Author: johnstonpursuits

This is my home page where I'll share information about Canoe Instruction, Wilderness Travels, Orienteering, Trail Running, and Hiking.

Publications, Presentations, Photos

Published Work, Presentations, and Photographs

Publications

Johnston, B. (pending). Manitoba’s Black River: revealing a treasure. Beaconia, MB: Johnston Pursuits.

Johnston, B. (Ed.). (2014). On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell’s Cairn. Beaconia, MB: Johnston Pursuits.

Johnston, B. (Ed.). (2013). On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell’s Cairn. (waterproof paper) Beaconia, MB: Johnston Pursuits.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2011). Paddle Canada Canoe Tripping Program Manual (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2011). Paddle Canada Lake Program Manual (3nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2011). Paddle Canada Moving Water Program Manual (3nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2011). Paddle Canada Moving Water Safety and Rescue Clinic (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2010). Paddle Canada Canoeing Basic Tandem Skills Course (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2010). Paddle Canada Lake Program Manual (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2010). Paddle Canada Moving Water Program Manual (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Johnston, B. B. (Ed.). (2010). Paddle Canada Waterfront Program Manual (2nd ed.). Kingston, ON: Paddle Canada.

Articles

Johnston, B. B. (2015). Shindig 2014 Proud Open Canoeists Take Their Traditional Bright Red and Green Canoes Into a Flurry of Decked Butt Boaters (i.e. Kayakers). The Ripple, (Winter 2015), p. 14.

Johnston, B. B. (2015). 2014 Manitoba Regional Report. The Ripple, (Winter 2015), pp. 34-35.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). The Essence of Paddle Canada. Kanawa in RapidMedia, Paddling Buyer’s Guide, 2015 Annual, p. 255.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). Shindig 2014 Proud Open Canoeists Take Their Traditional Bright Red and Green Canoes Into a Flurry of Decked Butt Boaters (i.e. Kayakers). The Ripple, (Fall 2014), p. 5.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). Making Your Own Maps, Innovation and Traditional: Navigating, Mapping, and Online Route Planning Tools. http://www.canoeing.com/advanced/feature/makingyourownmaps.htm

Johnston, B. B. (2014). Respectfully Coasting Victoria. Che-Mun, The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 156, pp. 1 and 6-8.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). The Tundra Tumbler—A canoe tripper’s guide to hand washing clothes. Che-Mun, The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 155, p. 2.

Johnston, B. B. (2014). iPad Journalizing: paradox, oxymoron. Che-Mun, The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 155, p. 9.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. (2014). Paddling Victoria Island: Seeking adventure in the far north. Above & Beyond, Canada’s Arctic Journal, March/April 2014 Vol 26 No 2, pp. 33-38. http://issuu.com/arctic_journal/docs/abovebeyond_marchapril2014

Johnston, B. B. (2013). Paddle Review: Mitchell Premier Whitewater Canoe Paddle. http://www.canoeing.com/gear/feature/mitchellpremierpaddlereview.htm

Johnston, B. B. (2013). On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell’s Cairn. Nastawgan Summer 2013 Vol 40 No 2, pp. 16-18.

Johnston, B. B. (2013). Pack a Canoe for a First Descent: Canoeing the Lorillard River. Pakboats, [Pak]Canoe Adventures.  http://www.pakboats.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=320:lorillard-river&catid=36:pakcanoeadventures&Itemid=168

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Tracking Mr. Tyrrell. Che-Mun The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 150, pp. 6-9.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Corn Bread and Sweet Potato Bannock, The Ripple (fall 2012), p. 10.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). The Ultimate Guide for Far North Clothing and Gear. http://www.canoeing.com/advanced/farnorth/index.htm

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Moving water intro tandem & solo course quick reference guide. http://www.paddlecanada.com/instructors/instructor-resources/instructor-resources.html

Johnston, B. B. (2012). The Lorillard: North of Baker, West of Hudson. Che-Mun The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 148, pp. 6-9.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). An Essential Companion for any Mackenzie River Tripper. A book review of Jamie Bastedo’s Trans Canada Trail: Northwest Territories (published 2010 by Fitzhenry & Whiteside). Paddle Canada’s Resources, Book Reviews. http://www.paddlingcanada.com/resources/book-reviews.html

Johnston, B. B. (2012). The East Pukaskwa River—the river right trip. Kanawa (Spring 2012), pp. 28-33.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). Rallying Manitoba’s Black River. The Ripple (late winter 2011), pp. cover and 7-10.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). The Scariest Day of My Life—When Current Met Wind. Kanawa (Early Fall 2011), pp. 18-22.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). The Nature and Philosophy of the New Paddle Canada Canoe Program. Kanawa (winter 2010/2011), pp. 42-43.

Johnston, B. B. (2010). What’s in Your Backyard? Rediscovering Manitoba’s Black River. Kanawa (fall), pp. 38-40.

Johnston, B. B. (2010). The Cascade River Adventure. Kanawa (spring), pp. 20-25.

Johnston, B. B. (2010). Instructor News: ask a pro response. Kanawa (spring), p. 43.

Johnston, B. B. (2009). Big canoe. The Ripple (summer), pp. 20-21.

Johnston, B. B. (2008). How wilderness canoeing has changed over the past 25 years. Kanawa (winter/spring), pp. 38-39.

Johnston, B. B. (2007-8). The pressure to go light, Reflections on a subarctic summer storm. Nastawgan Vol 35 No 1, pp. 19-20.

Johnston, B. B. (2008). Prince of the Barrenland. The Ripple (winter), pp. 14-15.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Prince of the Barrenland. Che-num The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing, Outfit 129, pp. 6-7.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Why do Canoeists Go Canoeing? The Ripple (spring), p.13.

Johnston, B. B. (2006-7). The ins and outs of folding canoes. Kanawa (winter), pp. 42-44.

Johnston, B. B. (2005). On food barrels. The Ripple (fall), p. 5.

Johnston, B. B. (2005). Moving Water, What is it all about. The Ripple (winter), p. 12.

Johnston, B. B. (2004). How to fit a long stick in a short boat. Kanawa (fall), p. 23.

Johnston, B. B. (2004). Canoeist Trips with Kayakers! What does he discover? The Ripple (fall), pp. 10-11.

Johnston, B. B. (2004). Prairie Paddler Travels to Big City in Search of Canoeing. The Ripple Vol 17 No. 1 (spring), pp. 16-17.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). A whitewater paddling brain. The Ripple Vol 16 No. 4 (winter), p. 11.

Johnston, B. B. (2002). Course Report 2001 Spring White Water Weekend The Ripple, MRCA Newsletter Vol. 15 No. 1 (spring), pp. 8-9.

Johnston, B. B. (2000). Barking Dog. MRCA Newsletter Vol 13 No. 3, pp. 6-7.

Johnston, B. B. (2000). A ‘Make You Feel Good’ Story. MRCA Newsletter Vol 13 No. 1, p. 5.

Johnston, B. B. (1999). Surfing for Safety. MRCA Newsletter Vol 12 No. 4, pp. 11-13.

Johnston, B. B. (1997-8). The Dog (University) River Has a Big Second Bite! MRCA Newsletter Vol 11 No 1, p. 16-17.

Johnston, B. B. (1996). Big Eddy Rapids. MRCA Newsletter Vol 9 No. 3 (summer), p. 16.

Presentations

Johnston B. et al (2018). Trip Leader Clinic, Paddle Manitoba

Dent A. and Johnston B. () Grand Canyon, Paddle Manitoba

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2017). Utukok, Alaska. The 2018 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Charles Burchill, Brian Johnston, and Sharon Touchette (2016). Trip Leader Clinic, hosted by Paddle Manitoba, Pembina Trail Library, Winnipeg.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2016). Circling the Center of Canada by Canoe, Nunavut. The 2016 Far North Symposium. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. B. (2015). Paddling Unnamed Rivers, Victoria Island, Nunavut. The 2015 Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston B. B. (2015). Messages from the Subarctic: publishing notes from Tyrrell’s Cairn. Canoecopia. Madison, WI.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. (2015). Paddling routes on Victoria Island, Nunavut: connecting named and unnamed waterways. Canoecopia. Madison, WI.

Johnston, B. B. (2015). PaddleSmart. Paddle Manitoba’s Annual General Meeting. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston B. B. (2015). Messages from the Subarctic: publishing notes from Tyrrell’s Cairn. 30th Annual Wilderness & Canoeing Symposium. Toronto.

Dosch D. and Johnston B. (2014). Wilderness and Whitewater: planning a canoe trip. Paddle Manitoba.

Johnston B. B. (2014). PaddleSmart. Lockport School Canoe Club.

Gallagher J. and Johnston B. (2014). Nanook and Kuujjua Rivers. The 2014 Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston B. B. (2014). PaddleSmart. Recreation Connections Manitoba (RCM) Annual Provincial Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. (2013). Manitoba’s Black River: revealing a treasure. Mountain Equipment Coop Club Night. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. and Sessions L. M. (2012). Lorillard River, Nunavut–a first descent. The 2012 Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston, B. B. (2010). The far north, why we go. The lesser path to the Prince of the barrenlands. The 2010 Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston, B. B. (2010) Pioneer Camp & Paddle Manitoba Canoe School

Johnston, B. B. (2008). Arctic Adventures. Manitoba Conservation Eastern Region Conference. Pinawa, Manitoba.

Faust, A., Johnston, B. B., Reinke, D. (2006). Dog River. Minnesota Canoe Assication’s Far North Symposium. St Paul, Minnesota.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Meadowbank, Back, and Prince Rivers. 21st Annual Wilderness & Canoeing Symposium. Toronto.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Safety and Risk Management, in support of the art of backcountry paddling. Paddle Manitoba Canoe and Kayak Camping Clinic. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Dog River Memories. Paddle Manitoba’s Annual General Meeting. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Surfing. Paddle Manitoba Indoor Program Manitoba Whitewater Club. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). And the Quoich River is where? Paddle Manitoba Indoor. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Photographs

Johnston, B. B. (2013). Kinship in an Unbounded Land. Lost mesages in a bottle. Canoeroots Vol 12 Issue 2, (early summer 2013), p. 20 Tumpline, Tumblehome section.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Majestic Flatwater on the Wild and Free Dog River. Winner: Overall Favorite Photo of All Categories. Paddle Manitoba 7th Annual Photo Contest. Winnipeg.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Majestic Flatwater on the Wild and Free Dog River. Winner: Flatwater. Paddle Manitoba 7th Annual Photo Contest. Winnipeg.

Johnston, B. B. (2007). Dropping between Pukaskwa River Rocks. Winner: Whitewater. Paddle Manitoba 7th Annual Photo Contest. Winnipeg.

Johnston, B. B. (2006). Crashing through whitewater. Winner: Whitewater. Paddle Manitoba 6th Annual Photo Contest. Winnipeg.

Johnston, B. B. (2000). Barking Dog. Cover Photo. MRCA Newsletter Vol 13 No. 3, p. cover.

Johnston, B. B. (1997-8). Dog River. Cover Photo. MRCA Newsletter Vol 11 No 1, p. cover.

Johnston, B. B. (1996). Manigotagan River. Cover Photo. MRCA Newsletter Vol 9 No. 3, p. cover.

Editorials

Johnston, B (2015). Why do we return to wilderness? Thoughts from Our Readers. Wilderness News Fall-Winter 2015, p. 10

Johnston, B (2015). Run or Hike? Explore Magazine No 187 Fall 2015, p. 10.

Johnston, B (2013). Comment in Paddle Police. Canoeroots Vol 12 Issue 3 Summer/Fall, p. 5 Community section.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Northern Tripping Skills comment. Canoeroots Vol 11 No. 3 Summer/Fall 2012, p. 4 Campfire section.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). Cover photo comment. Rapid Magazine Vol 14 No. 3 Summer/Fall 2012, p. 6 River Signals section.

Johnston, B. B. (2012). When current met wind. Kanawa (Spring 2012), p. 4.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). Finding Nastawgan. Kanawa (summer 2011), p. 4.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). Awesome comment. Rapid Magazine Vol 13 No. 2 Early Summer, p. 9 River Signals section.

Johnston, B. B. (2011). Makeover Madness. Rapid Magazine Vol 13 No. 1 Spring, p. 8 River Signals section.

Johnston, B. B. (2009). Legislate or educate. Kanawa (winter), p. 4.

Johnston, B. B. (2006?). boots, Kanawa (winter), p. ?.

Johnston, B. B. (2005). When you gotta go, go on the road. Rapid Magazine Vol 7 Issue 3, p. 7.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). C1 outfitting Tip. Rapid Magazine Vol 5 Issue 1, p. 6.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). Letter to the editor. The Ripple Vol 16 No. 1 spring p. 22.

Johnston, B. B. (2003). The wisdom of the box. Kanawa (spring), p. 7.

Advertisement

On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell’s Cairn

On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell’s Cairn

By self-publishing On Top of a Boulder: Notes from Tyrrell’s Cairn longtime Arctic paddler Brian Johnston is helping to preserve a unique collection of notes that speak to the essence of far north wilderness canoe travel.

Signed books are available for $20. Please contact me at brian@johnstonpursuits.ca

Wilderness travels

The following list is of wilderness travelling that I have done. It is given in reverse chronological order.

This list excludes numerous day trips on rivers such as the Bird, Brokenhead, Whitemouth, Roseau, Winnipeg (Manitou, Sturgeon, Whitemud), Ochre, Maskwa, Black, Pembina, Souris, Little Saskatchewan, Seine, Red, Assiniboine, Whiteshell, and Jackpine Rivers, as well as Cooks Creek, Beaconia Lake and Marsh, Gull Lake, and Lake Winnipeg.

Year 2021

Tannis, Gundy, Little Gundy, Ontario
Big Black River or Mukutawa River, Manitoba
Black River, Manitoba
Black Lake, Chipman Portages and River, Selwyn Lake, Porcupine River, Fond du Lac River, Black Lake, Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan 

Year 2020

ALF
Tannis, Gundy, Little Gundy, Ontario
Black River including Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba
East Pukaskwa River, Ontario

Year 2019

ALF
Black River, Manitoba
Snow Bunting Lake Quoich Ketyet Baker Lake, Nunavut 

Year 2018

ALF
Manigotagan River, Manitoba
Tannis, Gundy, Little Gundy, Ontario

Year 2017

Utukok
Black River, Manitoba
Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Arizona

Year 2016

Horton River, NWT
Dog River, Ontario
Black River, Manitoba

Year 2015

Manigotagan River, Manitoba
Baker Lake, Prince River, portage, Tehek Lake, Tehert River, Quoich River, Chesterfield Inlet, Baker Lake

Year 2014

Banning Surrey Wellington Ekalluk Ferguson Greiner, Victoria Island, Nunavut

Black River, Manitoba

Year 2013

Kuujjua River, NWT
Nanook River, Nunavut

Black River, Manitoba

Year 2012

Thelon, Dubawnt, Nowleye, Kazan, Ferguson, and Wilson Rivers, Nunavut

An interactive route link of our journey: http://batchgeo.com/map/30c07d177391cec885f196c6ca4ea9f0

Canoeing.com has been following the Sub Arctic River Adventure 2012: Lynx Lake to Hudson Bay

Maskwa River, Manitoba

Grass River, Manitoba

Black River (May), Manitoba

Black River (April), Manitoba

Year 2011

Lorillard River, Nunavut

East Pukaskwa River (May), Ontario
east pukaskwa map John Robart (posted with permission)

Black River (April/May), Manitoba

Year 2010

Hood River, Nunavut

Black River (April/May), Manitoba
Black River (July), Manitoba

Year 2009

Mara and Burnside Rivers, Nunavut

Cascade River, Ontario
http://www.youtube.com/user/danflath#g/c/1E0CBC94B26641BE

Year 2008

Kazan River, NWT and Nunavut

Year 2007
Year 2006

Kunwak and Kazan Rivers, Nunavut

Pukaskwa River, Ontario
http://www.youtube.com/user/danflath#g/c/6C7C21BE0E3EED09

Dog River (twice), Ontario
http://www.youtube.com/user/danflath#g/c/691739C5B23461FF

Agawa River, Ontario

Black River, Manitoba

Year 2005

Meadowbank, Back, and Princes Rivers, Nunavut

Dog River, Ontario

Year 2004

Back River, Nunavut. Lead organizer and trip leader. Three weeks from below Muskox Rapids Jim Magrum Lake to Upper Gary Lake Mission Island.

Black River, Manitoba

Manigotan River, Manitoba

Dog River, Ontario

Year 2003

Sturgeon-Weir, Saskatchewan

Waterfound and Fond du Lac Rivers, Saskatchewan

Manigotan River, Manitoba

Jackpine River, Ontario

Dog River, Ontario

Year 2002

Quioch River, Nunavut

Pukaskwa River, Ontario

Dog River, Ontario

Year 2001

South Nahanni River, NWT. Moose Ponds to Blackstone Territorial Park.

Year 2000

Seal River, Manitoba. Canadian Heritage River. Leaf Rapids to Hudson Bay.

Manigotagan River, Manitoba

Year 1999

Clarke and Thelon, and Hanbury Rivers, NWT. Clarke River and Thelon River to Beverly Lake.

Year 1998

Black River, Manitoba

Manigotagan River, Manitoba

Year 1997

Thlewiaza River, MB and NWT. Fort Hall Lake to Arviat on Hudson Bay.

High School Trip, Kap River, Lake Nipigon, Black Sturgeon Lake and Black Sturgeon River.

Souris River, Manitoba

Year 1996

Harricana River, Quebec. Joutel, Quebec, to Moosonee, Ontario, on James Bay.

Chapleau and Nemegosend Rivers, Ontario

Temagami River, Ontario

Madawaska River, Ontario.

Missinaibi River, Ontario. Height of land to Moosonee on James Bay.

Dog River, Ontario. One of Bill Mason’s favorite rivers. This trip included paddling on Lake Superior to Michipicoten Harbour.

White River, Ontario

Manigotagan River, Manitoba

Black River, Manitoba

Year 1995

Colorado, USA. Rivers included the Crystal, Roaring Fork, Colorado, Woody Creek, Upper Colorado, and Arkansas Rivers.

Steel River, Ontario

Petawawa River, Ontario. This two-week trip traversed Algonquin Provincial Park from the western edge of the park to the eastern edge.

Pigeon River, Manitoba

Black River, Manitoba

Manigotagan River, Manitoba

Year 1994

Berens River, Manitoba

Manigotagan River, Manitoba

Kaninaskwa, Elbow and Bow Rivers, Alberta.

Wanipigow River, Manitoba

Manigotagan River, Manitoba

Year 1993

Nopiming Provincial Park, Manitoba

Grass River, Manitoba

Bloodvein River, Manitoba. Canadian Heritage River.

Bloodvein River, Manitoba. Canadian Heritage River trip for the YMCA.

Manigotagan River, Manitoba

Upper Missouri River, USA. USA Wild and Scenic River, the Missouri River.

Assiniboine River, Manitoba

Year 1992

Whiteshell area, Manitoba

Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario

Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, Ontario

Bird River, Manitoba

©2019 Brian Johnston. All rights reserved.

Canoe Instruction

MW course people in the river

We are excited to announce our 2018 Moving Water Canoe Instruction Schedule.

If you are new to paddling whitewater, the place to start is with our Intro to Moving Water Skills weekend course. Both solo and tandem canoes are welcome.

For canoeists seeking Class II whitewater, we are offering Intermediate Moving Water Skills course.

People love the 1-day Moving Water Safety and Rescue Clinic. It’s a great event for everyone.

Come out to practice and refine your whitewater paddling skills during our 1-day Guided River Run Clinic.

This spring we are also offering Moving Water Canoe Instructor course.

Please see our Moving Water Canoe Courses and Clinic poster link below.

MW Courses 2019 Poster