Labrador
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Labrador |
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Labradorians love winter; and with good reason. Although the temperature can dip to ---40c (-40F) during December; January and February, the air is wonderfully crisp and dry. Except for several brief thaws, there are lots of bright sunny days to depend on. The winter sun slides along the horizon casting colours of frosted pastel beauty over the landscape and nights are illuminated by eerie curtains of dancing northern lights.
While the snow showers can occur in the Torngats even in summer, winter usually comes to stay by mid-October in the northern and western regions, lasting until about mid-May, and is a few weeks shorter in the central and southern regions The early snow is ideal for winter sport competition practice. Spring is pleasantly bug-free and daytime temperatures are warm, an enchanting time to combine ice fishing with snowmobiling, dog team travel, snowshoeing or skiing to renew your spirit before the massive spring breakup shakes the earth and switches the season as suddenly as the first fall of snow. You will find Labradorians just as much at home on the land or the sea as they are in their own living rooms and they enjoy the special qualities of each time of year. They go about the business of hunting, ice fishing and hauling wood. For diversion, the family goes for a 'boil up' or makes a trip to visit family and friends in another community. The frozen rivers, lakes and woods become webbed with trails, unhampered by fences. From the first fall of snow, and for the next six months, visitors can either follow these paths or travel for hundreds of kilometres over completely virgin landscape. Local advice about travel and machinery in Labrador conditions is very helpful. Winter carnivals and festivals are a time for everyone to kick up their heels with float parades, enormous ice sculptures, costumes, dances, good local food and all manner of contests in skill, strength and speed, including dog team races. Many small communities have spring games and Easter week festivities to which visitors are warmly welcomed. Following local advice and dressed in warm, layered clothing such as a hooded, downfilled parka, wool sweater, scarf, cap and miffens, wind pants and felt-lined winter boots or skin boots with wool duffle socks, you will be ready to enjoy the superb Labrador winter.
Activities Break your winter hibernation with an exhilarating range of
activities, either independently or with a tour;
Note: when travelling in the country you may find the need to use someone's cabin Please, in the Labrador tradition, replace all fire wood as you found it and notify people it you have used food or other items. Another's life may depend upon it.
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