Justin Barbour - Man and Dog: Through the Newfoundland Wilderness

Man and Dog: Through the Newfoundland Wilderness is an absolute must read for all of us who feel the pulse of the wild, especially Newfoundlanders who love the land and waters. Justin Barbour has that spirit of adventure and self-reliance that is becoming much more rare in modern society. This book gives us all a glimpse into wilderness travel that most of us will never live.

Paul Smith, Educator,

Outdoor Writer and Photographer

Justin and his story are truly the essence of what it means to be an adventurer. His love for Newfoundland and Labrador, his passion for exploration, and his dedication to challenging himself form a recipe for inspiration, and an example for what human beings can achieve.

Ray Zahab, Adventurer, Explorer: Royal Canadian Geographic Society, Founder: Impossible2Possible

WITH A FOREWORD BY TA LOEFFLER

Flanker Press Limited

St. Johns

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Title: Man and dog : through the Newfoundland wilderness / Justin Barbour ; with a foreword by T.A.

Loeffler.

Names: Barbour, Justin, 1988- author. | Loeffler, T. A., 1965- writer of foreword.

Description: Includes index.

Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20190151102 | Canadiana (ebook) 20190151110 | ISBN 9781771177559

(softcover) | ISBN 9781771177566 (EPUB) | ISBN 9781771177573 (Kindle) | ISBN 9781771177580 (PDF)

Subjects: LCSH: Barbour, Justin, 1988-TravelNewfoundland and Labrador. | LCSH: Saku (Dog)Travel

Newfoundland and Labrador. | LCSH: BackpackingNewfoundland and Labrador. | LCSH: Hiking

Newfoundland and Labrador. | LCSH: Travel with dogsNewfoundland and Labrador. | LCSH:

Newfoundland and LabradorDescription and travel.

Classification: LCC FC2167.6 .B37 2019 | DDC 917.1804/5dc23

2019 by Justin Barbour

all rights reserved. No part of the work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any meansgraphic, electronic or mechanicalwithout the written permission of the publisher. Any request for photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems of any part of this book shall be directed to Access Copyright, The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency, 1 Yonge Street, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5E 1E5. This applies to classroom use as well.

Printed in Canada

Cover design by Graham Blair

Flanker Press Ltd.

PO Box 2522, Station C

St. Johns, NL

Canada

Telephone: (709) 739-4477 Fax: (709) 739-4420 Toll-free: 1-866-739-4420

www.flankerpress.com

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

We acknowledge the [financial] support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons lappui [financier] du gouvernement du Canada. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country. Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. Lan dernier, le Conseil a investi 153 millions de dollars pour mettre de lart dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation for our publishing activities.

Contents

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my other half, Heather. In the last few years throughout my relentless and time-consuming planning, trip executions, and creative endeavours, she has stood firmly by my side. Without her endless support, patience, and helpful criticism, my adventures would not have been possible. For us, separation has strengthened our bond. After this trip we grew closer than ever. I couldnt be happier to return home from these trips to Heather and our husky, Bear. They are my motivations for this book and everything else I do.

Its also dedicated to my grandparents, LeGrows, who have both passed. They were blessed to live a wonderful life by the sea. Owing to my superstitious ways, I carried my pops old pipe with me on this trek. Thats when I began smoking a pipe. It was glorious by the fire. And I believe I carried some of his good fortune with me, too. Thanks, Pop.

Another dedication goes to Wayne Learning, who will never get to see this. Im not sure if Wayne was a big reader, but he was certainly a well-respected trapper who became a friend while I was teaching in Cartwright in 2015. He could tell a great story. I spent nights with Wayne in his faraway tilts and in his beloved shed. We had some great conversations. He spent a lot of time in the country over his forty-something years of chasing the fur. He and his passion for the Labrador bush left a lasting impression on me. Waynes memory was the final kick I needed to go after my own journey on the land and share some of its fascinating secrets. Ultimately it led to this book. Wayne has passed on, but I will always remember the lessons he taught me in our time together.

I also dedicate this book to the people of my home province, and to those who also get out and experience all the beauty in our own backyard. We are fortunate to call this place our home.

Finally, I dedicate this book to Saku. My friend, sidekick, first mate, and dog. Weve been through a hell of a lot together. And he has provided me with an indescribable amount of companionship and comfort. I love you, buddy. We are a team, and looking back on this adventure, I wouldnt have wanted it any other way.

FOREWORD

by TA Loeffler, Ph.D.,

Adventurer and Professor of Outdoor

Recreation

When I think back to teaching Justin Barbour in my winter outdoor activities class at Memorial University of Newfoundland, I recall him as more of a hockey player than outdoor adventurer. In reading Justins book, his journey from hockey to outdoor explorer was revealed. I came to see that during his summer outdoor activities course he fell in love with canoeing and camping. I learned that the winter course further challenged him to develop skills in staying warm and safe while skiing, snowshoeing, and winter camping. Justin took all of this learning to heart and put it to work when he accepted his first teaching position in Labrador. There, between teaching classes in physical education, he furthered his outdoor apprenticeship with a local trapper and others in the community, learning traditional travel and survival skills. Labrador invited Justin to dream of longer journeys and expeditions through deep wilderness.

Over the next few years, he had an insatiable appetite for the expedition stories of early explorers of both Newfoundland and Labrador. At the same time, he began to take both short and longer trips into the backwoods of our province to test himself, build his outdoor skill repertoire, and to teach himself the art of filmmaking and photography. Always the teacher, Justin has an innate drive to share his experiences and teach others through them. Justins book about traversing the island of Newfoundland is woven on the warp of this wish to inspire and inform others. As you journey across the island with him, Justin shares his process for choosing the equipment he took with him as well as how he decided on which route to take. This is a rare and fascinating inside look at the intense preparation needed for an expedition of this magnitude and remoteness. Justin also details how he trained his mind and emotions for such an undertaking. He introduces the reader to his inner voice and how he calms or amplifies it depending on what the situation needs.