In the summer of 2023, Ray Goodwin and I had the privilege of leading a truly memorable expedition down the Porcupine River in the far north of Saskatchewan, Canada. This trip was not merely a journey into the wilderness, but an extra special one, marking what Ray has since referred to as his “last big hoorah.”
The Porcupine River is a remote and untamed waterway, offering breathtaking landscapes, wildlife sightings, and the kind of challenging terrain that calls for solid wilderness skills, both on the water and on the land.
Ray and I have worked together on canoe courses and wilderness trips since Frontier Bushcraft was founded in 2010. Prior to this, Ray had been my canoe instructor. I first met Ray around 2005.
Covid Postponement and a 70th Birthday
We should have undertaken the Porcupine River trip in the summer of 2021 but it had to be postponed due to Covid-related travel restrictions. Indeed, it was in 2019 that we made the decision to undertake a trip on the Porcupine, and started planning for a 2021 trip way back then.
In the end, though, we had to wait a full five years for this trip to come to fruition.
In the meantime, of course, we’d all become five years older.
In 2022 Ray turned 70 years old. There was a celebration at the Welsh Canoe Symposium in October 2022.
Strengthening The Porcupine Team
Latterly, Ray had voiced some misgivings about the Porcupine. His arthritic knees, and a newly diagnosed heart condition, meant he could no longer pull the weight he used to on portages. He was, and still is, perfectly capable in a canoe.
It was just the sheer physicality of carrying boats, heavy food barrels and portage packs over rough terrain on a wilderness trip such as the Porcupine River that was starting to feel like a stretch.
But I wanted Ray to be there, to travel the Porcupine, even if it was going to be our last big Canadian trip together. Ray wanted to be there too.
So, we came up with a plan. I employed one of my team, Henry Landon, to join us to help take the physical strain off Ray. We had also assembled a solid group for our trip. Ray packed his personal gear as light as possible. Then the plan was for him to simply walk each portage once with his personal gear, while we went back and forth multiple times to collect group kit, food and canoes.
The Porcupine Was Not the End of the Story…
The Porcupine River proved a fitting end to our work together on remote wilderness trips. While it marked the end of a chapter, it was not the end of the book…
Ray continues to work with Frontier Bushcraft in the UK on our Expedition Canoeing Skills courses and our River Spey canoe trips.
Frontier Bushcraft continues to run expeditions, including wilderness canoe trips in Canada, such as our Missinaibi River Canoe Expedition, which I lead, along with the able assistance of Henry Landon.
Ray Goodwin’s Porcupine River Videos
Ray took the time to film his experience on the Porcupine.
In the following videos, you’ll get a glimpse into the raw beauty of the Porcupine River, and more importantly, the spirit of adventure that Ray embodies.
Each segment captures highlights of the trip, from dramatic paddling to moments of reflection.
For those who know Ray, these videos serve as a lasting tribute to his passion for canoeing and wild places. I hope you enjoy watching these moments as much as we enjoyed living them.
More About Ray Goodwin
Ray Goodwin MBE is widely regarded as one of the UK’s foremost canoe coaches, with a career in outdoor education spanning 50 years. His extensive experience includes pioneering canoe journeys, such as the first circumnavigation of Wales and the first unsupported crossing of the Irish Sea by canoe. Ray’s adventures have taken him across four continents, from the Rio Grande in the south to the Arctic Circle in the north. In addition to his numerous North American expeditions, Ray has kayaked in Nepal and completed descents of the Grand Canyon.
Ray is also a highly qualified coach, holding the British Canoe Union Level 5 Coach qualification in Canoe, Inland Kayak, and Sea Kayak — the first person to achieve this in all three disciplines. His book Canoeing has become a key resource in the paddling community, and he was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours for his services to canoeing. Ray’s legacy as a coach and adventurer continues to inspire paddlers around the world, especially via his YouTube channel.
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Bert
Legend!