- Stephan Kesting
- February 5, 2023
The Open Canoe Roll
Rolling practice… It’s been 20 years since I last rolled a small whitewater canoe equipped with a saddle, thigh straps, and airbags, so I headed
- Stephan Kesting
- February 3, 2023
Raingear for Canoe Expeditions
In this video I chatted with Canadian explorer Adam about rain and cold weather gear for expedition canoeing… Adam normally goes super minimalist, but hypothermia
- Stephan Kesting
- January 8, 2023
Intuitive Navigation, Or Why You Shouldn’t Rely On Your GPS in the Wilderness
I recently spoke with explorer and author Adam Shoalts about the role intuitive navigation plays in the wilderness. Here’s the video of that conversation, and
- Stephan Kesting
- September 27, 2022
Your Number One Tip to Stay Safe in the Outdoors
Adam Shoalts is an accomplished Canadian explorer with many big expeditions under his belt. He’s been a guest on my podcast (The Strenuous Life Podcast)
- Stephan Kesting
- May 27, 2022
Type 1, 2 and 3 Fun
Type 1, 2 and 3 Fun Not all fun is created equal. Sometimes the word ‘fun’ really does mean that something is fun, and sometimes
- Stephan Kesting
- February 7, 2022
How to Get Started in Canoeing, Featuring Mikaela Ferguson
Getting started in something new is always daunting, and this especially true if you’re talking about canoeing, paddling, and other watersports. There is steep learning
- Stephan Kesting
- January 22, 2022
My Favorite Bear Alarm
The PakAlarm is an affordable and reliable way to bear proof your camp. Basically it allows you to run a tough monofilament line around your
- Stephan Kesting
- January 22, 2022
Know When to Walk Away, Know When to Run…
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stephan Kesting (@essentialwilderness) It’s just not worth getting hurt when you’re just training. I bailed off
- Stephan Kesting
- January 22, 2022
Things I Carry in My PFD on a Wilderness Canoeing Expedition
A personal floatation device keeps you on the surface of the water and stops you from drowning, but it’s also SO much more than that,
- Stephan Kesting
- January 14, 2022
5 Ways to Screw Up Bear Spray
Bear spray is an important piece of wilderness equipment. I’ve carried it in black bear, grizzly bear and polar bear country and it’s always added