For over 15 years, Saskatoon-based Chad Chicilo and his two close friends, Mark Pearson and Tyler Rittinger, have spent their summers exploring the untouched wilderness of northern Saskatchewan. Every summer, when the school year ends, the trio leave their teaching jobs behind, pack up their gear, and head north to discover remote rivers and waterways that few have ever seen. Follow along as Chad shares the story of his obsession with the vast, untamed beauty of northern Saskatchewan, and why this rugged wilderness keeps calling them back year after year.

Selwyn Lake

There is always another river

Their first trip north took Chad and his friends to Churchill River at Missinipe. “The Churchill River is just a starting point. It opens your eyes to all the water,” he said. “You look down to Otter Rapids and see all that water chugging. You wonder where it comes from and you just want to explore more, go further. There is always another river.”

Chipman River Gorge

Wathaman River

Czykajlo Falls 

Infinite Options and Possibilities

“When researching a trip, I go to Google Earth and get lost,” Chad explained. “I find a line that goes, get lost in the maze and I look for connections. In northern Saskatchewan there are infinite options and possibilities. Researching the trip is just as exciting as the trip. You follow the lines of water on the map. There’s a curiosity of what’s around the corner. There’s the anticipation until you go."

“Every year, every trip we are blown away by the things we see.”

Chipman River 

Foster River

Chipman River Gorge

Oldman River 

Untouched Wilderness

"There are not that many places in the world like northern Saskatchewan. It has some of the biggest untouched wilderness. You can see it on Google Earth. It is unseen, untouched, unexplored, unused. We are lucky to have half of the province like this to explore."

Chad Chicilo’s stories of exploring northern Saskatchewan’s remote wilderness highlight the endless possibilities for adventure in this untouched part of Canada. Northern Saskatchewan offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in remote pristine landscapes. Ready to experience your own canoe trip through this untouched wilderness? Find an outfitter and start planning today.

 

Photographer: Chad Chicilo

Chad Chicilo canoeing northern SaskatchewanAs an adventurer, photographer, educator, and guide based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Chad is motivated to constantly search out and capture new adventures in new locations around the world and close to home. These adventures mainly focus around the ski, surf, canoe and travel culture. 

Website: www.chadchicilo.com
Instagram: @chicilo