Barb Parsons-Sooley is the Owner of Wind at your Back Guided Adventures.
Barb was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She was raised in Conception Bay where her early years were spent exploring the hills and beaches around Bay Roberts and Port de Grave while she spent time with her Grandmothers. Later she moved to Alberta for 11 years, but the call of Home inevitably brought her back to the shores she loves and knows so well.
Since her return, Barb continued the love of hiking she cultivated in her years out west. She has extensively hiked the East Coast Trail and many of the rich trove of great hiking routes on the Avalon Peninsula.
She also has a vast knowledge of the Hike Discovery, the Bonavista regions trail system, as well as our National Parks, Terra Nova and Gros Morne; having trekked to the top of Gros Morne 3 times.
Barb has been a guide for Road Scholar/Routes Adventures for 3 years.
Being an outdoor person already, her love of kayaking came easily. She has been an avid kayaker for the last 9 years and is a Level 1 Certified Sea Kayak Guide with Paddle Canada.
Barb’s most enthusiastic about her outdoor experiences when she gets to share them with others. Leading adventure tourists to discover the natural beauty, breathtaking landscapes and inherent warmth and friendliness of our people, is where she finds herself most at home.
Barb currently lives in the Trinity Bay community of Hearts Delight-Islington with her Husband Dwayne and her 4-legged hiking partner Bella.
Barb and Bella were featured on a CBC, Land & Sea episode https://gem.cbc.ca/media/land-and-sea-nfld/season-54/episode-10/38e815a-0107329d719
Barb’s Living Heritage Podcast with Heritage NL, The Hiking and History on the Baccalieu Trail https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZWI1ZjBjL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/NWU2NGExOWYtMWU5My00MjkxLTlmYTAtNzg4ZTAwMzA1MmY5?hl=en-CA&ved=2ahUKEwjXw4i6pdDqAhWylXIEHc04ATIQieUEegQICxAK&ep=6
VOCM Outdoor Hour interview with Barb, Turning Your Passion into a Career, April, 26, 2020 https://vocm.com/2020/01/30/the-outdoor-hour/
Jason Sooley is a kayak guide with Wind at your Back Guided Adventures. He was born in Newfoundland then moved to the prairies at the age of three.
He grew up in Saskatchewan and developed a love for the outdoors. With skiing, hiking , mountain biking and canoeing keeping him busy. After moving to Ontario he spent a lot of time kayaking on rivers and lakes. Also adding snowboarding and camping to his outdoor adventure lists.
Newfoundland was calling his heart home in 2009 and his little family set down roots in beautiful Heart’s Delight-Islington where the Sooley family originally started. Being so close to the water he naturally fell in love with sea kayaking and hiking.
Now he is a Level One Sea Kayak Guide with Paddle Canada and a great addition to the Wind at your Back team. Jason is looking forward to sharing his knowledge of our beautiful outdoor playground with you!