Kamloops resident Jamie Trudell stands in front of his restored RV.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

A Kamloops man is adventuring through the backwoods of BC doing all the things he dreamed about while working for decades at an industrial plant, and he's encouraging others to hang up the work boots and live life to the fullest.

Jamie Trudell, 55, started a YouTube channel this year called "The Rugged Retiree" that shows viewers where and how to pan for gold, prospect and geo cache in the BC Interior, inexpensive activities all ages can enjoy.

iNFOnews.ca caught up with him working on putting solar panels on his restored RV on a sunny spring day in Kamloops to find out what prompted "The Rugged Retiree".

“I’ve watched fellow coworkers delaying retirement because they didn’t know what else to do with their time until they have major health declines or they die,” Trudell said. “How unfair and sad is that, you’ve given away all your best years to your employer.”

Trudell grew up farming in Ontario before working for years as a millwright at a chemical plant in the Lower Mainland. He has always loved the great outdoors, camping and ATVing but until retiring two years ago, didn’t have time to explore.

“I’m doing all the things we talked about at work, like learning to tie a fly and gold pan,” he said. “I keep hearing from my kids I’m much harder to get a hold of now.

“There’s a certain window where we have enough health to enjoy those things we always wanted to do. We’re travelling around seeing all kinds of couples struggling to do a one-kilometre hike. They’re starting, but got out there too late.”

Trudell said his dad is one of many men he has known who struggled to accept retirement.

"He had important job responsibilities he didn't feel comfortable leaving behind," Trudell said. "I explained leaving the job is a good thing, it opens it up for the next guy waiting to get into the position." 

Another impetus behind Trudell’s passion for embracing life was a horrifying quad accident he had in 2008 that took more than a year to recover from. He broke his femur, back, ribs and collarbone.

“You learn a lot about yourself in those instances, it gives you a different perspective on life,” he said. “I didn’t know if I’d ever walk again.

“So having a different perspective on what you want to do with your time, I just want to experience it all.”

Kamloops resident Jamie Trudell stands in his yard beside his gold panning equipment.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

The focus of Trudell’s channel is to give retirees ideas of things to do both out in nature and in town at events like RV shows. Trudell will also talk about volunteering opportunities where retirees can lend their skills to their communities. 

“I try to cover free stuff we can do, like geo caching, you know, free things to do with friends or the grandkids,” he said.

Some of his videos are done near Clearwater at his gold panning claim and friend’s cabin. His dad recently taught him how to gold pan and he learned a lot through the Dan Hurd Prospecting YouTube channel.

He works with a high banker system, a set up that allows several shovelfuls to be scooped onto screens that quickly sort the finer materials out.

While the channel is geared toward retired men, Trudell has had younger people subscribing and reaching out with questions, and is still watching to see what the platform develops into.

Go here to check out "The Rugged Retiree" YouTube channel.

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