Labrador West and Fermont (Quebec)

Well as luck would have it, and as the folks at both the car rental desk and the Visitor's Information Centre were quick to say, I arrived in Labrador West on their day of summer - and it was strongly suggested I enjoy it with something outdoors... so I did.

When you read anything about Labrador West, especially things to see and do, it is clear that the people who live here really do take advantage of their natural environment!  The twin-towns are literally surrounded by forest, as well as picturesque mountains and crystal clear lakes.  There are several walking trails around lakes near both Labrador City and Wabush, and so I spent some of my time here exploring these.

Tanya Lake is in Labrador City and there is a 3 kms walking trail around it.

 These flowers, and eventually berries, are known locally as 'Cracker Berries' and they line woodland paths and fields all over the province.  The berries are completely edible but they have quite a strong taste.  They are however very high in pectin and so are often added to other berry jams instead of being on their own.

I think this is a very good sign to have!

Crystal Falls hiking trails is just outside of Labrador City and offers beautiful panoramic views of Labrador West.

Jean Lake is in Wabush and I lucked out with my timing - not only was I there for honest-to-goodness summer-like weather, but I was also there for the Labrador West Regatta, the second largest rowing regatta in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the festivities being held on Jean Lake.  Not only was I able to take a lovely hike around the lake, but I was also able to watch some of the racing.

Hard day at work for the local RCMP officers

Beavertails, even in Wabush - and like everywhere else it had the longest line

Lots of folks out enjoying the day and cheering on their team

After watching the races for while I then set out on the hike around Jean Lake:

Not sure who was more surprised, this arctic hare or me

How's this for a lovely, private beach, designed just for one

Looking across the lake to Wabush on the other side

An introduced species to Labrador, these little red squirrels are rather cute!

This ptarmigan couldn't fly away quite fast enough - and I had my camera ready

Fermont is a town in northeastern Quebec about 25 kms from Labrador City. 

Fermont was founded as a company town in the early 1970s to exploit rich iron ore deposits from Mont Wright.  Fermont is most notable for the huge self-containing 'structure' (like a wall) or building that you see as you approach the town.  This building is 1.3 kms long and is five storeys tall.  It contains apartments, stores, schools, bars, a hotel, restaurants, a supermarket and a swimming pool.  The structure was designed to be a windscreen to the rest of the town, and on the leeward side there are smaller apartment buildings and homes. This complex allows the town's residents, other than mine workers, to never leave the building during the long winter, which usually lasts 7 to 8 months.

 It's a bit hard to see in the photos because I wasn't up high looking down on it, but this building in the brown brick one

 and then the homes and other, smaller apartment buildings are on the leeward side.

 Truck 172 from the Mont Wright Mine is on display in Fermont.  This truck had the world record for number of hours of service when it was 'retired'.

Before leaving Labrador West, I also took some time and just wandered around both the towns.

A street in Wabush - looking across the lake to the mine

In Labrador City, both the Anglican and United Churches share this building

The Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Roman Catholic minor basilica.  The church was completed in 1962, built from local stone, and decreed a basilica in 2007.

 As you can see, there's lots of space

You can see the waste product from the mine in the background

Here's the B&B I stayed at - great place with super friendly hosts

 I know when all these trucks are driving around the towns these flag do help with visibility, but when they're at the mines, competing with trucks the size of the one on display in Fermont, I'm not so sure.  They do look interesting in the parking lots however.

Time to leave Labrador West now and head out on the Trans-Labrador Highway.