The Newfoundland Explorer is back home after completing an epic, year-long, 3,800 km journey from northern Quebec to the south coast of Newfoundland.
Justin Barbour and his dog Saku started their trek on the Ungava Peninsula, winding his way through the remote northern Quebec wilderness, then across Labrador to the Strait of Belle Isle, and onto the Great Northern Peninsula. He then made his way across central Newfoundland before arriving on the southern Avalon.
The journey took just over a full year.
Among the highlights for Barbour was witnessing the migration of the remote Leaf River caribou herd.
He was camped out in an area about 300 km in the middle of the Ungava Peninsula, “far from any community…and the migration passed right through our camp site, in the span of five or six days.” Barbour says there are people who make longer canoe trips to the region looking for caribou and never see them.
Of course, says Barbour, following the caribou were wolves.
“Only a couple of days later, I’m paddling across a lake…and there I see a wolf going around the shore of the lake and in its mouth is the leg of a caribou.”
Barbour documented his adventures on social media and is inviting people to follow along as he uploads his posts. In the meantime, he’s working on a documentary and book about his experience.