The Happy Camper: You’re Never Too Old to Start Canoe Tripping
YouTube celeb borysintheforest (a.k.a Borys Skoropadsky) started canoe tripping in 2020, at the ripe old age of 64… and hasn’t looked back since.
Now, at the age of 69, with more skills and better gear, Borys is taking on longer and more remote trips. He just recently completed one of two major back-to-back multi-week canoe trips in Wabakimi Provincial Park… and he’s not planning to slow down any time soon.
When Borys reached his mid-sixties, he found himself out of shape and hating his job. That was the catalyst for getting him to give wilderness canoe tripping a try; inspired by younger YouTube paddlers like Jim Baird and Xander Budnick, and another old guy—myself. Equipped with a light canoe the weight of a potato chip, knee pads and a good selection of Arthritis creams, Borys took on buggy portages, windy lakes and sleeping on the hard ground, loving every minute of it.
Borys quickly grew addicted to time spent in the wild—and most of the time he was completely alone. He preferred it that way.
There were some challenges along the way, including being airlifted out of Algonquin by an emergency service helicopter due to injury and another evacuation out of Wabakimi when the route he chose became impassable.
Rather than give up, he returned to the wilds with a vengeance. A two-week solo canoe trip in 2024, again in Wabakimi, turned into a time of retribution. There was smoke from distant forest fires, intense heat and a few bugs to contend with, but Borys smiled the entire time he was out.
Borys’ video series of his latest Wabakimi trip is his best work so far. His positive attitude and some good one-line dad jokes are truly addictive. Check it out on his channel borysintheforest.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3
Check out my Whisky Fireside Chat with Borys on the KCHappyCamper YouTube channel.
Thanks Kevin, it was a great interview and i appreciate the support! Keep your Paddle wet!
We need you in Ukraine as hetman. I pray for your grandfather every day.