Episode 86: Northern Lights and Ron Walsh on Living the Outdoor Life

On Episode 86 of Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther, we speak with Ron Walsh, who is blind, about living the outdoor life. Ron offers up some tips on modifying a muzzleloader for sighted targeting assistance; Lawrence reflects on forest fires, smoke, and what it means for the iconic campfire; and in Lilly’s “Did You Know” segment, she explores myths and facts surrounding the Northern Lights.

Ron is the host of AMI-tv series Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh, where Ron and his friends explore Saskatchewan and the exciting locations the province has to offer.

Stream both seasons now on AMI.ca or the free AMI-tv app.

Ron Walsh Bio

Ron Walsh realized he might have a vision problem while on a hunting trip in his twenties when he couldn’t see a deer clearly visible to others. He was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic degenerative disease that progressively impairs vision. Ron continued with an active life as his vision deteriorated and when forced to give up his driver’s license, he embraced cycling, embarking on a two-week journey from Calgary to Victoria through the Rogers Pass. Eventually, Ron was forced to give up cycling, but he did not let his blindness become a barrier. Among his many exploits, he became one of the few blind people to traverse the Chilkoot Trail and completed a ten-day canoe trek across the Churchill River.

Grateful for his many adventures and the help he received to achieve them, Ron created a foundation dedicated to removing barriers for members of the blind and partially sighted community so they can engage in the same exciting, engaging and fun activities. Ron can be found either planning or out on adventures that include hiking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, golfing, bowling, dog-sledding, sailing, kayaking and many others, even some he hasn’t thought of... yet.

More on Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther

Listen live on Sundays at 3 p.m. Eastern over basic cable on AMI-audio, or stream episodes of Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther as a podcast.

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Lawrence Gunther Bio

Having earned a Masters in Environmental Studies, Lawrence Gunther is North America's only blind conservationist, outdoor writer, podcaster, blogger, filmmaker and TV personality. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, in 2007 Lawrence invented the world's first Blind Fishing Boat, was the first Canadian to win an international blind sailing regatta in 2010, and was certified in SCUBA in 2011.

Lawrence is a regular contributor on AMI’s NOW with Dave Brown and AMI This Week, and is an author for Outdoor Canada Magazine where you can find episodes of Lawrence's other podcast The Blue Fish Radio Show. Lawrence's award-winning documentary What Lies Below premiered at the Rogers Hot Docs Theatre in Toronto in 2016, and after featuring at film festivals throughout the world, went on to air on AMI-tv and CBC's Documentary Channel for the next three years.

Registered blind at age eight, Lawrence acquired his first guide dog in 1986, and his most recent guide dog from the CNIB, a process that was documented through the video series Makings of a Guide Dog. In 2012, Lawrence founded Blue Fish Canada, a charity dedicated to water quality, fish health, and informing and inspiring the next generation of conservation-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

Lawrence's outdoor accessibility accomplishments have been recognized with numerous awards including the Governor's General Meritorious Service Medal.

About Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther:

Listen live Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Eastern over basic cable on AMI-audio, or stream episodes as a podcast. Send us your comments at [email protected] and please rank us on Apple Podcast.

For more Lawrence Gunther check out Blue Fish Radio

The Blue Fish Radio show features subjects and people of special interest to the future of water, fish and fishing, and is ranked as one of the top 30 fishing podcasts on the internet.

Each week the host, Lawrence Gunther, interviews Canada’s “giants” in the fishing industry, CEO’s of conservation and sport fishing organizations, leading fish biologists and researchers, government scientists and politicians, and people with local and indigenous knowledge who exemplify the spirit of conservation and citizen science.

The Blue Fish Radio Show is the official fishing podcast of Outdoor Canada Magazine. The Show is also rebroadcast across Canada 5-times each week by AMI-audio over basic cable and satellite TV.