Back40 Wilderness First Aid Training

No one PLANS to get hurt.

But when it happens on the water, on the portage, or at the campsite….things are little different out here. YOU are your own first responder. Some things you can fix and carry on, some will end your trip….and others will need a network of resources that are not immediately available to come to you. Are you prepared for the what if?

This course will allow us to play scenarios on the water (choking on a boat!) and along the shore line. It will also allow us the headspace to manage our logistics and planning around the remoteness so many of us seek.

Your training matters.

If you paddle…this course is for you! Bring your boat, set up camp, and settle in to a weekend of “I hope this never happens”. The more prepared you are - the less stressed you are when it does happen!

If you don’t have a kayak or SUP we may be able to help. You do have to be comfortable on the water and be equipped to camp for the weekend. Please message us!

Saskatoon Canoe Club members get 10% off registrations!

As always - you will also need your own park pass for the Saskatchewan Provincial Parks Provincial Park access. We have campsites booked for this class otherwise.

Go prepared. No one plans to get hurt!

A 9 day canoe trip is a series of memories all strung together. Some real highlights, a few lows, some concerning moments, and some quiet times of peace.

Ticks. They are in the north now. We found several on us at Nistowiak (and area) but didn’t seem to find any as we travelled further to Robertson and Barker areas. We knew this would happen!

Forest Fires. Paddling with smoke in the distance is unnerving. And while at Robertson Falls for a camp day we literally saw lightening strike and a short while later large pillows of smoke in the distance. A rare time I was grateful for spots of cell coverage so we could get updates and check fire maps.

Bears. The stories are true - bears are harassing the Barker area (as always). This time several people were chased out by habituated and food motivated bears. Camp smart. Many of those camps are camped out - left dirty with food waste and are clearly an attractant to bears.

Storms and Weather. The kids had a good experience with watching day time heating build storms from their solo spots. It was a good day not to be on the water.

The lake and river is high! Water is roaring and many common places look a little different than in recent years. It’s good to see. Seeing Nistowiak roar was impressive. Stanley and Robertson too. Otter Rapids looks fun for those who might dare and have the skill. And the Barker area is high and fast! Have fun! But be smart and safe! Please don’t paddle alone if you’re playing in white water….

Kids can do hard things. And they can certainly do more independently when they have to. For 9 days these kids paddled, portaged, set up camp, cooked, cleaned and still did their homework (quality is questionable 🤭). They went to bed on time, were off their phones, saw sunsets and enjoyed camp together. They worked hard, played a lot, battled waves, travelled long distances, and rallied for the time we had out there. We did too….but we have done this before and have life experience too. I wish I had these opportunities when I was that age but am so grateful for them now!

Photos hardly tell the real and whole story!

Find your people. Find joy. Find purpose.

And say YES to wet socks! Mitch Lowe

This is the best advice I can give you. It’s not all my own but I’ll adopt it! Find your people. Find joy. Put the wet socks on and say YES to the adventure the day tempts you with.

9 days on the Churchill River with Outdoor School YXE is the absolute highlight of my year. I’d never do this many days without this crew. We focus so much on their learning, their growth…….but I’m certain I gain far more from these trips than they do. Leadership. Problem solving. Skills. Time invested outdoors, in discomfort, and within group challenges. Pure soul filling joy!!

I have so much to learn. So freakin much!!!!! And yet - Ive earned the responsibility of being on this trip. And the genuine appreciation I have for this opportunity is falling short of words. I come home full of joy, gratitude, and wishes for more!

The north is accessible. But it also demands responsible preparedness. The fun you find can be exhilarating but it also comes with life changing consequences. Bears. Moving water. Hypothermia. Storms. Malnutrition. Injuries. Health issues. All of these things can drastically derail your adventure. Your preparedness matters.

I am fortunate enough to arrive home safe and sound with hardly an incident to debrief. The Outdoor School (grade 11/Saskatoon) is an impressive and superior learning opportunity for any of you who have a youth aspiring to grow, learn, and excel. But most importantly, I am privileged enough to participate in a program that invites me into our great northern waterways for adventure and self growth while leading the youth of tomorrow….

Condenser me one lucky girl!

Thank you Outdoor School YXE for the amazing opportunity once again to explore the north! Mitch and Rienna - you are amazing!

Just a little resource for those of you packing up to go out and about. No one said you had to pack it all! but the red highlighted things are my bare essentials! Your preparedness matters!

You really do not need anything...until you do. So the question becomes WHAT are you comfortable being WITHOUT if your adventure is delayed or you have an unplanned mishap?

Much of this is my own way of taking enough stuff to not be disappointed and frustrated in myself when I knew better. AND a good excuse to allow myself to stay out longer than planned because I am a kid of the 80's who doesn't like coming home when the sun goes down! :)

Gardiner Dam will be releasing water on Sunday. For anyone planning to camp downstream of the Dam this weekend or who may have plans Sunday into next week….know before you go. This is a significant increase and will affect sandbars and flow rate/paddle experience.

WSA to Significantly Increase Flows from Gardiner Dam - Caution Urged on South Sask River | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at:

Preparedness is not just about having the gear with you (although it sure might make things easier!). Preparedness is a combination of skills, life experience, mental resiliency, and situational awareness that can help you prevail in the absence of essential tools. Almost two years ago, Greg Fenty, an experienced outdoorsman, spent two unplanned nights lost in PA National Park. His obvious mistakes forced him to learn the hard way that complacency can get the best of anyone. As his family, Park employees, RCMP, Search and Rescue volunteers and many others searched for him….Greg was faced with the challenge of surviving two nights in unfavourable weather before he was able to walk out. The greatest gift we can give to those who may listen is a gift of foresight. It is far too easy to think it won’t happen to us - and Greg is humbled, but willing, to share his story and the insight he learned from this experience. In our small outdoor community - the mishaps of someone who now has the opportunity to share it forward just might save a life or make a person pause before finding themselves in their own version of risk and misadventure. Greg is a highly respected and experienced outdoorsman and I am honoured to help him share his story. Selfishly I have always been curious about the sequence of events leading up to his two cold, wet nights in the backcountry with nothing else but the clothes on his back and a lifetime of experience outdoors.

Join me and Greg at Eb's Source for Adventure on Thursday June 4th 6-8pm while we sit down to listen to Greg’s story! The event is free but space is limited! (Bring a camp chair!)

Join Greg Fenty and Rebecca from this Thursday at Eb’s!

Sign up on our website, limited spots available

I don’t have any details myself but what I do know is that the media release was TERRIBLY executed. No details or context = fear inducing. Wrong details = lack of professionalism.

The Bear Encounter I Think About Every Single Season Ten years of backcountry travel. Dozens of bear encounters. One I still think about every time I step into bear country.This isn't a dramatic retelling. It's...

No one PLANS to get hurt.

You very well could be one misstep, one bonk you can’t recover from, one nasty cramp that feels like death, one lightening strike or a cougar attack away from not making it back to the yourself.

So while you wait (along with a Sweep or other runners) you will struggle. Because if you can’t get out yourself….we have to come to you.

THIS TAKES TIME.

You might be carried out by hand, loaded onto an ATV, or riding behind Jason on a horse…..but either way it won’t be pleasant, it will be humbling, and it will all take time!

The is a REMOTE race through prairie landscape. Road access is minimal, weather is unpredictable, and you are covering over 40-80km of land on foot! Anything can happen out there! This is NOT A ROAD RACE!

Mandatory Gear:
- Silver Blanket
- 1l water
- Headlamp after 4pm (checked!)

But that’s not all you should take! For your own damn sake pack things for the “what if”!
- Personal MEDS! (Inhaler, Epi, etc)
- Wind/rain layers
- Silver Bivy (micro shelter!)
- Basic First Aid: Tensor Bandage
- Hygiene needs (TP?!)
- Sun/Lip Protection
- Cell phone charger (bonus if it charges your headlamp)
- Bear Spray! You are in cougar country!!
- Food & Snacks (we know you’ll have that!)

IF you have a mishap or if another runner does - these things just might be essential tools to reduce your stress while you deal with it or wait for assistance.

Do YOURSELF the favour of being more prepared!