Exploring with Wade

17/07/2024

On a recent trip to southern Saskatchewan, Canada, I took a quick detour down to a beautiful area that I wish I had planned more time for. My destination? Grasslands National Park, near the border of Montana, United States, which was established in 1981.

Come along with me as I take you on the ecotour scenic drive through the west block of the park and stop at some of the highlights. This National Park is a bit off the beaten path but it is well worth the visit!

On a recent trip to southern Saskatchewan, Canada, I took a quick detour down to a beautiful area that I wish I had planned more time for.My destination? Gra...

19/06/2024

Today, we take a step back to the early part of 2020, when I explored two abandoned hospitals. Both were closed sometime in the 1990's, and as you will see, they have not held up well to the passage of time.

Let's step inside and walk through the dark corridors of these hospitals to see what's left.

In today's video, we will take a step back to the early part of 2020, when I explored two abandoned hospitals.Both were closed sometime in the 1990's, and as...

18/05/2024

What keeps this hobby exciting and why I keep exploring is a fascination with the past and what I might find down that next road. When I started this hobby over 4 years ago, I never imagined how much I would find, the many stories I would hear, and the history that I would learn. Unfortunately, over the past few years, I have also seen many locations disappear or fall into ruin. With these places documented, they will live on, and the search will continue as there is so much more waiting to be discovered on the backroads.

What keeps this hobby exciting and why I keep exploring is a fascination with the past and what I might find down that next road.When I started this hobby ov...

18/04/2024

Have you ever traveled the coast in southwest Nova Scotia? or maybe you are from that area like myself. Often overlooked as a travel destination for many I think it is a must visit and should be on everyone's list to explore this beautiful part of Canada. Check out the video and let me know what you think.

Nova Scotia, Canada....picturesque fishing villages, rocky shorelines and the many iconic lighthouses might be the first things that come to mind, and that i...

27/03/2024

While looking through photos and video on my phone I found some footage of my trip to Anyox that I never showed before. I put together this little video showing some of the journey there and the amazing scenery and first glimpses of the ruins of the ghost town from the water. Hope you enjoy and take care.

While recently going through old photos and videos on my phone, I came across footage that I had not fully shared before.September 8th, 2022, was the day we ...

10/03/2024

Ghost towns are abandoned settlements, with most being deserted due to economic decline, exhaustion of natural resources, or natural or man-made disasters.

Ghost towns tell stories of resilience, hardship, and the transient nature of humans.

In this video, we will explore and learn the stories of 10 fascinating ghost towns across Western Canada to see what remains.

Ghost towns are abandoned settlements, once bustling with life and purpose, that now stand silent to the passage of time.Deserted due to economic decline, ex...

14/02/2024

Have you checked out my latest video? Lets take a closer look at a geological feature that can only be seen from above called the Badlands Guardian located in south eastern Alberta. Google Earth is an amazing tool for exploring the world from home. Over the years there have been many new discoveries that in the past might not have been possible. Do you use Google Earth and if so have you found anything interesting? Let me know I would be interested to take a look. Have a great day everyone!

Alberta, Canada boasts a diverse landscape, encompassing everything from the rocky mountains and expansive icefields to picturesque grasslands, vast plains, ...

15/01/2024

I have always been fascinated with a good mystery and this story I knew about many years ago. It is astounding what this man did to evade capture in some of the worst conditions. What also intrigued me even further was when I read about the Anyox connection. A ghost town I visited about a year ago. Who do you think this man was, where did he come from, and why did he go to this remote part of Canada? Very interesting. Take care, everyone!

Albert Johnson known later as 'The Mad Trapper of Rat River', emerged in the early 1930s as one of the most mysterious and notorious fugitives in Canadian hi...

07/12/2023

I always enjoy exploring these places and despite not much remaining of these old structures there was still plenty to look at. The way these old buildings were constructed was very interesting and there was also a bit of a mystery. What is up with the old piano just randomly in the woods? I hope you all enjoyed and have a great day! See you on the next!

Time for a night time exploration of the remaining structures of an old monastery also called a hermitage or a skete.I believe it was abandoned sometime in t...

04/11/2023

On a recent trip I made it down to one of the most southern spots in Alberta near the Montana border. The place is called Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai'pi and is a sacred spot to the indigenous of the area. Beautiful rock formations and landscape, with abundant wildlife along with one of the largest concentrations of indigenous petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) on the great plains of North America. What a stunning place that should be on your list of places to visit in Alberta.

In the deep south of Alberta, Canada, lies a unique landscape at the northern edge of the semi-arid Great Plains of North America, near the border of Montana...

19/10/2023

Here, along these backroads, I set out to discover the remnants of our history. Countless untold stories await to be uncovered, serving as a reminder of the vital importance of preserving this vanishing heritage. Join me on another adventure to see what we find this time.

Here, along these winding backroads, I set out to discover the remnants of our history.These roads conceal the mysteries of communities long forgotten, and t...

06/10/2023

This time I took a quick trip into southern Saskatchewan on the search for abandoned locations, ghost towns and to take in some of the beautiful scenery. There is so many places to explore that I just scratched the surface and can't wait to go back in the near future. Thanks for watching!

Once again we are out on the backroads and this time I took a quick trip over to southern Saskatchewan to explore and see what I could find.The only disappoi...

12/09/2023

I hope you enjoyed another backroads adventure and it sure didn't disappoint. It is not always easy to find new and exciting places out there. There is so much more but finding them can be difficult at times especially the more that I check off my list. Getting out further and further from home is what I find myself doing and this trip was no exception. This hobby is not for people that don't like driving the roads for hours and hours. On this day I travelled around 900 kilometers just to get footage of these few places but you know what, it is worth every minute. Thanks everyone for sticking around and watching my adventures. Take care and I will see you on the next!

Out on another backroads exploration to see what amazing discoveries we can uncover.I keep being drawn back to the open roads and the remote places to see wh...

27/08/2023

If you haven't yet, go check out my latest video!
The search for locations can be a challenge but it can be just as enjoyable as the location itself. A great tool I use to help find interesting spots is Google Maps. Let's explore and see what I found!

The search for locations can be a challenge but it can be just as enjoyable as the location itself.Searching hours on the backroads you can find all kinds of...

02/08/2023

The Halifax Explosion was a devastating event in Canadian history. One of the largest human made explosions before the atomic bomb. To learn more go check out the video. Take care everyone!

The Halifax Explosion occurred on December 6, 1917, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.It was one of the most devastating man-made explosions in history before ...

28/07/2023

It is along these backroads that I search for the remains of our past. They hold the secrets of forgotten communities and the people that once settled this land. Abandoned structures, once so alive, now standing in silence to the passage of time. As I explore, a connection to the past is made, as if walking alongside the ghosts of those who once called this land home. Many stories are waiting to be uncovered and I am reminded of the importance of preserving this fading history.

It is along these backroads that I search for the remains of our past.They hold the secrets of forgotten communities and the people that once settled this la...

29/06/2023

Hi everyone! If you plan on going to the Canadian Rockies, check out some of my favourite waterfalls in Jasper, Banff and Yoho National Parks. There are many more out there besides the ones I feature in the video but these are some great ones that are easier to access to get you started. I hope you enjoy!

The Canadian Rockies, a land of breathtaking beauty and natural wonders.Today we will journey through the majestic Canadian Rockies, in search of some of the...

02/06/2023

This was an amazing spot for a getaway with the whole area to ourselves. We were blown away by the wildlife and bird activity and have never stayed in a place where you felt so connected and close to nature. The secluded natural area was definitely the highlight of the trip. Even with the fires and smoke it was beautiful and the rains finally came to this area to help with the wildfires. Have any of you stayed in a place like this?

My wife and I recently spent two nights at Refuge Bay, an exclusive four-season luxury camping destination in Alberta, Canada.Nestled amidst hundreds of acre...

20/05/2023

Here is some bonus footage from my trip to the ghost town of Kitsault that didn't make it into the full video. We take a look at some of the items from around the town that have been placed by the caretakers in one of the abandoned homes and turned into a museum. Kitsault is a fascinating location I won't forget!

Perhaps one of if not the best preserved modern day ghost towns is Kitsault located in remote northern British Columbia.A small company owned mining town tha...

24/04/2023

Time for another Backroads adventure! This time we check out a wide variety of sites from a church, house, ghost town, schools and much more. What I always enjoy is there is such a variety and unique style and design to all of these places so you never truly know what you will find. Go check out the new video and let me know what is your favourite location.

Sometimes I spend hours and hundreds of kilometers on these roads anticipating a glimpse of something interesting that might be just out of sight or over the...

10/04/2023

Hi everyone, I, with my good friend Mike, recently went on a podcast to discuss our trip to the ghost towns of Anyox, Kitsault, and more.

It was a fun time, and Greg, the host of the Chasing Bandos Podcast, is a great guy, and I want to thank him for being interested in the story and inviting us on.

Go over to Instagram and follow Greg and also my friend Mike .

If you want to listen to the podcast we were guests on and many more great episodes from the abandoned and urbex community, be sure to check out Chasing Bandos Podcast on Instagram.

You can listen to the episode on Spotify here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/18cEikq733SVyYXScGxbpJ

Or also on PodBean:

https://chasingbandos.podbean.com/e/urbex-93-anyox-exploring-the-most-remote-abandoned-city-in-the-world-with-two-canadian-explorers-mike-wade/

Two Canadian explorers Mike and Wade travelled to remote location accessible only by boat. They went all the way to British Columbia in Canada to witness what was left from small town of Anyox constructed in 1912. In the mid 1920's the town of Anyox reached a population of 3000 with each home being....

10/04/2023

Exploring the backroads has always given me that sense of freedom and the curiosity of what might be around the next corner. Each road I travel, pieces together and tells a story of our past and the people that lived, settled and worked this land.

Documenting these locations is an ongoing project for myself, to preserve this history for the future.

Check out the newest video in this series.

Exploring the backroads has always given me that sense of freedom and the curiosity of what might be around the next corner.Each road I travel, pieces togeth...

28/03/2023

When visiting Nova Scotia be sure to get out and explore the over 100 unique lighthouses that can be seen scattered along the thousands of kilometres of rugged coastline.

Today, many of these lighthouses still operate and others have also been preserved and protected.

New video highlighting some of these beautiful lighthouses along with some history.

Lighthouses have played a vital role in the maritime history of Nova Scotia.Nova Scotia's rocky coastline, many islands, and treacherous waters made navigati...

24/03/2023

If you want to see the 3 part series on the ghost town of Anyox as one complete video go check it out. By far the most fascinating and biggest explore to date. Have a great day!

As my biggest and top exploration to date I have now put all 3 parts of the exploration together into one full length complete video for easier viewing.For a...

04/03/2023

I never get tired of seeing the Aurora, no matter how many times I witness it. I put this video together to give you all a little info on what they are and how they form along with some of my best captures taken over the last couple years. I hope you enjoy this amazing light show! Take care.

The Aurora borealis in the north and the Aurora australis in the south are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres.The aurora ...

14/02/2023

The wooden grain elevator dominated the landscape of Western Canada for more than a century. They were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries designed to receive, store and ship grain in bulk to market. By the 1930s, there were upwards of 6,000 elevators in Western Canada. To see and learn more about the history and what caused their decline check out the video below.

These prairie icons have dominated the landscape of Western Canada for more than a century.The traditional wooden grain elevator of Western Canada is a symbo...

14/01/2023

Getting out and driving the backroads is my happy place. It is extremely relaxing to just get out with no particular place in mind. Sometimes I find great locations like these to explore and other times I don't find a whole lot but it is never a wasted day out. Usually the journey is just as great as the destination. I love the surprises that can be found along the way and that keeps me on the search.

Today we are on the backroads of Alberta, Canada, once again in search of and to document our abandoned history.While some of these historical locations and ...

23/12/2022

As someone that grew up not far away from where this happened and driving through this area on my last trip back to Nova Scotia, I thought it would be a fun mystery to dive a bit deeper into. I consider myself more of a skeptic than a believer but I always enjoy these fascinating mysteries. Let me know what you thought happened that night and if there are any other mysteries you would like to see.

On a recent trip to visit family in Nova Scotia, i traveled through a small fishing community that is well known in the region for an incident that happened ...

04/12/2022

One of the best preserved modern ghost towns that is frozen in time from the 1980s is Kitsault in northern British Columbia.
Walking around the streets and buildings was a surreal experience I won't forget.

If you want to see more you can check out the video.
Full explore: https://youtu.be/8tVDdIg43Ms

19/11/2022

On our last day exploring the ghost town of Anyox, British Columbia we had time for a couple last areas. This included the abandoned Hidden Creek copper mine. What an experience it was to be able to go where few have gone since the mine was abandoned in 1935. We also stop at a couple other areas before heading out on the one hour journey by boat to our next destination.

If you want to see more you can check out the video.
Full explore: https://youtu.be/slRG7_7je1E