Northern Labrador Coast - Hebron Fiord

August Camping (Trip Difficulty: Moderate)

Overview  

We'll be among the select few to hike rugged and unspoiled sub-arctic Labrador, where the boreal forest gradually gives way to endless tundra and alpine landscapes. The jagged Torngat Mountains, steep coastal fiords, glistening icebergs, northern lights and the vitality of plants and animals make Labrador unique.

Labrador is home to 500,000 caribou and to wolves, bears, foxes and many birds. Whales and seals frequent the fiords while rivers and lakes teem with salmon, char and trout. On the coast, the Inuit, Innu, and settlers from the south are inseparably connected with the land to which they add their rich cultural heritage.

Our destination is Hebron Fiord in the Torngat Mountains. On the first one and a half days we travel by boat through spectacular landscapes--richly toned mountain slopes slashed by river valleys, magnificent coastal fiords with glistening icebergs, and barren islands. On landing deep within Hebron Fiord, we'll set up a base camp. This may be near the shore or 1-2 miles inland and will serve as "home" while we spend the next days exploring the vast fiord, which has been described as the most beautiful in Labrador. We'll gaze over tremendous vistas, be drawn into spectacular landscapes, and observe caribou, foxes and black bears. With huge landscapes and no trees to obscure your view, you may see all three at once!

We will be free to roam with just day packs, photograph, admire, and absorb the enormous landscape exploring whatever side valley or drainage appeals to us. There are many discoveries to be made: stone meat caches, fox traps, and old, undisturbed gravesites. This area is seldom used by modern-day adventurers.

If weather and boat availability cooperate, we'll be transferred to the abandoned village of Hebron to spend 2 days. We'll have plenty of time to explore this Canadian Heritage site with its magnificent wooden church before our boat returns to take us to Nain. If the boat cannot make the transfer for us, we'll have an approximately 2 hour stop (time permitting) there to explore the village on the way to Nain. This is an experience not to be missed!

Itinerary

Itinerary is subject to minor changes as result of airline schedule changes, boat availability or mechanical problems, or weather 

Day 01 , departure from Ottawa to Goose Bay. Overnight at a Goose Bay B&B. Time to explore this historic and interesting area.

Day 02 , Goose Bay to Nain, and north. Arrive Nain 9:20AM. Weather permitting, our boat will head north along the Labrador coast the same afternoon. Overnight in Mugford Tickle on the boat. Note: storage will be available in Nain for travel clothes.

Day 03 Land near the head of Hebron Fiord with our gear and set up base camp.

Day 03-8 Free to explore an area called one of the most beautiful in Labrador.

Day 9 May be transferred to Hebron village site (dependent on boat availability & weather). We will have approx. 2 days to explore the village ruins, the old Moravian church, and discover ancient graves and dwelling sites in the area. Many large caribou bulls summer at Hebron. They allow close-range approach for great photos! The cows and calves are inland-we will see those earlier in our hikes.

Day 9-10 Explore the abandoned village and the shoreline, looking for meat caches, graves, tent rings, and sod house sites.

Day 11-12 Journey south to Nain: farewell dinner in Nain.

Day 13 Flight south.

General Information

Cost: Please contact us for cost.

Quoted Cost Includes: boat charter, one night lodging before and one night after in Nain (dbl. occupancy), coordination fee, satellite telephone for emergency use.

Clients Responsible For: Supplying own equipment (except if renting one of our tents) & food when camping, all other meals except farewell dinner, lodging other than Nain for nights specified in itinerary, other transportation including airline, parking fees, additional expenses due to weather delay, discretionary personal expense.

Payment: 30 days in advance

Personal Cancellation Insurance: recommended. Buy from your travel agent or CNO can provide quote.

Emergency Medical Insurance: required for non-residents of Canada. Ask our Almonte office for costs.

Note on money: there are no banks in Nain so it is difficult to obtain cash. Plan to use credit cards and bring some Canadian currency or travelers checks. Allow sufficient funds for unexpected expenses or delays.

More Information?

Destination Labrador: Tel 1-800-563-6353 or 709 944-7788, Fax 709 944-7787. E-mail: destlab@cancom.net. Address: 118 Humphrey Rd., Bruno Plaza, Labrador City, Labrador, Canada A2V 2J8

Topographical Maps/Aeronautical Maps: If you want your own maps, they are available in the 1:50,000 scale. Sheet14L/2 "Hebron" covers the village & large area around, 14L/3 (no title) is the fiord west of the village, and 14E14 shows the very head of the fiord. We use aeronautical (!) charts to follow our course by boat along the coast. The VFR chart "Ungava" covers all of the Labrador coast north of Nain. Your guide will have one for the group, but you might want your own. The VFR chart "Goose Bay" covers the area of our flight between Goose Bay and Nain. We'll be flying quite low: with good weather it can be interesting to try to identify the watercourses and coastline. Maps are available from: World of Maps, 118 Holland Ave., Ottawa, ON K1Y OX6, Tel: 613 724-6776, Fax 1-800-897-9969. E-mail: sales@WorldofMaps.com. Web site is http://www.WorldofMaps.com. for ordering on-line.

Equipment List& Camping notes: will be supplied

Reading: The Labradorians, by Lynne Fitzhugh. A complete reading list will be provided.

Reference: guide will carry a wildflower book-A Traveller's Guide to Wild Flowers of Newfoundland, by Bill and June Titford.