In to the Woods

Cold breath on the air, pancakes at dawn, and the hush before a bear appears at the treeline – join Wander Woman Phoebe Smith as she journeys from Finland’s close‑to‑Helsinki wilds with a foraging guide to paddle a quiet nine kilometres to a lean‑to where two dogs double as companions and hot‑water bottles. The theme is deliberate slowness: built in boredom, and the forest fills the space. Before a finale at dusk with an elusive sighting of the European 'Spirit Bear' on the Finland-Russia border. Also coming up: BBC Radio 4 Women's Hour presenter Anita Rani on what drew her to Race Across the World... Travel Hack: How to keep warm in cold climates Top 10 species of bears to spot around the world - from polar to grizzly and all those in between Meet the tour company in Jasper National Park Canada who is embracing the change caused by the 2024 wildfires to teach travellers about ancient indigenious practises Gear chat: what to pack for a night out in an unheated hut (or bear hide) Mina Benson Hubbard - a pioneering Canadian explorer is our Wander Woman of the Month Contact Wander Woman www.Phoebe-Smith.com; @PhoebeRSmith