.
Love how Buck just chills in the canoe. You know you're pups been on the water a ton when they can just relax in the boat like that. RIP bud.
Love watching your videos, very adventurous, and I love BUCK,.very smart dog.
Buck's the best!
You know what! It would be nice to see Buck on his journey to join up with you. Would a cam attached to him be too much a burden to carry? It doesn't look that easy to traverse those rocks. Buck's the Hero!
Thanks, ya he’s a great pooch
He does wear a camera in a few videos too actually! Particularly in my Cote Nord Adventure series. It’s great footage actually.
columbine and periwinkle. those flowers. Madman! love the enthusiasm! BUck is epic
Thanks a lot!
@@JimBairdAdventurer Hey, Thank You Man! looks like great times. Very inspiring You are doing some amazing Sh*#t!
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Great adrenalin trip with bugs ,!..Buck stayed relaxed the whole time lol...even in white water ha
Thanks a lot, it was a great trip for sure! Part 2 of this is great too as I meet up with my brother
I don't want my pants wet. This guy rocks!!! What a great video and Jim is so real. I love you guys.
Lol, thanks a lot!!
Good vid Jim ... Nice to see you taking the time to show inexperienced people the art of being an outdoorsman.
Green Veggies thanks a lot, I suppose I have learned a few things over the years that I can share but there’s always more to learn
Buck about the most chill yet bad ass dog I’ve ever seen. So cool!
Thanks a lot, ya, he’s awesome
I’m binge watching all of your content during this Covid-19 quarantine here in NJ. You’re a lucky man to have Buck as your adventure companion what a great animal friend.
Thanks very much!! I hope you enjoy it!
If you like Buck, wait till you see Jims girlfriend, Tori. She is one to ride the river with.
Great video,Buck is one cool dog!
Thanks a lot!!
I think what you do is amazing your DOG buck is the man you have a wonderful life up in Canada wish I was born there but no a USA baby lol wonderful trip thanks again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey man, thanks a lot. Yup, Buck is awesome, kicked out with him. Thanks for watching!
I love watching Alex's footage and then watching yours. Two different perspectives on the same awesome trip! Great video Jim, really enjoyed it!
This was totally insane. Glad to Brad in the video. I have seen a few of his adventures. I still cannot believe Buck. He definitely should be in a movie for the most relaxing dog but most daring. This was just such an amazing video and can’t wait for more.😝
Was a blast! Jim did a great job capturing the adventure!!
Buck really loved those rapids, a rare experience for a dog.
I love your vids Jim. On a scale of 1 to " Hold my beer" you rock!
Jim really enjoy watching your adventures gotta say Buck is a true legend . A great dog
Great ep 1 :-) some nice white water, Buck has such a great smile when he's riding the canoe, bugs n mud look suckey but great seanary, looking forward to Ted joining the fun
Ya, it’s a great portion of river but the portion coming up is even more beautiful. Thanks for checking it out! Working on part two now
Falling sucks! While out Deer Hunting this last season I fell 9 times and the last time I fractured my Fibula. I was able to hunt for 4 more days until the swelling made it impossible to put on my hiking boots. It's no fun hiking on wet trails and having to climb over fallen tree after fallen tree! Love the Video Jim thanks for sharing!
It does, hunting for four days with a broken leg is pretty bad ass though man.
Wow, what a beautiful river. Only a few skilled paddlers can see it, thanks for a peak. Buck just amazes me, ice water in his veins.
Thanks, ya it is gorgeous and it gets even more dramatic lower down which I’ll share in my next video. The lower portion can actually be paddled later in the season and the rapids are a lot easier and can be portaged so it is possible to see much of this country and not have to run terrifying rapids at that time of year. Buck is a great dog and companion out there for sure. His whole life he’s been doing things outdoors and he just takes to it all so naturally.
Wow! Nuts all of you but makes for a great video 👍
Thanks for checking it out Doug!
BINGING this series ... just like all of the Jim & Ted's Excellent Adventures! LOL... Wish my pup was that chill when the water is that high. :..(
As a newbie kayak fisherman enthralled in the outdoors of mountain nature I've searched high and low for raw shit like this. This channel is one of a kind.
Only started following and obviously subscribing to your channel no brainer lol enjoy it and can't get enough of all the adrenalin and scenery JOB WELL DONE Jim TYVM for entertaining us....what type op dog is buck what a Legend...keep up the FANTASTIC work Jim greetings from South-Africa
Awesome, great to have ya
This might be my favourite vid you’ve done. Local waters, gnarly conditions, great adventure, good folks, and bucks just at home. Had to watch it with my lil canoe trippers, 4yr old thought Buck was a wolf and Brad was a girl. Miss ya Buckaroo
Great video Jim, 3W's, Wild Water WOW. Buck what a trouper.
Thanks! That sounds about right haha. It was an awesome trip though. The portaging doesn’t get any easier and neither do the bugs but the weather stays good for the most part.
absolutely awesome Jim, i have to agree with Mo Yan you're good kid but you'll always come second best to Buck, he is an awesome dog. He is lying on the screen and just like bring it on baby and he always looks a bit miffed when you kick him off onto land for the difficult bits. Brilliant, looking forward to part 2
Nice, glad you like it and Buck is definitely solid out there! Starting in the edit for part 2 now.
So happy,, it's another Excellent Jim & Ted Adventure!!
Thanks a lot!! There will be a lot more of Ted in part two.
Hey Jim great videos so far, you don't need granola bars when you're eating all those mosquitoes pure protein 🐾Buck🐾 looks like he's enjoying the trip as well, you are a beast that canoe does not look light or your packs. Looking forward to episode 2. Be safe out there Cheers 🍻🐾👏🐾🍻
Will do, thanks for that and hoping to have ep 2 out in the near future.
Thanks great trip . Been there done that on the White River. Great memories.👍🇨🇦
Sweet, white river in Ontario that goes into the north shore of Lake Superior?
I’m just a few minutes into this video...that’s the coolest dog! He’s so chill on the deck! Haha
Thanks!
Love all your videos you rock 🍺🍺
Jim u have the strength of a bull! Love how Buck knows his own way around!!
GREAT great video! Really enjoyed all the scenery and your paddle skills rock the boat!!
I've paddled the Mag several times in all different seasons and it's always a blast but I've never seen it that high before! I'm looking forward to seeing your experience on the lower half. Lost my canoe for an hour and my Werner white water paddle for good in 30 Dollar Rapids once on a solo trip. Fun times! Keep these videos coming, they're always great! Buck is my hero!
That’s awesome, it’s a great river! This is the highest I’ve ever run it too. 30-dollar was huge!
...and ya thanks about Buck. He’s great, really well tempered pooch.
I bet it was huge! I’m wondering where you took out above the 2 falls in 30 Dollar, if it was even runnable at all at that level.
Great vid . your Dog Buck is the best , looks like he loves the trip hanging around on the boat lol . cheers
Thanks a lot, ya, he’s a great pup and a pretty lucky one too. Sometimes I With I was Buck!
Northern Ontario is so beautiful. I cant believe you started that epic adventure in your backyard....
Amazing dog! Lucky you.
Quite the trek there JB! Slippin' on the bank... dumping the boat!!! LMAO
Maybe don't drink that much next time!!! You guys ripped them rapids like Pro's!. Great vid Buddy...TFS
Good advice, thanks a lot and glad you liked it👍
Awesome, looking forward to the next one. And as always, Buck stole the show!
Mo Yan thanks, yup, Buck always does!
Amazing day! Your dog is an absolute treasure. Thanks for posting this exciting video.
No problem, ya we lucked out with Buck. Thanks a lot for checking out the video 👍
Hey great stuff Mr Baird!!! I mean I guess given a choice of walking across frozen tundra for weeks or a nice bouncy canoe ride.. I'm betting the canoe ride wins, maybe for Buck anyway.
You sir are a beast !!and a crazy sob , Buck too. Great vid buddy. Keep em coming.
Thanks a lot haha..and will do 👍
I rewatched this footage and wow you’re so brave and I just love your best furry friend “Buck” amazing footage of raging rivers and cascading inlets and boiling waters are fabulous to see. The green trees are majestic backdrops to your films and campsites 🏕
Thanks s lot, it is a really beautifully river
Jim Baird - Adventurer Hi Jim yes it is and love the wild life !! AND BUCK
I've been watching a lot of your videos and it dawned on me that Buck had an uncanny feel, for when you are going to swim in a rapids, bcuz he is always on shore when you do. Smart dog!
Hey Jim, while watching that video down in my basement I kept feeling like I needed to cough up mosquitos in my throat, that's how realistic this video came across in the comfort of my home. Good video man!
Thanks, oh man, when you’re huffing and puffing from a hard portage and there’s a cloud of bugs around your head, it’s inevitable
First time on your channel and i love it. What beautiful places, keep the videos coming. Great job
Will do, thanks a lot for checking it out and there’s definitely lots more to come!
Wow awesome. I've done white water rafting and sledging in Tongariro, Rotorua and Gisborne NZ. But I've never canoed, that looks like a serious adrenaline rush. Thank you so much for sharing. Good on you guys
NZ looks so epic. And rafting you can run some crazy stuff. The spray decks we strap over our canoes don’t provide any buoyancy but they doable it so you don’t fill up with water and swamp as easily.
Buck is amazing, so relaxed on the boat...🦴
One of my faves so far. Great content.
Awesome Jim, keep em' coming!!!!!. Cheers.
Will do man, thanks a lot for checking it out
Great video! One of the best I've seen showing the whole experience. ✌️
Thanks a lot for that and for checking it out! It was a great trip and the lower part of the river were heading into next is one of my favourite stretches of river in the province
Another great video! Thank god you are the size of Sasquatch having to portage that gear. Enjoyed, thanks.
Haha, thanks a lot, ya it’s not to easy a lot of the time but it’s worth it
Awesome Jim. What a rush! Was a great time running this river with you and Alex!! We'll have to trip again.
Explore The Backcountry ya it definitely was, we hit it a little high but it’s crazy how much the water has come down since then and warmed up. Looking forward to the next trip too.
Hahahaha you busted your ass. 😂😂😂 epic video bro. You have some big brass ones going down all those rapids. Thanks for the great time Jim.
I LOVE these videos!!!!!
Thanks very much!!
This adventure starts with opposing weather and white water at its fullest! Such circumstances made the beginning very exciting and engaging, in my opinion! Let's get going!
Thanks a lot! Ya, it was an exciting trip for sure!
Damn that got my blood flowing! You sir are a beast!And Jim you did pretty well also, haha! Seriously though, much respect to you!
Them skeeters gotta eat too 😂🤣🤙👍
Lol, yup...man, they were brutal this year.
Jim, this was a great video, thank you for the share.
Awesome Jim (and Buck). Brilliant vid with amazing content.
90% BEAST, 10% Bat shit crazy!! Awesome vid man
Awesome video
Bug thanks 👍
The bugs looked as brutal as the river was. Great video.
Thanks a lot and ya, they were brutal!
Looks like an amazing adventure! The red and yellow flower is columbine. Here in Oregon, it prefers moist and shady areas, particularly along streams!
Very nice! The blue one is wild violet I’ve learned
@@JimBairdAdventurer Awesome! I love wildflowers. My wife gets the credit for every flower I know.
Crazy videos buzz !
Thanks a lot man!! Glad you like it. I like part 2 of this adventure. It’s where I meet up with my brother and we take in a crazy rapid near the end and we’re both terrified haha.
Enjoyed the hell out of EP 1 dude! Strapping in now for EP 2 :-)
Awesome
I paddled the Megnetawan in 1985 from Ahmic harbour to the Byng Inlet. We went in mid July using cedar strips. Ran most the rapids. Thanks for sharing.
I am recovering from shoulder neck injury. Cant wait to get back at it...Safe travels.
Thanks, wishing you a speedy recovery and I hope my videos help pass the time until you can get out again.
Awesome video! That flower looks to be a wood violet.
Buck handles rapids better than quite a few people I've rafted with! What a great dog.
Nothing like leaving on a whitewater trip from your backyard!
This was a cool video. I look forward to the next segment.
Thanks, ya he’s pretty awesome on these trips haha. It is awesome living right in this great river for sure
Love your stuff.
Thanks! There an episode 2 to this adventure where my brother comes out and finds me too.
Jim Baird - Adventurer funny enough I watched episode 2 first lol. Seriously though... I’m a big fan. You’re an inspiration
I had to pause the vid and go get my insect repellent...... Just in case! LOL I must add that's a hell of a hang over cure Jim!
Crazy video
Your content production is getting so good these days and this series is going to be epic! I'd probably pack it in after dumping and getting eaten alive by bugs but you guys just shrug it off. Makes for a very motivational viewing experience.
Glad it does! I guess we didn’t have a great way out, other than down river anyways. Working on part 2 now, glad you like it!
Another great video man !
Much appreciated 👍
Great Vid. You have an amazing puppy. I believe the red flowers are Aquilegia canadensis other wise known as Red Colombine. The blue flower is a Viola sororia otherwise known as a Common blue violet.
Thanks a lot, and yes, I looked into it afterwards and that’s what I got too. Thanks for letting me know.
Hey man, love your canoe adventures.
Awesome to hear, thanks a lot. Me too.
Great stuff!
Great video Jim! I'm new to your channel but love what I'm seeing, keep it up!
That’s great, thanks a lot for stopping by and checking it out. There’s a few good series in my playlists if you want to check out more. Have a good one!
Buck cracks me up! He just doesnt care!!! My pal is Lucy and she is a creampuff!!!!!
Oh ya, Buck = 0 *ucks given.
This is a great ad for that bug jacket lol!
For sure! The guy who started this Bug Shirt business lives in the bush not to far from me. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Dude, those bugs! That would drive me INSANE! And those portages! So glad that we don’t have those down here in the South. We MIGHT have to portage around a tree that’s down across the river, but that’s more like, “Hey, let’s just slide this thing about 30 feet through the weeds to get around this tree.” Nothing like what you guys have to do! I see these other guys doing portages with super light kevlar boats, but your boat appeared to be a much heavier boat, capable of bouncing off of some pretty serious rocks. Kuddos, man. Enjoyed the video and looking forward to the rest of the series!
Thanks a lot. Ontario, and Quebec too have endless connecting lakes and rivers but there are portages to get from one to the other and around falls and other obstructions in the rivers. So, lots of places to explore but most trips include portaging. Out west, the mountain rivers just go. Some people in the Yukon for example won’t even do a route if there’s even one portage in hundreds of miles of river. I did on like that a couple summers ago, it was 1 portage in about 250 miles of swift flowing river.....it was amazing
@@JimBairdAdventurer Sounds like it was amazing! The area that we actually live in has very few “natural” rivers left. In the 1930’s, TVA dammed up most of our rivers for flood control and hydroeclectric power. While it has been a major asset to this area (most people were dirt poor, living hand to mouth), it has definitely changed the entire ecosystem. However, while it may be different, it is still an awesome area! We live about 20 minutes from the #2 rated largemouth bass lake in the world and we have large tracts of public land.
Teardroptrippin’ Brad Moore what state? I watched a doc called Damn Nation that was on the large number of dams in the US. This river, the Magnetawan has probably about 5 dams higher up but none more than about 6 feet.
Jim Baird - Adventurer We are in NE Alabama. We have Guntersville Dam, which is 94 feet tall and creates the 67,000 acre Lake Guntersville. It is rated the #2 Largemouth Bass lake in the world. It is a beautiful lake, backed up into some plateau mountains. It is a very special place and without it our region would be drastically different. Prior to TVA the folks that lived in these mountains were literally starving. Poor as dirt. However Google and Facebook have both began construction on massive data centers within the past couple of years, both within an hour’s drive. They are both building here because we have a reliable energy source in TVA. I hate not to have the wild rivers, but at the same time, electricity produced right here in the Tennessee Valley powers homes all over the United States. Just the hydroelectricity from Guntersville Dam can power 400,000 homes.
I’m amazed how calm he is on the water
ok mate...after watching this I am getting a bug jacket!! LOL
Oh man, they were brutal! Late spring and very wet!!
@@JimBairdAdventurer I never see any kaykakers in the area - or with y'all - curious to know if you see them, adventure with them or you and Ted are just too fast for them? p.s. I'll volunteer to be the first ;P
Bugs are wicked bad everywhere this spring/summer! I'm getting the creeps, they are really starting to get on my nerves, come in from outdoors and my skin feels like its crawling. Nice trip....
Ya man, I know the feeling and the season for bugs was pushed back with the late spring too. Worst I’ve seen in a long time.
You dare devil's, crazy lot. That cannot be safe! You should be terrified 😰 I feel terrified for you! Save that log you are cutting up for Shawn😊
Haha, I should have saved it for Shawn. And yup, it’s pretty terrifying sometimes when you’re navigating this kind of river but man it feels awesome to be out there and face thee challenges too.
It gets the heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing. You never feel more alive when you're on the precipice of a rapid!!
I love your videos. Every TH-camr needs a tagline. Yours could be “It’s pretty buggy out”. Seriously thanks for making these.
Love it! and no prob, working on the next one right now.
Oh, and that would be a funny tag line for sure! Ha! Pretty accurate too.
Hai Jim,
I am following you and Shawn James from the North of the Nederlands.The flowers that you showed us on your video: the rose one looks like a family of the aqulegia the blue one looks like a member of the geranium family. But....in canada there are probably different variaeties of the species that grow in Holland. Look at internet and take in the future a leaf and a flower to determinate the specie. Sorry for my bad English and good luck on your search.
Nice house 🏠👍👍👍🎄🎄🎄🎅🎅🎅
I thought we had a lot of mosquitos down here in northwest Georgia but you have us beat.
It was a bad year with all the snow melt here!
The mosquitoes were insane! The rapids were high, but I bet the poutine made it all worth it!! That's the first time I've seen that for dinner on a paddling trip. Oh Canada, eh?
Ya, it’s a pretty good one to make while out there, especially if you make fried out of potatoes
The video made me think of the Grateful Dead lyric, “Goin’ to hell in a basket, but at least I’m enjoyin’ the ride!”
Haha, there was a little bit of that but overall a good time
Now that.. is an adventure.
Thanks a lot man, ya, it was a great one. I love this river!
Another awesome video, I don't know if anyone commented on the flowers at 11:37, I have no idea about Canadian flora (UK here) but I'd say that was a Columbine (red), the second (blue) is an orchid for sure.
As much as I love life in a canoe, your flies would do my nut :)
Yes the bugs were really bad this year! And later unto the year than usual too. I think the blue one is s Wild violet but I’m not sure.
Crazy shit! Great video!
👍
Real living is all about moments, my kind of guy.
Thanks!
Love it
Great stuff!!!’
Thanks a lot! It gets pretty exciting when I rendezvous with my brother in E2 of this series and decide to try running a raging rapid in a slot canyon.
Question from a novice....why choose a canoe over a kayak for trips like these (including your Yukon trip)? More carrying capacity? Seems like they are less stable though.
Thank you for your videos!
For stability it depends on the hull design. Likely canoes are more stable, though you sit lower in a kayak and the low centre if gravity adds to the stability. Kayaks were hunting vessels traditionally used on the fringes of the Arctic Ocean. Canoes were the choice for traveling inland in most cases. By indigenous people and fur traders because they make more sense in these areas. Of course, kayaks have been modified and build with modern materials which has made them exceptional for running big inland waterfalls and rapids. The amount of gear you carry in a canoe means you can stay out longer. You can also pull gear in and out of a canoe a lot faster than a kayak, you can hop in and out of a canoe a lot easier than a kayak. So, other than rapid running ability and paddling in large waves, a canoe is the way to go when traveling inland waterways. And if you’re a little challenged in learning the correction strokes needed to keep a canoe going straight with a single bladed paddle, remember, you can also paddle a canoe with a kayak paddle. Of course the two do have many similarities and it’s all about getting out there in the end. When it comes to just going for a day paddle on a nice lake, or maybe doing a fairly easy overnight trip. I’m not sure it makes much difference really. It’s whatever you want to try out so, personal preference.
@@JimBairdAdventurer Thank you for you thoughtful answer! You are definitely inspiring me to get back out in nature. It has been a while, but getting excited about it again! Thank you for your videos!
You’re very welcome. Getting out into nature is the best. It’s why I do everything I do.