When to visit Northern Quebec, Western Labrador?

LK, I think the ferry we took was from Goose Bay to Lewisporte on the rock after a stop in Cartwright, looks like it was discontinued. Too bad, it was a fun trip!

I think it was 2009 that the road was opened all the way from Blanc Sablon to Baie Comeau. So, it is ferry from western Newfoundland across to/from Labrador.

For other routes around NL province http://www.roads.gov.nl.ca/cameras/default.stm

:C

WE did the trip up from Baie Commeau up to Lab City then across the trans Lab highway to Happy Valley/Goose Bay, then we took the ferry down the coast and then docked in Newfoundland.

We did it in the summer with a 5th wheel RV way back in 1993, it was about 2 years after the highway opened. It was pit run gravel back then but we had no issues other than getting a tankful of winter diesel in Goose Bay, the truck didn't like it.

The trip down the coast was great, the ferry had lots of space for the truck/trailer combo, from memory it was about 30 hours and we had a cabin.

These days it might be like the Alaska Highway where you can almost rest your full coffee cup on the dash without spilling it compared to the older times!

Look, there was a chap from the US who went through in 2004 or such. He contacted every community he could search in Labrador and that part of Quebec and got them to send him their weekly newspapers. I have no idea how many still do newspapers, but it is worth a try.

In winter the temperatures will be quite low. Snow comes early and stays.

Essential website. http://www.roads.gov.nl.ca/cameras/default.stm Watch cam sites NOW.

Over on the island of Newfoundland they are having as weird a winter as we are having across The Gulf. I have had an email from a Corner Brook friend today. 3 thaws in this month of January. 2 weeks around Xmas temperatures were about 10'C lower than usual.

I lived in Newfoundland from 1983 to 2008, 24.5 years on the west coast. I heard road reports re. coastal Labrador via CBC radio. Often and often after snow road clearing was a good day slower than our side the the Strait of Belle Isle.

Labrador population 2016, a little over 27,000. So, how does that compare with northern Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota or North Dakota. & how much service do you get because of that larger population?

I can't recall the names of skiing places in Labrador, but Marble Mountain, Steady Book, is the largest one in Newfoundland. As I said one day there will be great skiing snow and the next day (this year) almost zero snow.

Yes, there is winter camping in Newfoundland, but near population centers. You have to be experienced with Canadian winters to try it.

:C

So summer is the recommendation?

Listen to Little K - the expert on the area.

bbt

This report from the CBC made me nervous about mud.

I realize they're probably over dramatizing it as some sort of political statement.

YouTube

Some of what thread starter says is correct.

Mud is NOT a thing. Roads are gravel, heavily gravel if not paved. I went in 2006 and found longer established roads have more spots to pull off and boondock.

Yes, snow can well be around in much of May. Why in the world would you expect most of the cgs to be open before Queen's birthday weekend or after Thanksgiving. & considering that lots of those depend heavily for staffing on student, when school starts, those close.

Labrador is beautiful.

I went past Lab City and down the Quebec road to Baie Commeau. There was a higher percentage of mud over gravel and I ran into rain. Heap blessings on what French I have, I got a really super camper wash because I had some French and used it. The gal who did the wash would have manicured my nails, if I'd let her help with everything.

Liked all tours of power stations.

:C

Inhospitable?