Recipe for Adventure with Adam & Frankie
When Go RVing Canada asked us to take a Taxa trailer out on the open road, we knew exactly where we were going to go. Given the opportunity, Northern BC always calls our name. As owners of a production company that roots itself in wild places and surrounds itself with the animals that inhabit untouched stretches of wilderness, we never shy from the chance to tread new paths. We spend more than half of the year on the road, and are no strangers to living in tents, but having a remote house on wheels offered up an entirely new type of experience. The remote island chain of Haida Gwaii is home to about 5,000 residents, not including the wildlife that call the rugged and the remote wilderness home. It was the perfect destination to explore with the Taxa trailer.
IT ISN’T ABOUT ESCAPING LIFE, IT’S ABOUT FINDING IT.
The secret sauce to the recipe? The road.
Getting off the beaten track is no easy feat. The path takes you down decommissioned logging roads, across swollen creeks, and racing against time to beat the incoming tide as you traverse an open stretch of beach. These conditions are not an ideal environment for towing anything. But the high clearance and sturdily built overland style trailer from Taxa surprised us time and time again. Towed by our trusty steed, lovingly named “Blue”, our house on wheels gave us the chance to bring creature comforts we normally wouldn’t tote into the backcountry. This gave us more options for preparing wild-borne cuisine. We took advantage of this opportunity and explored mushroom and blacktail deer-rich forests and an ocean teeming with salmon. And, to top it all off, to cook our bounty, the open beaches of Haida Gwaii was a perfect setting.
Getting off the beaten track is no easy feat. The path takes you down decommissioned logging roads, across swollen creeks, and racing against time to beat the incoming tide as you traverse an open stretch of beach. These conditions are not an ideal environment for towing anything. But the high clearance and sturdily built overland style trailer from Taxa surprised us time and time again. Towed by our trusty steed, lovingly named “Blue”, our house on wheels gave us the chance to bring creature comforts we normally wouldn’t tote into the backcountry. This gave us more options for preparing wild-borne cuisine. We took advantage of this opportunity and explored mushroom and blacktail deer-rich forests and an ocean teeming with salmon. And, to top it all off, to cook our bounty, the open beaches of Haida Gwaii was a perfect setting.
Adam & Frankie’s 10 Tips for a Successful Foraging and Fishing Trip
Step 1: Pick your homebase
24 hours of driving, an overnight ferry, and the pavement ends. We bashed down decommissioned logging roads, crossed creeks and explored kilometers of open beach all to find a home base.Step 2: Shop Local
In early fall, golden chanterelles are popping and it’s the tailend of the chinook salmon run. We brought salmon home so that every time we take a piece of fish out of the freezer, we could relive the trip all over again. Our ideal adventures involve hunting, fishing and foraging for what’s in season – but you can apply this principle to hitting up an independent bookstore or coffee shop in town.Step 3: Don’t waste a minute
Getting out first thing in the morning is your best chance to see wildlife. Animals are more active first thing in the morning and during the evening. It’s also the time of day that you’re less likely to see people.Step 4: Expect the unexpected
One way to roll with the punches is to go into the trip knowing something will go sideways, especially in the backcountry. Sometimes that means weather derailing a big hike. Pack a deck of cards, a rain jacket and a headlamp so you’re prepared for a change of plans.Step 5: Let things marinate
Sometimes it takes a moment for the weather to change or the next surge of inspiration to hit. Take a breather and lose yourself in your surroundings.Step 6: Work up an appetite
For us, an adventure involves a hike, paddle or bike. Sometimes it’s one a day, sometimes it’s all three! One thing is for sure, you need to take advantage of the opportunities you have when visiting somewhere new and there’s no better way than a human powered mission.Step 7: Wash up for dinner
You’ve gone through a lot of trouble to venture into the wilderness, your truck shouldn’t be the only thing getting messy on the trip. Don’t be afraid to get a little dirt under your fingernails, that’s why you’re out here.Step 8: Crank up the heat
Something about a big campfire makes any day feel complete. (Be sure to check your local fire conditions before you build a fire).Step 9: Chow down
Preparing and sharing a home cooked meal is a part of our DNA and a sacred tradition. A meal can be made all the sweeter by incorporating ingredients you’ve found along the way through your travels. Whether it’s something you’ve foraged yourself, picked up at the local farmers market or brought from your home to enjoy.Step 10: Take it all in
Sit back and enjoy the ride. An adventure of any magnitude deserves time to reflect and soak in the moment before returning to civilization.Live Your Wildhood
The philosophy of Wildhood is borne of the notion that we, as humans, have a fundamental desire to connect with one another, and connect with the natural world. We are curious. We are moved by wanderlust. Our most powerful memories are of moments we share with the ones we love, or of places that fill us with awe and wonder. Preferably both at the same time. These are the moments of magic: big or small, they are the moments that enrich our lives. Wildhood is then, not a construct, but an expression of who we are and a recognition of what gives us joy. Watch the Live Your Wildhood story here.
