A former city dweller has revealed how she turned her life upside down, moving to a remote Canadian town of just 90 people and quickly adjusting to sub-zero temperatures and the lack of a grocery store.
Hilary Messer-Barrow, 33, moved from Vancouver to Beaver Creek, Yukon, in 2019 after her husband’s work with the federal government necessitated a move.
The self-proclaimed “serious city girl” said she soon found that the only amenities in her town included a restaurant, a one-room post office, a bank and a “tiny but great school,” while the nearest grocery store was a ten-hour drive – and return by car.
Although the isolation came as a shock at first, Hilary says she now loves her outback lifestyle. She’s learned how to cook and scout for ingredients, stocking up on fashion for temperatures as low as -47C.
Before and after: Hilary Messer-Barrow, 33, moved from Vancouver to Beaver Creek, Yukon, in 2019 after her husband’s work with the federal government necessitated a move
While the isolation came as a shock at first, Hilary says she now loves her outback lifestyle
To keep the outside world up to date with her life, the teaching assistant regularly posts videos on TikTok
The endless sunlight in summer and darkness in winter were other things she struggled with.
To keep the outside world up to date with her life, the teaching assistant regularly posts videos on TikTok.
In a clip, she explains that when she first moved to the Yukon, she felt “incredibly isolated and alone,” but a simple gesture from a neighbor helped put her at ease.
She recalled, “I didn’t know anyone and when my then-boyfriend was at work I was super lonely. One day I heard a knock on the door, my neighbor came over to invite me for a cup of tea. This incredibly thoughtful and kind gesture was totally unexpected but changed the way I see the community.
“Living in a small community means you know almost everyone. You may not know them well, but you know them well enough to help them when they are in need. That’s one of the things I love most about living here.”
The nearest grocery store to Hilary is a ten hour round trip drive
When they get to the grocery store, Hilary says they pack everything in “refrigerators, reusable bags and containers” and “often use two shopping carts heavily laden with groceries.”
When they arrive at the checkout, it can take a long time as they have to scan more than a month’s worth of goods. Packing their truck is an equally tedious task
Their typical grocery store costs about CA$600 to CA$800, or CA$100 per week, which Hilary says is significantly less than what they spent when they lived in Vancouver
Endless sunlight in summer and darkness in winter were other things Hilary had to deal with
In other clips, Hilary reveals that grocery shopping is a Herculean task, as the nearest grocery store is in Whitehorse and it takes 10 hours to drive there and back.
She explains that she and her husband James, 28, make the trip every six to eight weeks to stock up on supplies.
Before heading out, they go through the kitchen cupboards and create an Excel spreadsheet of all the necessary supplies.
Since the drive to go shopping is so long, the couple usually takes an overnight trip by checking into a hotel or pitching a tent.
When they get to the grocery store, Hilary says they pack everything in “refrigerators, reusable bags and containers” and “often use two shopping carts heavily laden with groceries.”
Then when they get to the checkout, it can take a long time as they have to scan more than a month’s worth of merchandise.
The last part of their shopping spree is packing everything into their trucks before they start the long journey home.
Their typical grocery store costs about CA$600 to CA$800, or CA$100 per week, which Hilary says is significantly less than what they spent when they lived in Vancouver.
Hilary’s TikTok videos have been viewed millions of times and many people are captivated by her “back to basics” lifestyle
While living in the wilderness, Hilary had friends and family to visit
Pick it up: In a video, Hilary reveals how she collected blueberries for a plate of waffles and cooked a pasta dish with collected morels and gifted moose meat
While Hilary says starting a new life in the Yukon has been “life changing,” she doesn’t think she’ll be there forever with James and Chilli
Hilary and James were girlfriend and boyfriend when they first moved to the Yukon, but they got married in a cabin near where they live with their dog, Chilli, as one of their best man
In another TikTok, Hilary explains how they store groceries at home to ensure they last as long as possible.
She says: “All fresh stuff is kept in the fridge and we keep a lot of our fruit on the counter.
“We keep the dry food that we eat regularly in the kitchen.
“We have large freezer boxes to keep things frozen and use them in the winter to make sure things don’t freeze.
“We use up our fresh stuff in the first few weeks and then go for frozen stuff.”
In the summer, the enterprising couple supplements their purchases with home-grown products and have a large vegetable garden at their disposal.
Hilary also goes in search of food. In one video, the outdoor woman reveals how she collected blueberries for a plate of waffles and one night cooked a pasta dish with morels from the forest along with gifted elk meat.
“I had never really cooked before, but now I do everything myself,” says Hilary.
“At first the cravings were heavy as I couldn’t satisfy them, but now I’m expecting them.”
When she’s not cooking, Hilary enjoys a range of other new hobbies, including cross-country skiing and cycling.
She also walks her dog Chilli every day, and they both explore new paths.
The cold is no joke, as Hilary demonstrates with this chilling selfie
Hilary is constantly making lists in front of her grocery stores to make sure they know what they need
Hilary reveals how she takes her food to the next level by starting with salad items before moving on to longer-lasting items like squash and lentils
Hilary says living in the country has taught her to spend time in nature
When the couple feels like going out on a date, they happily go to the only restaurant in their town; Buckshot Bettys.
Hilary says her favorite meal is a taco salad, but they also make a good burger and juicy fried pickles.
Hilary’s TikTok videos have garnered millions of views over the past few years, with many people intrigued by her “back to basics” lifestyle.
Creator @IshanVerma said after watching one of her clips, “We are capable of so much more, but with all these amenities (which is a blessing) we become extremely addicted!”
Meanwhile, @Stevi commented, “I’ll never complain about having to go grocery shopping again.”
Hilary says living in the country has taught her to spend time in nature.
She explained in a TikTok, “I spend a lot of time outside. It healed and allowed me to connect with the land and with myself.
“I never feel alone in nature. Living here has also allowed me to form an incredible bond with my husband. There is something very special about spending time together here.”
Hilary and James were girlfriend and boyfriend when they first moved to the Yukon, but they got married in a cabin near where they live with their dog, Chilli, as one of their best man.
A video shows photos from their big day of both wearing down coats over their wedding outfits while posing in front of a snowy backdrop.
While Hilary says starting a new life in the Yukon has been “life changing,” she doesn’t think she’ll be there forever with James and Chilli.
However, she notes, “I hope I never move back to a city again!”