" Hubert Darrell is the greatest explorer of all time that no one has ever heard of. The Norwegian great Amundsen, the first to the South Pole and first person to sail through the Northwest Passage successfully, actually met Darrell in the Arctic. He was in awe, and he wrote that with men like Darrell, 'I could go to the moon.'"

In this episode of Explore, RCGS Explorer-in-Residence and bestselling author Adam Shoalts discusses his latest book, Vanished Beyond the Map, which chronicles the life of the nearly forgotten Arctic explorer Hubert Darrell.

Darrell, once a legendary figure from the early 20th century, made incredible solo journeys on foot across the Arctic, from Alaska to Hudson's Bay and onto the Arctic Ocean, earning the respect and praise of more renowned explorers like Roald Amundsen, Vilhjalmur Stefansson and many others Shoalts shares his exhaustive, years-long research process, which includes tracking down archival materials and retracing Darrell's steps in remote northern regions, seeking the answer to the mystery of Darrell's disappearance in 1910. The conversation delves into Darrell's respect for Indigenous cultures, his disdain for conventional society and the enduring call of the wild.

Adam Shoalts is a Canadian explorer, adventurer and bestselling author renowned for his epic solo journeys through some of the world’s most far-reaching northern landscapes. Shoalts has paddled nearly 4,000 kilometres alone across Canada’s Arctic, mapped uncharted northern rivers, and authored books like Beyond the Trees and Where the Falcon Flies. Shoalts currently serves as the Explorer-in-Residence at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) and is a passionate storyteller about wilderness, history and adventure.

This episode also features a brief interview with my 26-year-old nephews, Callum and Cianan McGuffin, who are on the final leg of a three-year sailing expedition around the world. They are currently navigating one of the most challenging passages on Earth, the Canadian Northwest Passage. You can follow their journey on social media at @mcguffinbrothersadventures.

For listeners interested in learning more about Shoalts’ expeditions and his latest book, they can attend a fireside chat, taking place on October 17th at 8:30 p.m. at the Arc’teryx Store located in Toronto at 339 Queen St W, ON.