Labrador is one of the last untouched frontiers on the planet. Its landscape is dotted by ponds and lakes, teems with roaring rivers, and is covered with dense, boreal forests. It’s a land where travel can take many forms with some settlements only accessible by ice, water, or air. In fact, it’s only been less than twenty years since the first portion of the Trans-Labrador Highway was completed. Today this looped route runs from the border of Québec at Labrador City to the Atlantic Ocean, tracing the coast back to the southern Québec border. Recently renamed Expedition 51, this highway is a thoroughfare for the adventurer. And the truly adventurous will want to drive every last kilometre; right through the heart of the Big Land.There are limited service stations so you will want to ensure you have enough gas and water and a roadside emergency kit. There’s no cell service here either so drivers are encouraged to take advantage of the free satellite phones that are available to borrow.Before you hit the road, you should confirm your plans with your car rental company in case there are any restrictions for travelling the highway. Also, keep in mind that you’ll be doing a bit of time travelling. The western and northern parts of the Labrador region are on Atlantic Time (1 hour later than Eastern), while most communities on the southeast coast stick to Newfoundland Time (1½ hours later than Eastern). If you’re going through Blanc-Sablon in Québec, either by plane or ferry, the community uses the Eastern Time Zone (along with the rest of the province of Québec). And the lack of cell service means you’ll have to be manually adjusting your clock.On the western edge of the province, Labrador City is the end of the line, or the beginning depending on which way you are heading. Here, mining is the mainstay and Lab City, as it is called around these parts, hosts the largest open-pit iron ore mine in North America. Both Lab City and its neighbour, Wabush, have grown from work camps to modern towns and at the Gateway Labrador Visitor Information Centre you can catch an exhibition of artifacts illustrating 3,500 years of human history.Heading out on Expedition 51: West, you’ll travel approximately four hours through the Labrador wilderness. You’ll cross the mighty Churchill River, whose waters fall over 300 metres, making it the ideal location for one of the world’s largest underground hydroelectric generating stations.