Ray Mears' Northern Wilderness

The survival expert profiles 19th-century cartographer David Thompson, who mapped nearly four million square miles of North America - a feat that took him across Canada from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and helped establish coast-to-coast trade within the country, as well as defining the borders that kept it independent from the US

In this episode of the series, Ray follows in the footsteps of an unsung British hero who helped put modern Canada on the map. John Rae from Scotland was the first great Arctic explorer and came to be regarded as the foremost authority on First Nation methods of Arctic survival and travel. Ray Mears follows the story of how John Rae found the Northwest Passage - the Holy Grail of 19th-century exploration. Yet this man, who should have been a hero of his day, was vilified by the British establishment. Ray believes it's time to put the record straight.

For Ray Mears there is one British pioneer who stands above all others in the exploration of Canada. That man is Samuel Hearne. In learning to travel using First Nations skills, he set the template for successful travel into Canada's wilderness. Hearne's story is defined by hardship and adventure, an inspiring tale made more powerful by the journal he left as a legacy. In a celebration of one of Earth's last great wildernesses, Ray follows in the footsteps of his hero's epic journey of over 1,000 miles.

Ray Mears takes an epic adventure into Canada's unforgiving, yet stunning wilderness. As Ray makes his journey, across land and by canoe, he tells the story of one of the greatest companies the world has ever known, the British fur trade company that opened up Canada - the Hudson's Bay Company. Ray discovers how those early traders were pioneers who laid the foundations of modern Canada. He also demonstrates local crafts and bushcraft skills that bring the landscape to life.

Ray Mears goes on an epic adventure into Canada's unforgiving, yet stunning wilderness. His journey begins in the vast Boreal Forest at the heart of Canada. This is a place where knowledge and experience are still far more important than the equipment you carry, a place left alone for centuries before Europeans arrived. Ray explores the wonder of this special forest, learns about the people who called it home and unlocks the secrets of this forgotten world. This is a land where knowledge of bushcraft is not just desirable, it is essential.