The Headless Valley

In January of 1947, in the depths of a record-breaking winter, beloved Canadian writer Pierre Berton, then a fledgling reporter with the Vancouver Sun newspaper, boarded a plane  and ventured into the frozen wilds of the Nahanni Valley, a chain of towering mountains and ancient vales carved into the southwestern reaches of the Northwest Territories. The trip was a harrowing one, punctuated by severe winter storms and more than a few narrow escapes. The weather was so cold that he and his companions had to literally cook the plane’s battery in a cast iron oven and thaw its engine with a blowtorch before takeoff.  

At nearly every stop along the way they were warned to give up and turn back, lest they add to the region’s tally of tragic deaths and disappearances. Why would they risk their lives to come to such a remote, inhospitable place at such a treacherous time of year? Like countless others before them, they had gone to the north looking for fame and fortune. But unlike all the others, it wasn’t for gold, or valuable furs, or even a hunting trophy. They were searching for a legend, and for answers to a mystery that was over 40 years in the making.  

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca. 

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).