Be honest with me: when you think of “adventure travel,” are you picturing yourself trekking 120 kilometres alone through the Boreal Forest, coming face-to-face with a mama bear and her cubs in the dark, or navigating the massive, shifting peaks of the Athabasca Sand Dunes in one of the most remote corners of the world?
Yeah, that’s a no for me as well. I am Rudderless-by-nature; I’m not the biggest fan of tour groups. I march to my own drum and prefer the path less travelled. I like to be lost, physically, in a new city, sure, but it’s largely symbolic.
Ashlyn is a different breed. While the adventures we talk about in the show are extreme, she spends a large amount of time not only training and research but coaching those looking to simply get started with the right gear, the vital do’s and don’ts, and the art of preparation.
In this episode of the Rudderless Travel Podcast, we’re stripping away the intimidation. We’re talking about how to stop being a “checkbox tourist” and start becoming a purposeful traveller.
The Lost Girl…🥾
Ashlyn George, who was supposed to be a high school teacher, has spent the last seven years following her curiosity through more than 55 countries across all seven continents. I first met Ashlyn on a TMAC pre-conference media tour, seven of us piled into two SUVs for a four-hour trek north of Saskatoon. We landed at Kâniyâsihk Culture Camps, right where the gravel ends and the cell signal disappears.
It was there, deep in the Boreal forest, that we really bonded over everything from sniffing beaver castor (which surprisingly smells like strawberry jam) to learning the ancient art of hide tanning. Hanging out in the tipis at Water’s Edge and sharing stories of the road, we didn’t just find a guest for the show—we found a life long friend.
My 3 Fave Moments From The Episode
The Bear Encounter: Ashlyn takes us deep into her solo 120-kilometre trek on the Boreal Trail, where she found herself in a “triangle” with a mama bear and two cubs in the pitch black. She elaborates on how her farm-girl upbringing in a town of 12 people provided the grit to stay calm when most would have spiralled into panic. It is a raw look at what happens when your safety nets disappear and your survival depends on preparation and presence.
Athabasca Sand Dunes Craziness: Navigating one of the most remote corners of the world (including getting there) requires more than just a map. We discuss the logistical challenge of traversing shifting, massive peaks that change with the wind. Ashlyn explains why being “Hyper-Prepared” with technical gear and offline navigation isn’t about being afraid; it’s the exact thing that gives you the freedom to embrace the deep wilderness.
Photo: Ashlyn George The Lost Girl Philosophy: “Be scared, be nervous, but be curious.” (which became the motto for the show) Ashlyn distills her entire travel philosophy into this one sentence. We explore how she moved past her own deep-seated anxieties to visit all seven continents by her 30th birthday, proving that adventure is a personal metric. It isn’t about how high the mountain is, but how far you were willing to push your own boundaries to see what was on the other side.
👉🏾 Full Article: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Adventure Travel for Beginners with Ashlyn George | EP. 11
Whether you’re heading to the local park or planning a solo trek through the Saskatchewan wild, remember that the most important piece of gear you own is your curiosity.
— Stay Rudderless
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