Wilderness Wavelength

We are so excited to bring back Nate and Noah from Mathisons Maple farm along with their father, Shanon! We dive a bit more into the history of the 6 generations of maple farming and get a little recap of this years harvest.  T The guys also brought out some special wood staves all the way from Ontario for Scott to build some bows with!  Scott goes into the process of building a bow from scratch and offers some tips and tricks to help create a custom, home-made bow.   The Mathisons will be selling their maple products throughout the Northern Rockies this summer and you can follow along with them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mathisonsmaplefarm/ Find out how Scott Sunderwalds bow making process is coming along at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Gear up for the ultimate off-road and overlanding breakdown. This week, we sit down with Jason Brown and Dave Dionne, the visionary minds behind the Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo. Discover what it takes to launch Alberta's premier outdoor gathering. Get expert tips on building the ultimate overlanding rig. Learn how to responsibly navigate the province's rugged backwoods. Whether you are a seasoned explorer or planning your very first crown land camping trip, this episode is your roadmap to the wild. Find out more about the Expo at https://aoaexpo.com/   Follow along with Jason on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandAlberta Dave's youtube channel is https://www.youtube.com/@BlindmanOutdoors And of course, join Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/   Stay Wild!

One of our favourite guests, Matthew Ritchie, is back to talk about hunting black bear!  Matt joins us for an explict fireside chat as we dig into the tips and tricks for finding a spring bear.   Matt also regales us with stories from his miltary days and plans for the summer!  Follow along with Matt's adventures on Facebook at The Next Chapter Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/ Stay wild!

We are so excited to chat with Ryan Orange!  Ryan is a seasoned land surveyor with nearly 20 years of experience and he digs into it with us.  He is also an enthusiast for obstacle course racing and has competed in Sparta, Greece and also the Death Race in Grande Cache! We finish a celebration bottle of scotch and answer some fun "Would You Rather" questions! Stay Wild!

Jayden Provencal, better known as @provyoutdoors, is an Alberta-based backcountry angler specializing in tracking "big carnivores" across the remote Rocky Mountains. Whether embarking on week-long solo expeditions or heading out to for a quick fishing stop after work, Jayden is dedicated to the pursuit of elite trophy species like Bull Trout and Northern Pike.  In this episode, he shares his obsession with the "trout bum" lifestyle and the high-stakes reality of finding mystical fishing experiences in the deep wild.  Jayden also tell us about his Alberta Record Tiger Trout and fishing for giant sturgeon! Follow Jayden on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/provyoutdoors/ Keep up with Scott Sunderwalds adventures at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

UpLift! Jasper Mural Festival is an annual event that transforms the walls of Jasper, Alberta, into a world-class outdoor art gallery. Founded in 2022, the festival brings together local, Indigenous, and international artists to create vibrant murals that celebrate the land, foster cultural growth, and beautify the downtown area. Join us on this episode as we do a walking mural tour through the streets and alleys of Jasper with the creators of Uplift! Logan Ireland and Oliver Andrew tell us about the creation of the festival, challenges and reactions, the stories behind some of the murals and the big things planned for this years festival!  Uplift Year V runs from May 1st-10th 2026.   Find out more about the festival and how you can be apart of it at https://www.instagram.com/uplift.fest.jasper/ or passport.upliftfest.ca Stay wild!  

Join us for a fun episode dedicated to listener questions!  We pull questions from a hat with the help of local adventurers, Robbie Peake and Kyle Fee!  Some great questions and "Would You Rather" scenerios sent in with a distictive Northern Rockies touch.  If you have a question, head over to www.wildernesswavelength.ca and send us a message Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

We are so excited to sit down and chat with Rick Zroback and Mark Deagle about a legend of the Northern Rockies, Curly Phillips! Donald "Curly" Phillips (1884-1938) was a legendary Canadian guide and explorer who pioneered mountaineering and tourism in the Jasper region of the Rocky Mountains. He gained international fame for his 1909 attempt to be the first to summit Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Beyond climbing, he was a master boat builder and entrepreneur who established the iconic boathouse and tour operations at Maligne Lake. Rick has paddled many of the routes that Curly had taken and provides insight into the world of paddling and river navigation.  Mark has some family ties to Curly and has also worked on repairing and restoring some of the historic cabins that were built in the 1930s You can see some of the amazing log homes that Mark has built at https://www.facebook.com/p/Mark-Deagle-Log-Building-Ltd-100063790112425/ Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Hinton is known for its great bike park and amazing mountian biking trail system so let's find out why! Glen Allen is the founder and lead coach of Rocky Mountain Ride Guides, where he turns his lifelong obsession with bikes into technical clinics and guided tours across the scenic trails of Hinton. As a PMBIA Level 2 instructor with a background in Wilderness First Aid, he's built a reputation for helping riders of all levels safely find their flow while staying prepared for anything the mountains throw their way. Whether he's leading a bike tour or a skills camp, Glen is all about sharing the thrill of the ride and growing a stoked, responsible mountain biking community.   Find out more about Glen and Rocky Mountain Ride Guides at https://rockymountainrideguides.com/   Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Join us for a chat with a legend of the Northern Rockies!  Ken Groat is a long-standing resident of Brule with deep roots in the local wilderness and community history. As a key figure in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness Society, he is widely respected for his extensive knowledge of the region's trails and heritage. Alongside his family, Ken has dedicated years to the stewardship of the backcountry, performing vital maintenance and preservation work within the Willmore Wilderness Park.  Ken talks about life in the 1950s in Jasper and growing up in Brule.  We also dig into his history as an outfitter, rodeo announcer, and stories of massive horse pack trips and animal encounters in the wilderness! Find out more about the Rocky Mountain Wilderness Society at https://www.facebook.com/RMWSociety Follow along with Scott Sunderwalds adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Dive into the world of running with us this week as we sit down for a chat with Keri Bowzaylo!   Keri is a professional fitness coach, ultra marathon runner, and outdoor guide currently based in Banff, Alberta.   She is the founder of Be Wild Adventures and Balanced Bodies with Keri where she focuses on connecting people to the outdoors and promoting movement as medicine.   Keri tells us about some of the races that she has competed in, along with gear advice, training tips, and recommendations for getting started.   Keri is also putting on a Spring Training Camp for the Folding Mountain Ultra in April and you can find more info and register here: https://www.bewildadventures.ca/upcoming-events   Follow along with Keri's adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/be_wild_with_keri/   Check out what Scott Sunderwald has been doing in the wild at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/   Stay Wild!

Join us on this episode as we dive into the world of adventure racing!   Nathalie Long is an accomplished adventure racer and ultra runner and tells us about some of her races from around the globe.  Based in Kelowna, Nathalie has taken part in many adventure races, from a few hours long to 9.5 days non stop! Nathalie has also started designing and directing races and is bringing Raid the Rockies to Hinton this summer!  Raid the Rockies is a 3.5 day adventure race that will involve mountain biking, pack rafting, canyoning and trekking.  This event is happening July 5-8th and more info on the event can be found here: https://www.adventureimmersionlab.ca/events/raid-the-rockies-ar For more info on Nathalie and to see other upcoming events you can check out the Adventure Immersion Lab website at https://www.adventureimmersionlab.ca/home and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/adventure_immersion_lab/ Follow along with Scott Sunderwald at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/ STAY WILD!

Episode 100 is here and we are so excited to chat with Big Game Hunter Chris Genert!  We take a tour of Chris's trophy room as he regails us with stories of hunts throughout Western Canada and around the world! On this episode we talk about hunting everything from Bighorn Sheep in Alberta to Morco Polo sheep and Siberian Ibex in Asia to hunts in Africa.  We also talk about the logistics and challenges of guided hunts around the world. You can see some of Chris's adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/genertchris/ Follow along with Scott Sunderwald at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/   Stay Wild!

On this episode we are so excited to chat with pilots Steve and Kristie from Jasper Hinton Air!  These experienced mountain pilots give us a tour of the hanger and tell us about some of the exciting adventures that they have done.    From wildfire assistance to rescue operations to wildlife research to mountain lake paddleboarding, the life of a helicopter pilot sounds amazing! Check out Jasper Hinton Air online at www.jasperhintonair.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasper_hinton_air/ Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/   Stay Wild!

Bushcraft enthusist, Ryan Marshall, also known as Marshall Bushcraft,  joins us for a look into the world of modern bushcraft!  Ryan is a TV personality for Wild TV, author, content creator and an "intermediate" survival expert.   On this episode we dig into some gear recommendations, back country survival stories, animal encounters and more!  Ryan's new book "Fire, Water, Shelter" delivers the fundamentals of traditional bushcraft. It's the perfect guide for anyone interested in building a solid foundation of outdoor skills, whether you're looking to spend a weekend in the backcountry or surviving a natural disaster. Follow along with Ryan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marshall_bushcraft/?hl=en You can also find links to Marshall Burshcraft's other social media accounts and order "Fire, Water, Shelter" here: Marshall Bushcraft Find Scott Sunderwald's adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/   Stay Wild!

Award winning writer, rider and adventurer, Tania Millen, joins us on this episode! Tania has been horse obsessed since she was 9 and has traveled the world competing in events.  She has also written books on horse pack trips and white water paddling.  Tania has flew planes and paragliders, climbed rock and ice, skied mountains and so much more! Tania calls Hinton home and is always planning her next adventure.  You can find out more at www.taniamllen.com  Follow along with Scott Sunderwald's adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

From darting cougars to reffing for team Canada to sixteen hour elk hunts, this episode has it all! JB stops in to tell us about his adventures studying cougars!  We chat about the process of finding, tagging and tracking cougars and the dangers involved.   Throughout his career, JB has also been repeatedly pepper sprayed and tasered and breaks down the experiences.  Join us for this wild conversation from the hotel room! Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

We head out into the bush for a winter adventure!  Rabbit hunting, hot tenting and feasting on 7 different meats highlight the trip.  This episode was recorded LIVE from the campsite! Thayne Harden and David Sunderwald join us for a wild winter camping trip!

Join us for a little journey down Highway 40 south on this episode!  Marie Laska from Cadomin and George Spanach from Mercoal stop in for a chat about the historic Alberta Coal Branch and share stories of from the area.   Marie is a has been a Cadomin resisident for 5 years and has fully embraced the community. She tells us what brought her to Cadomin and the adventures she has had in area.   George was born in the coal branch town of Mercoal in 1944 and he describes growing up in a boom town.   George still spends his summers in Mercoal staying in the heritage home that his father built in 1939.   Follow along with Marie's adventures through her Candles of Cadomin page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089984826755 Join Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Sitting around a cozy wood stove at an old cabin in Rock Lake Provincial Park reminiscing about the Willmore.  Grandpa and Grammy, Calvin and Susan Shantz, have been coming to Rock Lake for decades and talk about what keeps bringing them back and some of their wild pack horse adventures.

We are so excited to chat with local adventure enthusist, Jailin Bertolin on this episode!  Jailin exemplifies the active winter lifestyle with hobbies that include fatbiking, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, skijoring, and so much more! Jailin tells us about some of her amazing adventures throughout the Northern Rockies and around the world! With the Winter Magic festival coming to Hinton in February, we dig into fatbiking and the Hinton Growler Fatbike Race.  Find out more about the race at https://www.bikehinton.com/ This winter, the Hinton Nordic Centre is celebrating their 50th anniversary and have a ton of events going on in February!  Find out more at   https://www.facebook.com/HintonNordicCentre Follow along with Jailin's adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jailinbertolin/ You can also learning more about Rising Wellness Reflexology at risingwellness.ca or https://www.instagram.com/rising.wellness.reflexology/ Check out Scott Sunderwalds latest adventures at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

At just 18 years old, Tate Tocher is already living the outdoorsmans dream!  Tate has worked for guiding outfitters in the Yukon and Northern BC and tells us about his adventures spent in the wilderness and helping out with hunts for moose, elk, sheep and mountain goats.   We also chat about some of the challenges with taking pack horse trips into the wilderness and a day in the life of a wrangler.   Follow along with Tate on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tatetocher/ Check out Scott Sunderwald's latest adventures at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Nate and Noah drop by the show to share the story of their maple syrup legacy! Maple production has been part of the Mathisons family for six generations and we get an inside look into the operation.   Besides maple syrup, the brothers also chat about what brought them to the Northern Rockies as well as hunting and fishing back home in Ontario.  We also discuss New Years resolutions and plans for 2026! Check out the Mathisons on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mathisonsmaplefarm/ Follow along with Scott Sunderwald at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/   Stay Wild!

The Christmas Bird Count is North Americas longest-running citizen science project, where volunteers count birds to identify population trends and species distribution.   Biologist Beth MacCallum has been part of the Hinton bird count for the past 39 years and stops by to chat about the count and some of the finds and changes in the Hinton area over the past few decades.   This year the Hinton bird count is happening on December 26th and the Brule bird count is December 27th.  If you would like to be involved in either count, reach out to Beth at [email protected] or 780-865-4906 If you are visiting elsewhere over the Christmas break you can visit https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/christmas-bird-count to find a map of active circles in your area.   Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/ Good Birding!

Just got home from a Costa Rica vacation.  Cristina and Casey help highlight some of the trip!  Pura Vida

Cameron Crawford returns to the podcast to update us on his Sasquatch search!  Cameron and his research partner, Josh, have been traveling throughout Alberta in search of Bigfoot and following up on sightings and leads around the province.  On this episode we dig into some possible sightings, the facts for and against the existence of Sasquatch and what the future of the Sasquatch community looks like.   Follow along with Cameron on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/travellingcanuck29/ and his Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thetravellingcanuck29 For Sasquatch sightings, email Cameron at [email protected] Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/   STAY WILD

This is the longest episode of the podcast to date and things get a little wild!  The lively Matthew Ritchie from "The Next Chapter" stops by to chat about his adventurous 2025 fall hunting season.  Matthew and Scott Sunderwald hand out some great hunting advice and recount some exciting hunting stories. Jeff is also back on the show and helps us with a game of "Would You Rather"! Follow along with The Next Chapter on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/202535382783070 Follow Scotts adventures on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

4 year old Casey sits down for a chat about hunting season, monster trucks and he even tells a few jokes!

Paul Chambers, the Northern Director of the Wild Sheep Foundation of Alberta, stops by for a chat on this episode! Paul, a Cadomin resident, talks about some of the great work that the foundation is doing to help the Bighorn Sheep herds in Alberta. The foundation promotes and funds practices from disease awareness to habitat management in efforts to maintain and enhance the sheep population in Alberta.   We also get into some tips and exciting stories from hunting trips deep into the Northern Rockies! Check out Pauls Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/paul_chambers/  and you can find out some about the Wild Sheep Foundation of Alberta at https://www.instagram.com/wsfalberta/ or their website at https://wsfab.org/ Follow along with Scott Sunderwald at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Cougars are one of the apex predators of the Northern Rockies and the mascot of Hinton!  On this episode, George and Scott chat about cougar habitat, mountain lion encounters, some wild cougar facts and a few things to keep in mind while you are in the bush.   Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

A late night garage hang out with George and Jamie as they recount a day of hunting! Inspired by David Robson's photo album, the guys also chat about which life pictures they would carry around.  From epic stories to missed oppurtunities, it's a great concept to reflect upon.  

World Record fisherman and avid hunter, David Robson, joins us on this episode!  Dave has been a big part of the Hinton Fish and Game Club for years and has some incredible stories to share with us! Jamie Merkel also joins the podcast as we try to gain a couple tips for our next hunting excursions!   You can find some of David's videos on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@speckle55 Follow along with Scott Sunderwalds adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

On this episode we welcome interpreter and photographer Kevin Gedling!   Kevin is an award winning heritage interpreter and professional interpretive guide and has been working in the industry since 2002. Scott and Kevin dig into the world of interpretation and offer a behind the scenes look into the industry of guiding.   You can check out some of Kevin photographs on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kevgedphoto/ Follow along with Scott Sunderwalds adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Scott Sunderwald has written and released his new book, Radically Wild!   On this episode we break down the book writing process, challenges of writing and publishing and dive into some of the adventure stories that Scott has captured in the pages.   You can get Scott's book online at www.northernrockiesbushcraft.com 

We are excited to welcome back Thayne Harden to the podcast!  Thayne has some great stories of his times spent working with the Human-Wildlife Co-existence team in Jasper National Park as well as some wild experiences in law enforcement.  We also dig into Wells Gray Provincial Park and play a waterfall based trivia game! Pick up Scott Sunderwalds book "Radically Wild' here: https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000514475259/Scott-Sunderwald-Radically-Wild Follow along with Scott on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

A fire side whiskey and scotch night!  Scott Sunderwald, Jonny K, and Reuben Anderson join for a fun night of whiskey and scotch tasting, adventure stories and cigar puffing.  We sample 8 different varities including a $400 bottle of whiskey! Reuben also ends the podcast with a couple of songs!   Follow along with Reubens new band on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/moonlightmagpies/ Check out Scott's wild adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

This episode was recorded while cruising some dirt roads in the search for some tasty grouse.   Join us for a backroad adventure in the Northern Rockies as we chat about some of our favorite grouse hunting trips and a few things to do and not to do when hunting grouse. The batteries in the recorder died at a real unfortunate time...

Scott Sunderwald takes us on a foraging expedition through his secret mushroom trail!  Join us for an informative mushroom hunt as identify, collect and cook up some tasty mushrooms from the forest! Follow along with Scott on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

We are so excited to have the co-founder of Folding Mountain Brewing and Ultra-Marathon runner Jason Griffiths as a guest on this episode!  This episode was recorded on the patio of the Brewery as we dig into the creation of Folding Mountain Brewing and a little inside look at the operation of it. Jason recently completed the Grande Cache Death Race and he breaks down his training and the epic adventure of the race.  Jason offers some advice for people that are looking at getting into running and even expanding into ultra-marathons.   Jason is also working on creating a Ultra Marathon around the Folding Mountain area and you can follow along with the journey and learn more at https://www.instagram.com/foldingmountainultra/ Follow along with Jason's adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jason.gf.fmb/ Check out Folding Mountain at https://www.instagram.com/foldingmountainbrewing/ And of course, follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Recorded this episode from Jordo's fishing boat while floating around Long Lake.  A beautiful sunset on the lake capping an eventful day of mud racing, demolition derby action, tough truck races, paddleboarding, fishing and soaking up some September long weekend rays!

Daniel Vargas brings his family up to Hinton for an adventure and we chat about getting into camping.  Some do's and dont's as well as stories of camping mishaps.  A Blueprint For Failure collaboration.

We recorded this episode while sitting around the campfire in Pierre Grey's Lakes Provincial Park! While up in the Grande Cache area, we also bagged our first peak for the Passport to the Peaks program and recount the hike up to the top of Ambler Mountain.   Pierre Grey's Lakes Provincial Park features some great walking trails, beautiful lakes and even remnants of the old homested.  Join us for a little game of Pierre Grey's trivia!

Second generation Police Officer and the President of Hinton Search and Rescue, David Dower, joins us on this episode! Dave tells us about some of the great things that the SARs team has been doing for the community and some amazing tools at their disposal.  We also chat about how the Search and Rescue team is deployed and tips for staying safe in the wilderness.   Find out more about Hinton Search and Rescue at www.hsar.com  Follow along with Scott Sunderwalds adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stories/northern.rockies.bushcraft/ 

Tony Peniche, the CEO of the PNW Survival Games joins us on this episode!  The Survival Games is a world-class survival education and competition.  Featuring a 3 day survival adventure, packed with bushcraft, outdoor skills, survival training and competition.  Held in Oregon, this years event features 50 competitors and 6 different immersive survival challenges! You can find out more at https://www.pnwsurvivalgames.com/ And on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pnwsurvivalgames/ Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

The great butterfly hunt is on!  Biologist Beth MacCallum is back on the show to talk about butterflies.  Scott and Beth have been hosting butterfly counts annually for the past 16 years and tell us stories from butterfly hunts and some amazing facts about these beautiful insects.   Join Beths mailing list with the Whiskey Jack Club by emailing [email protected] Follow along with Scott Sunderwald on his adventures at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Scott Sunderwald and Thayne Harden recount their wild adventure down the McLeod River this summer!  White water, lost gear, canoe mishaps, flaming shoes and even dangerous human encounters!  Follow along with Scott's adventures on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Jonny and Anakin meet us at the Pembina River Provincial Park for a couple days of throwing rocks, floating and exploring the area with the boys!  It's amazing how wild a couple 4 year olds can get!

Old co-workers Andrew and Chris come to town for some scotch tasting around the fire with Scott Sunderwald!   We try out 6 different varieties of scotch and Andrew tells us about his massive collection and some of his favorites.   Scott has some great "would you rather" questions and we also get into some near death experiences! Follow along with Scott's adventures on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northern.rockies.bushcraft/

Recorded while sitting around the campfire at midnight on the longest day of the year.  With my best friend Jamie Merkel.  You never know where the conversation will go.

Darin Zandee joins us for a chat around the campfire about Canoeing!  Darin is an expert canoe instructor and has canoed for thousands of kilometers throughout Canada and around the world.  Darin shares some of his stories of adventures on the waters and his most memorable trips.  We also talk about favourite rivers and places to explore in the Northern Rockies.