Shawn Trudel has always dreamed of challenging himself by living sustainably, either in harmony with, or at times against, nature.
In 2021, after years of searching, Trudel finally found the perfect opportunity: A 41-acre (16.5-hectare) property deep in the mountains of BC.
The remote riverside cabin is on land that's roughly a three- to four-hour journey from Prince George — assuming the service road hasn’t washed out — and includes an hour-long river trip.
Before beginning this off-grid journey, Trudel knew he wanted one more thing: An audience to share his experiences with.
About a year ago, he launched a YouTube channel called Cabin River Outdoors. His first video, titled Dude buys super remote property in Canadian wilderness. No idea what he’s doing, quickly gained traction.
Since then, his channel has grown to more than 70,000 subscribers, with videos averaging around 100,000 views each.
“I thought it would be fun,” Trudel said. “I like the challenge of it, and I grew up reading books about people going up against nature — trappers in the wilderness — and that was always exciting to me. I think I wanted a change from my job, but I also saw an opportunity to make money. I’d heard over the years that you could earn something on YouTube, and I figured, ‘Well, I’ve got to give it a go.’ So, bit by bit, I put out a couple of super amateur videos. They did really well, and it just sort of went from there. After about six months, I thought, you know what, I’m just going to quit my job and go for it.”
Before becoming a full-time YouTuber and homesteader, Trudel worked as an industrial carpenter, a background that’s come in handy as he builds two cabins on his remote property.
“I’m quite a bit further behind than I’d like,” he said. “At the same time, I also feel like putting out weekly videos is just as important as getting something built. Without the channel, you can build much faster, but with the channel, it gives me enough finances to get by. A lot of people out there, especially those without road access, say if you think something’s going to take a week, you should multiply that by three or four. But ultimately, I’m getting there. You have to stay with it and be patient. There are a few big projects I might finish by August. That’s kind of my goal right now.”
One of the major challenges Trudel has faced is the land itself, along with the isolation that comes with living so far from civilization.
“My property didn’t have any clearings whatsoever,” he said. “Most acreages might have one or two acres of already-cleared flatland, but in that dense jungle, there was nothing. So I spent a lot of time just clearing it. Also, there’s a major social shift. I’m a pretty social person. I had a lot of friends and family all over southwestern BC. You feel like you’re neglecting that part of your life. It’s a social element, but you’re also chasing a dream.”
He said that first six months were the toughest.
“There are great people in the area where I’m living, but you really give up a lot to pursue something like this. Some nights you’re just wondering what you’re doing — like, why am I even here? The highs and lows are really intense. Hopefully, it balances out over time.”
His videos have resonated with viewers, not just for the stunning wilderness footage but also for his openness and authenticity.
One thing that’s kept him motivated is his fanbase. Trudel said he’s been amazed by the support from viewers around the world.
“It’s probably one of the most passionate communities I’ve ever seen, especially in the homesteading space. I’ve been watching YouTube since it started in 2007, and I’m still shocked by the dedication of this community. They’re super diehard. I’m pretty fortunate. There are people from all over — South Africa, Australia, lots of Americans — and for some reason, tons of Scandinavians. The Norwegians especially have really latched on.”
The costs of purchasing the property, building materials and equipment, and running a YouTube channel added up quickly, and Trudel said he went into the project carrying significant debt. But things began to change last fall.
“I didn’t know the financial upside could be so high,” he said. “I started out with a huge debt load. I used to work a lot, then travel for four or five months, come back, and spend too much money. You do that year after year, and you end up $50,000 or $60,000 in debt. When I started the channel, I was just barely paying the interest on a lot of that.
“The turning point came around November. Suddenly, it was like 'okay, I’m actually starting to pay things off.' I recently signed a contract with a solar company to do nine integrated ads. The financial side is there. It can be a bit of a gold mine. Some people really kill it with their YouTube channels.”
In addition to the solar company, Trudel has also picked up sponsorships from outdoor clothing brands in Europe. He also has a Patreon account where dedicated fans can contribute directly to help him grow the channel and continue building his dream homestead.
One memorable aspect of the past year has been connecting with locals during supply runs to Prince George.
“The locals here in PG have really caught on to the channel, which is cool,” Trudel said. “People watch it all over the world, but to know that I’m one of the standout creators from the PG area — that’s awesome. Sometimes people recognize me and stop to say hi. That’s a pretty amazing feeling. People come up, get out of their vehicles just to shake your hand. I never expected that. I don’t know if you’d call it local fame — it’s just that people seem proud someone from PG is doing well on YouTube.”
As for what’s next, Trudel plans to finish building his main cabin, finally construct an outhouse, add finishing touches to the smaller cabin, and maybe even start filming travel videos, visiting other off-grid homesteads like his own.
If you are interested or simply want to learn more you can visit Trudel's channel at this link.
