The Canadian experience
I did not learn the mountains in Reunion. I learned them in Canada, in country where you meet no one for several days and where the trail does not always exist.
I earned my college attestation in adventure tourism guiding at Cégep de Saint-Laurent, in Quebec. It is not the same school as the French mountains: it teaches long-range self-sufficiency, navigation, running a group far from any rescue, other outdoor disciplines — not hiking alone — and decision-making on expedition in remote wilderness.
That training opened seasons of sea kayaking in Quebec, then canoe and foot crossings through the Yukon and Alaska. Fully self-supported expeditions: everything you eat, everything you carry, and no one but the group.
Following the seasons of Canada’s Far North and its tales of adventurers. Falling in love with these wild lands, their vast landscapes and their complex histories.
Between Jack London, wild rivers, the midnight sun and the northern lights, setting out into the history of the gold seekers and the Indigenous peoples. Then pushing on to Dawson City, a town that seems to carry you into another century, straight out of a western. Sipping a gin in front of a French cancan show, in the festive, offbeat mood of this legendary town.
Driving up the Dempster Highway, that iconic road said to be one of the most isolated in the world, which crosses breathtaking landscapes, passes the Arctic Circle and leads all the way to Inuvik.
Here, the possibilities are like the land itself: endless.
This is where my soul was marked: in the heart of a wild land where every road tells a story, where every river carries the memory of those who travelled it, and where the horizon never seems to end. I know this country: I haven’t just guided others there, I’ve lived there.
The Far North taught me three things I use every week on the island.
Anticipate rather than react. When the nearest help is two days’ walk away, you do not decide at the last moment. You decide an hour earlier, when the sky begins to change.
Read the ground. A slope, the colour of water, a type of vegetation: the landscape gives information continuously, provided you have learned to see it.
Fit the pace to the group, not the other way round. On expedition, a group that goes too fast on the first day does not finish the trip. The same holds on a single day’s walk.
In Reunion the trails are waymarked and the lodges welcoming. But the ground stays demanding, and the volcano grants no favours. That is the rigour I bring, even to a six-hour outing.
I have a project, and I would rather share it than keep it to myself: one day, linking Réunion and Canada. Two wild worlds with nothing in common on paper — the tropical volcanic island on one side, the boreal forest and the great rivers on the other. It matters to me to help you discover them…
Trekking, canoeing, sea kayaking, in country where space has no visible limit.
An expedition abroad takes at least six months of preparation, and I stay within my role as a guide: I do not arrange accommodation or transport. I can, however, advise you on preparing your trip.
You’re already a group — any size — and a Canadian expedition appeals to you? I come with you on the ground. You arrange your travel and your nights; I guide you, and I advise you.
Season by season, and they are not the same journeys:
Write and tell me what your group has in mind, and I’ll tell you plainly what I can guide and what I can’t.
As a guide he was first and foremost attentive to the needs of all participants, their safety, comfort and happiness, and was ready to assist when necessary.
He was attentive to his canoeing skills and was open to learning from those with experience. His style adapted to suit the conditions.
He had a genuine and professional interest in the environment and its flora and fauna; and successfully identified fresh tracks of wild life which was verified when we uploaded photographs to iNaturalist.
Leo also demonstrated an ability to present varied and wholesome cooked meals and was versatile in his approach.
His manner was always cheerful and professional. Essentially he was the major player in keeping the multinational and multilingual group harmonious and cohesive.
I had the pleasure of being on a canoe trip on the Teslin and Yukon Rivers in August 2023 with Ruby Range Adventures. I was one of a group of 12 tourists from Europe, Australia, and Canada. I am an experienced canoeist but had never been on an organized group trip like this and had never been to the Yukon before. I was thoroughly impressed with the 2 guides we had, one of whom was Leo.
Leo was not only concerned about the health and safety of each member of the group, he was also clearly concerned with each member's enjoyment of the experience. He was friendly while being mindful of boundaries, had a great deal of care for leave-no-trace principles as he diplomatically educated and asked members of the group to also behave in this way, and I observed him successfully connect with each member of this group, making everyone feel comfortable and supported.
Leo was strong in body and mind and displayed all of the qualities I would have liked to see in an outdoor guide. I would not hesitate to book another trip with him.
We met Leo as a guide on our canoe tour on the Teslin River and Yukon River in August 2023. He led our group of 12 people and a total of 7 canoes with another guide. The group was a mix of beginners and experienced canoeists.
Leo was very attentive and observed each person and supported them where needed. He had a great deal of knowledge in and about nature and showed us how people live in nature without leaving human traces. It was important to him that the group had a nice communal experience. His humor and at the same time his tireless commitment and vigilance for the group were outstanding. Despite the strenuous tour, he always made sure that our group was well and looked after our well-being. We had fantastic food at all times of the day.
Leo's behavior towards the group and his colleagues was always exemplary and always impeccable. We would like to thank Leo very much for this great experience in Canada and wish him all the best for his future tours.
Léopold was our guide on the Teslin River (Yukon Territory) in the summer of 2023. He is an excellent guide; I would go on a trip with him again. He was always there for us, he cooked wonderfully and I had excellent conversations with him. I was with him in the canoe for a few days and I always felt safe with him. We were a wonderful group and we always helped one another: gathering wood, making the fire, the cooking and washing-up, leaving the place clean, etc.
Léopold était notre guide sur le Teslin River (Yukon Territory) l’été 2023. Il est un excellent guide; j’irais de nouveau avec lui sur un tour. Il était toujours là pour nous, il a cuisiné merveilleusement et j’avais d'excellentes conversations avec lui. J’étais pour quelque jours avec lui dans le canoé et je me sentais toujours en sécurité avec lui. On était un groupe formidable et on s’aidait toujours: ramassage du bois, faire le feu, la cuisine/vaisselle, laisser l'endroit propre etc.
During our 9 days-trip on the Teslin/Yukon, Leo and Daniel, our guides, arranged, changed, organized, made everything possible to the best of our satisfaction and even fulfilled the individual wishes of individual participants. Leo is excellent at arousing the enthusiasm of every participant and played a major role in ensuring that this trip remains unforgettable and impressive for us. So I can warmly recommend him. And thank you again.
