Koroc - Palmer River Valley Headwaters

HIKE OR BACKPACK // BASE CAMP OR TREK

Overview

We'll be among the select few to hike rugged and unspoiled sub-arctic Labrador, an endless tundra and alpine landscape. 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 the headwaters of the Koroc & Palmer Rivers, inland from Saglek Fiord and Ramah Bay, deep in the Torngat Mountains. We travel by airline to Kuujjuaq, on Ungava Bay, then chartered aircraft or helicopter over spectacular landscapes--richly toned mountain slopes slashed by river valleys, toward magnificent coastal fiords with glistening icebergs, and barren islands. On landing we'll establish a base camp and cache.

We will spend the next days exploring the vast area above the fiords, one of 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 (sometimes 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, seldom used by modern-day adventurers, was the original superhighway for Inuit traveling from the northern Labrador coast to Ungava Bay.

Ask about other Labrador destinations:

Labrador Coast - by chartered longliner (fishing boat) from Nain to Hebron for hiking and/or backpacking, Wunderstrands - 40 miles of beautiful beach hiking and camping in September.

Itinerary

Day 01 - Fly from Ottawa (with stop in Montreal), to Kuujjuaq, on Ungava Bay. Overnight in Kuujjuaq, in the new land of Nunavik. Time to explore the area. However, if weather is good, we may fly to the Torngats the same day! Storage available in Kuujjuaq for travel clothes.

Day 02 - Near the headwaters of the Koroc or Palmer River and set up base camp/cache. Local exploration. Note that this is actually in Quebec, very near the height of land which forms the Quebec/Labrador boundary.

Day 03-11 - Free to explore an area called one of the most beautiful in Labrador. A small group may elect to hike to Saglek Fiord (North Arm) for a pre-arranged boat pick up (ask for details, this option must be planned well in advance), otherwise return to landing site on the Koroc for aircraft pickup. Must be in position for pick up any time during the day of August 12.

Day 12 - Flight back to Kuujjuaq. Farewell dinner in Kuujjuaq. Note: we will have at least one extra day in Kuujjuaq. This is planned so that we can still make our scheduled airline flight south should the charter pickup be delayed by bad weather.

Day 13 - Fly to Ottawa.

 

General Information

Cost: Contact us for this year's costs.

Includes: air transportation from Kuujjuaq to Koroc River and return. Guide. Satellite telephone. Trip planning.

Clients responsible for : Own equipment & food when camping, all other travel expenses, meals, lodging, additional expenses due to weather delay, discretionary personal expense. We will supply information on lodging in Kuujjuaq, what to see, etc., and can make arrangements for you if you wish. *Based on 2004 rates, subject to minor changes.

Payment: 30 days in advance

Personal Cancellation Insurance : recommended; purchase from CNO or your travel agent

Emergency Medical Insurance : required for non-residents of Canada.

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. Nunavik Tourism : PO Box 779, Kuujjuaq, QC Canada J0M 1C0, 1-888-594-3424, fax 819 964-2002. www.nunavik-tourism.com .

Topographical Maps : If you want your own maps to mark your daily explorations, or as souveniers, they are available in the 1:50,000 scale. You will need at least 4 sheets: 14L/13 Cirque Mtn., 14L/12 (no name), 14L/14,15 Ramah Bay-Reichel Head, and 14L/11 Jens Haven Island. You can also use a 1:250,00 sheet. It is also interesting to chart our course as we fly from Ungava Bay nearly to the Labrador Sea using the VFR air navigation chart "Ungava." Your guide will have one for the group, but you might want your own. 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 . and you can order on-line.

Equipment List& Camping notes: to be provided.

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.