A Decade in Review A hike along the Blackwater River. Little Red Hen Went Off the Grid I’ve always loved the story of The Little Red Hen. It’s one of the first books I remember reading as a child, and it stuck with me in a way that few stories ever have. Completely captivated by this small, determined creature, and the lesson I took away from that book stayed with me forever, I might just be a chicken whisperer because of it! The hen asks for help—planting the wheat, harvesting it, grinding it, and baking the bread. And every time, the answer is no; no one wants to do the…

We made a break for it. A stealthy, short-notice escape plotted like a heist—minus the ski masks, plus a lot of flannel. The Guide Outfitters (friends Daniel & Daniela) stepped in like off-grid babysitters, wrangling the resort, the dogs, and the chickens (who, frankly, have more attitude than the dogs), while they guided some German clients on a moose hunt for 10 days. With the homestead in capable hands, we slipped out the back door and hit the road. Leaving the resort behind in the care of the guide outfitters. First stop: Will and Teresa’s big welcoming log home—the kind of place that exhales comfort the moment you step through…

The Beaver Arrives The Last Guests The last guests arrived at the end of September—flying in with an iconic Canadian vintage de Havilland Beaver floatplane, of which only 1,657 were built from 1947 to 1967. It's single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, short take-off and landing (STOL) design, which designates the DCH-2 as one of the top ten greatest Canadian engineering achievements of the 20th century. Getting to charter your off-grid wilderness excursion in one can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Something many people have jotted down on their bucket list of things to do. Barge tours We closed the season with an eight-day stretch that felt like a slow-burning campfire—crackling with hikes, storytelling,…

Life in the wild is direct and to the point, unlike the added drama of the past reality show, which we participated in a few years ago. While all of the experiences happened, the ones of these past few weeks were carved into my memory, etched into my thoughts like the lines of an ancient map. I often find myself checking my sanity, pondering whether escaping to the heart of the wilderness is truly less stressful than the frenetic pace of city life. Yet, amid the uncertainty, there’s an undeniable thrill in the unknown that pulls me forward, a siren song of adventure that promises to reveal everything. And one…

Trout, Thunder, and the Weight of Smoke Keeping up with the Jones's The week began with an appetite that only wealth and testosterone could summon. Seven men—three of them pre-college teens with the metabolism of hummingbirds on Red Bull—arrived at our wilderness resort like a pack of Armani-clad lumberjacks. They hailed from a family-run business U.S. law firm, the kind where billable hours are measured in heartbeats and the coffee is probably infused with truth serum. The group had pre-arranged for double portions and a menu plan that could have fed a football team. They came for trout, family bonding, and food aplenty, so I had added an extra grocery…

Jeni comes to Eliguk. Where on earth did two weeks vanish? Time has a relentless way of slipping through our fingers like water over rocks, especially when you’re caught in the whirlwind of life. Here at our little off-grid wilderness lodge, we've been busy as bees in a wildflower meadow, tackling a myriad of projects that make our oasis flourish. But amidst our flurry of activity, we had a delightful twist of fate: a long-time social media follower finally made the pilgrimage to Eliguk, checking it off her bucket list. Meeting Jeni, after sharing a decade’s worth of virtual interactions, felt like reuniting with a long-lost friend beneath the towering…

"There’s something deeply inspiring about a married couple who chooses hardship over convenience, wilderness over comfort, and thrives together. Their skillset isn’t just rare. It’s practically mythic." - Anonymous. A simple comment from a stranger that resonated with me deeply. To have someone recognize the entirety of what we do, rather than reducing it to mere surface-level critiques or offering oversimplified solutions, felt profoundly validating. It’s as if they acknowledged not just the hard work, but the emotion and intention behind it all. In a world that often rushes to judge or suggest, this recognition brought a wave of relief and affirmation. It was a reminder that the journey we…

As the warm summer sun casts its golden glow over our resort, the property awakens from its winter slumber, ready to don its finest attire. July’s guests are like the first flurry of fireflies, sparking excitement that dances on the evening breeze. Each corner of our sprawling paradise becomes a lively stage, where the lawns, freshly mowed and crisp, extend an open invitation for chickens to prance about, indulging in a buffet of bugs and grubs disturbed from their cozy hideaways. The seating areas, charming and inviting, are akin to welcoming the best of friends with a frosty drink in hand, whispering tales of relaxation and laughter. It's a magical…

Maybe I have to get sassy and sarcastic with an I double-dog dare you type of attitude? I've been going at it all wrong, I mean - I need to tap into the current societal wavelength of thinking and stop using my old-fashioned traditional angles.  I need catchy taglines like - “Whispering Pines: where your soul gets a hug and your phone gets zero bars.” How about a new write-up about the folks who host the wilderness resort? Normal Wilderness Hosts Meet the Off-Grid Gourmet & Frontiersman Hosts Extraordinaire Out where GPS signals go to die and the only traffic jams involve moose & bears lives true modern pioneers —…

We’re still riding the high from Dave's delightful fly-in bounty a couple of weeks ago. Each night brings a new adventure for our taste buds, like a page from Bon appétit magazine! Whipping up dishes by simply elevating the humble garden scalloped potatoes with a smoky Gouda twist. With such a diverse selection at our fingertips, each meal is a delicious experiment, and we’re happily savoring the surprises waiting to be discovered. It’s almost as if our taste buds are tiny time machines, unlocking memories with each flavor we experience. The anatomy of a taste bud resembles a miniature concert hall, hosting an orchestra of 50 to 150 taste cells,…