as he grew up, and his siblings. His family did a lot of camping and cave exploring. Those early excursions and memories played a huge role on the influence the outdoors had on Harbin. It has kept him seeking adventure and fun in remote places.
“I think it’s important to keep that youthful, playful, adventurous, wild spirit alive, especially when we get older and life seems to take over,” he said. “If you lose grip on what made you who you are and what makes you happy, you've lost it. The thing I love to do most outdoors has to be fishing. I have a busy summer when it comes to my work and I don't always get out as much as I’d like, but when I do, I love fishing! The thrill of just being on a lake, whether it’s with myself or with a friend, is just great.”
Harbin also works with Kayla, who is a GIS technician. They both share an unbreakable bond with the bush. Harbin is well aware he has an ideal situation where his love for the outdoors is combined and shared with his personal life and work.
“I guess I am one of the lucky ones,” Harbin said. “When I am not in the office, I get to drive and walk around the forest and experience all of what it has to offer. It is something I don't take for granted and appreciate, especially when others tell me they are stuck in a cubicle for eight hours. Kayla has been on a week- long canoe trip, and it is the longest time we have spent apart since we starting dating more than three years ago. I have only now found out how much I love experiencing my adventures with her and how everything I do without her, isn’t nearly as fun. When you have someone to share all the beauty and countless moments together with, it’s that much more special of a feeling.”
Harbin has had countless experiences and encounters in the North in his time. One fall work trip stands out in particular. It left Harbin’s heart nearly pounding out of his chest.
Harbin was canoeing a river with a good friend, Paddy. They came across a big moose which came crashing through the trees and onto the other side of the river
they were paddling. It got intense from there.
“The moose walked a couple more steps and shook the dew off his back and we felt the rumble across the river,” Harbin said. “I told Paddy this wasn’t a good idea because we were in the bush during the rut. The moose was walking into the river and swimming directly across to us. We kind of panicked, but once the moose got a smell of two guys on a river trip for 10 days, he ran the second he caught a whiff of us. To make this trip even more crazy, when we got close to the end of our trip, there was a tree that had fallen right over the river, so we had to pull the canoe up and over the tree. I was in the front, so I got out and stood on the tree that was over the water. As I look around after stepping on the tree trunk, I could see a hunter had his rifle bead directly on me and proceeded to ask me how’s it going. I responded with ‘Put your gun down’. He gave me and my buddy a couple beers after my heart was placed back into my chest, and we went on our merry way.”