Ursula Kilbridge
This past summer was filled with time in my hometown- Temagami, Ontario, soaking up family time and all the best parts of Temagami living. Mornings often started with a paddle in one of my Dad’s cedar canvas canoes, coffee in hand. I made the most of swimming in warm lakes, laughing with my sister, and finding White Pines to climb. Before that, I managed to sneak in trips on the Nahanni and Tatshenshini—being back on those northern rivers always feels like coming home.
In September, I ran my first half marathon in the Red Desert of Wyoming with my best friend.
The fall months were spent back in Revelstoke, balancing work with the Canadian River Expeditions/Nahanni River Adventures office team, metalsmithing, and enjoying catching up with friends at home. Then, in December, I escaped to Chile for a month of kayaking in Pucon and Futaleufu and reveled in a second summer solstice!
As for the rest of the winter, I’ll be splitting my time between Revelstoke, BC, and Hood River, OR, working, metalsmithing, and making the most of every chance to play in the mountains and on the river. Looking forward to all that’s ahead in 2025 and the coming Northern guiding season!
Isaac Bunge
Fall 2024 was one for the books! I finished up on the last Nahanni trip of the season in early September and zoomed my little Toyota back to Montreal. After a few days of proving to my friends and family that I was still alive I flew off to Vietnam! It was a really fun trip, mostly spent ripping around on 150cc scooters and infinitely fuelled by 20 cent Bahn Mis.
I then went to Thailand hoping to raft the Mae Tang River but my cyclone dodging luck ran out and I was very much caught in the flooding. After 2 days of helping my gracious hosts move all their possessions to higher and higher ground as the river gradually consumed their property, it was time for me to leave. The road was mostly underwater or under landslides, so I kissed my rental scooter goodbye and trekked/waded/scrambled 10km to a town where SAR teams were providing transport back to Chiang Mai.
Now it is winter here in Montreal and I am going into my final semester studying Environmental Biology. While a graduated life is daunting, I am very grateful to have another summer with CRE/NRA to look forward to!
Here’s some photos of the Mae Tang in flood – can you spot a line?
Will Ginther
After another great guiding season, it was obviously time for more river time! This Fall I spent a few weeks taking a road trip around some favorite spots in BC. From Nelson I made my way to paddle and visit in Clearwater, Likely, and Smithers, BC and was lucky to explore some amazing new rivers including the Chilko, Quesnel and Bulkley, as well as some old favourites. Pretty grateful for that time spent outside and with the best of friends. I could even squeeze in a trip to the Island with my family for some real R&R. I’ve since returned home to Nelson to hibernate, re-discover what routine feels like, and enjoy the ski season! Plans are already in the works for next summer. Lots to look forward to!
Ian Guilar
This winter is perhaps the first of many I will be spending in the Yukon. After threatening to do so for several years, I finally made the leap and decided to stick around the North to see what it’s all about. Keeping busy with Nordic skiing and Guiding tours out of Whitehorse to see the Aurora, I am also learning about travelling and getting better at running a skidoo. Looking forward to more summer river adventures with a new appreciation and understanding of the North.
Carson Yach
Life has been busy through the fall and start to winter in Revelstoke, BC. I was able to complete my Level 2 Carpentry Apprenticeship program at Okanagan College where we spent 7 weeks getting dialed in on stair and roof math building components. Between work and school I spent my time off enjoying the break to the heat with mountain bike rides around town, kayak laps, and time spent with friends. I’m looking forward to next year’s adventures and a winter full of snowboarding and Nordic skiing!
Tayla Koerber
After the summer season, I went back to picking up fall contracts and enjoying time off in BC. I traded my usual winter river trip for a month doing yoga in Indonesia and found myself back in the snow season just in time for Christmas at home for the first time in 4 years. Now, I’m preparing for school in September, while I await with eager anticipation the summer river schedule, and spending the intervening days sliding on skis through the quiet, snowy mountains of BC.
Chris McGauley
Chris ran right from the rivers to the forests, taking up a brushcutting contract for most of the fall. This winter, he returns to ski guiding – heli skiing in Blue River BC – with his Level 2 guide course to start and end the season. Chris is always stoked for the seasons to change and can’t believe he gets to live the best day ever – again and again.
Katy Ellis
A summer spent exploring the Yukon’s wild spaces came with no shortage of midnight hikes, epic mountain views and humbling wildlife encounters. One particular moment that stands out from the summer was after having just spent a night getting beaten down by wind and rain in the alpine, running straight into a lone male caribou. Picking my way through soapberry brush, I noticed antlers poking up out of the bush only ten metres up the slope above me. A few seconds later the lone wanderer revealed himself and a spellbinding few seconds passed where he surveyed the valley below, and I watched on, undetected. He carried on browsing before turning tail and wandering languidly up the slope out of view. It was truly an experience I will never forget, and a testament to the untamed wilderness here.
Now after a full lap around the midnight sun, I am stoked to be in the midst of another Yukon winter; throwing boiling water into the air at -30, the northern lights and snow dusted forests will never lose their novelty. I seemingly can’t get enough skate skiing, downhill skiing, and the serenity of nighttime runs through the forest, as well as learning to take the darker days at a slower pace and spending the long mornings with a good tea and some writing. I’m truly grateful for everyone who has taken the time to welcome me here and show me some of this incredible place; I’m excited to learn more and contribute back to the amazing community we have.
Joel Hibbard
2024 was a wild ride in the Hibbard house. My wife Maddie and I welcomed twins in September. Linnea and Hart have joined Aven to round out a solid family portage crew (in a few years).
Our free time as a family has been focused on some Yukon adventures in Kluane country by canoe, skis and skidoo introducing Aven to all the Yukon has to offer. Ensuring our kids live close to the land remains a priority and we were fortunate to harvest a bison this year and Aven was a big help as we processed the meat. We really are blessed to live here!
Whitehorse is a bustling small city and it has been exciting to welcome some of the long time guides to the community and see more of the team find their way to call the North home. Guide dinners and shared excursions are a regular highlight!
Tyler Dinsdale
David Prothero
Dave had a busy fall, loads of paddling on river around Vancouver island, a festival on the Cowichan river, some cyclocross races, a race in Victoria called triple shot Cross Fondo. A couple days out hiking and a number of Swiftwater Courses.
The winter has been a bit mellower with more days of healthcare work, a slow down on paddling and a few days ski touring the island with my girlfriend and hanging out with friends.
Looking forward to a busy spring with some days on the water, updating my first aid, getting out for a few more days of ski touring and taking on some more biking adventures between hospital shifts and other work
Olivia Dragon
After having an incredible summer, I’ve been having an amazing year! I started off my third year at Queens University in the concurrent education program- studying psychology and french. The fall was spent hanging out with friends, lots of yoga, plunges in lake ontario, attempting to learn guitar (not so successfully), and a little bit of studying of course! I also got to reunite with fellow CRE guides and check out the Ottawa river!
I went home to Yellowknife for Christmas and had some much needed relaxation time before my big trip. At the beginning of January I left for my exchange in the French alps- specifically Chambery, France. So far my time has been jam packed with day tripping to nearby towns, drinking espressos and eating croissants, skiing and hiking in some of the most beautiful mountains, and taking all my courses in French (which has definitely been a learning curve). It’s been amazing to make friends from all around the world and really immerse myself in French culture. I’ll be in Europe exploring until June- and then back on the river- can’t wait!
Emily Morgan
