I’m an Expert Solo Wilderness Guide—These Are the 5 Things I Never Leave Without

July 18, 2026

Man in a red jacket crouches on rocky shore overlooking the sea, wearing a beige hat and hiking boots

Through the door of my tent, I could see the swollen Missinaibi River pounding over the waterfall, then surging through the canyon below. This was an amazing place, and on this May morning I had it all to myself. I closed my eyes and let the rumble wash over me one last time before breaking camp. I was eight days into my first long solo trip, and it was a relief to discover that despite being completely alone, I wasn’t the slightest bit lonely. I was enjoying my own company, and spending days st...

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Stephan Kesting

Stephan Kesting is a published author and adventurer who cut his outdoor teeth growing up in Ontario and now lives in BC. He is perhaps best known for his long solo trips throughout Canada including in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Check out Amazon bestselling book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, available in hardcover, audiobook, and ebook formats everywhere.