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General Hiking Information for National Park Note: The general information provided in this document What do I need to know represents a summary of key things to consider when hiking, to hike in torngat Mountains or planning for a hiking trip in the Torngat Mountains National national park? Park (TMNP). It is important for hikers to be fully prepared for their trip to this remote park, which includes accessing all the information provided on the

T. Knight, Parks Parks Knight, T. park website and in the Visitor Information guide provided by Parks Canada staff through the Torngat Mountains National Park office in Nain, .

Unnamed lake in the Palmer River Valley

Welcome! – Atelihai! Parks Canada welcomes visitors to explore the Torngat Mountains, experience this special place, and discover the rich cultural history and magnificent natural landscape that it has to offer.

We would like your visit to the Torngat Mountains to be memorable and above all to be safe. This Canada Parks Boudreau, A. document and the associated Hiking Route Descriptions have been prepared to provide you with information about some hiking routes that will take you into the heart of this park where you will encounter cultural and natural features that belong to a story thousands of years old. Consult the park map on the last page of this document to see the location of the Hiking Route Descriptions that are currently available.

General Information northern park and to remember ➢ Understanding where you Weather, , remoteness that: You are responsible are planning to go and the and wildlife encounters present for your own safety – Help challenges associated with the greatest and most consistent is a very long way away! that particular route and area hazards that you will encounter of the park. as a visitor and hiker in the Preparation involves: TMNP. It is important to be ➢ Making early contact with ➢ Being properly provisioned prepared for the particular Parks Canada staff to discuss and equipped for the trip challenges of hiking in a remote your trip well in advance and with the knowledge, skill carefully reviewing the visitor and physical fitness required information and polar bear for the activities that you safety information and DVD plan to undertake. provided by Parks Canada. Registration and Safety Emergency phone Canada Parks Knight, T. De-registration Polar Bears & Black Bears numbers: All visitors must register When you are in the Torngat ➢ 24 hour emergency number before entering the Torngat Mountains, you are in polar at Park Canada Emergency Mountains National Park. bear and black bear country Dispatch: 1-877-852-3100 Doing so provides park staff with high likelihood of or 1-780-852-3100 with information about you encountering a polar or black (Note: the 1-877-852-3100 that may be needed in an bear during your hike. You number may not work emergency situation. It gives must review a safety video on with satellite phones) them a chance to assist you with travelling in polar bear country ➢ Royal Canadian Mounted your trip planning and it also before you begin your trip. Police (RCMP) detachment helps them in their efforts to The best way to enhance your in Nain, Labrador: better understand visitor use group’s safety is to travel with 1-709-922-2862 A number of hiking route of the park for management an experienced polar bear descriptions for the Torngat purposes. You may register guard who is permitted to carry Be prepared to tell the Mountains National Park have by phone (709-922-1290), fax a firearm in the national park. dispatcher: been developed by Parks (709-922-1294) or in person at Carry effective and approved ➢ The name of the park you the Torngat Mountains National bear deterrents (crackers, are in; Canada staff. These route Park office in Nain, Labrador. screamers, air horns) and know ➢ Your name and the names of descriptions are based on how to use them. A lightweight others in your travel party; what has been successfully Once you have finished your electric, alarmed fence is also ➢ Your satellite phone number; completed by Parks Canada trip, please contact the park recommended for enclosing ➢ The nature of the incident; staff and others working in office in Nain, or phone the your campsite at night. ➢ Your location – name of cooperation with Parks Canada. office and leave a message to area (e.g. Saglek ) and indicate that your party has Carry a satellite phone and be latitude/longitude or UTM They are suggested routes – successfully completed its trip. familiar with its proper use. coordinates; not a detailed hiking guide. If you wish to speak to a Parks The Iridium satellite phones are ➢ Current weather conditions Variations on these routes are Canada staff person, please call the most reliable for use in the – wind, precipitation, cloud possible depending on your 1-709-922-1290 during office Torngat Mountains National cover, temperature and group’s physical capabilities, hours. You can also call Parks Park area at the moment. visibility. weather conditions, time Canada Emergency Dispatch at 1-780-852-3100 to de-register. Carrying a Spot Satellite constraints, etc. They operate 24 hours a day. Messenger device is also recommended. To explore these hiking routes in Google please visit the www.kangidluasuk.com website and look for the Google Earth tab within the ‘Visitor Info’ section of the website. A. Boudreau, Parks Canada Parks Boudreau, A. WE LEARN THROUGH YOUr EXPERIENCE: Camping Such markers detract from Drinking Water Parks Canada is developing a There are no designated other visitors’ sense of discovery Fresh water is available from database of wildlife sightings, campsites or facilities in and wilderness experience. countless streams and ponds and we would like you to the TMNP. Visitors may They can also be misleading and in the Torngat Mountains. contribute to it by providing us camp anywhere except at potentially dangerous to others. While we are not aware of archaeological sites. Visitors any contamination with water with your observations of birds should practice “no trace Cooking sources, visitors are advised to and wildlife on observation camping” practices. Please Use a reliable cook stove and fine filter (<0.5 microns), treat cards available from Parks tread lightly on the land be prepared to cook in windy (iodine or chlorine in warm Canada. You can also record as you explore the Torngat conditions. The availability water) or boil all drinking water. your own observations and Mountains and leave the of wood is limited to scarce share them with park staff park’s natural and cultural driftwood along the shoreline Fishing treasures unimpaired for future and slow growing shrubs in Fishing for after your visit. Those who visit generations. This includes: valleys. Do not build fires on arctic char in the rivers and the park will also have the ➢ Leaving rocks, plants, and moss or to avoid the risk in salt water within park opportunity to provide feedback other natural objects of an underground fire. boundaries and adjacent to the on their visit by participating in such as bones and park boundaries is permitted the annual on-line visitor survey. caribou antlers Managing waste with proper licenses. Currently, as you find them. Pick up and pack out all your the required licenses are the ➢ Leaving undisturbed litter or burn it when possible. Newfoundland inland fishing any artefacts or features Minimize the use of soaps licenses for non-residents who that look – even remotely – and, when necessary, use wish to fish in inland waters. like an archaeological site. biodegradable soap. Residual Any non-resident is required

These sites include tent soap should not be dumped in to have a guide while fishing Canada Parks Whitakker, D. rings, graves, blinds, fox lakes or streams. in inland waters in northern traps and food caches and Labrador. No licenses are can be almost indiscernible Visitors are encouraged to required for non-residents to the untrained eye. pack out their human waste fishing in the ocean. Residents ➢ You may come across stone whenever possible or bury of NL do not require a license cairns or inuksuks on the it under rocks away from for arctic char in freshwater or Torngat Mountains Base landscape. These should not main travel routes and water the ocean. Bag limits are 2 per Camp and research station be disturbed or destroyed sources. If travelling near the person per day. You are only From mid-July to the end of as they may be of historical coastal areas of the park, it is allowed to have 2 days total or cultural significance. It acceptable to deposit your waste catch in your possession. August there is a base camp is important that you do in a shallow pit below the high established at St. John’s Harbour, not build cairns, or other water mark. which is adjacent to the southern markers on the landscape. boundary of the park. This base camp (visit website) is operated by the Group of

A. Boudreau, Parks Canada Parks Boudreau, A. Companies and supports a Parks Canada visitor reception and orientation service, visitor activities and scientific research. Please call 1-855-Torngat ext. 26 or email [email protected] for inquiries about the Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station. Elevation in Metres 1650 Labrador Torngat Sea

825 m r jord A ak F Mountains k chv a a y N iu m as r

T A NATIONAL PARK

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c National Park C o r NUNAVIK of Canada n i (QUÉBEC) c k Labrador

T 1568m. O Sea R N Parc G national A Ramah Kuururjuaq T 1652m. Bay er Riv NUNATSIAVUT er k er v c i e (LABRADOR) almer R t P S

Koroc/Palmer River Route

Nakvak Brook Route

Ramah to Saglek Route

Bears Gut to Branagin Island Route

Airstrip

Koroc River

Parc national Bears Gut

Kuururjuaq

akvak N Atlantic Br oo k Ocean

TORNGAT MOUNTAINS M O NATIONAL PARK U N OF CANADA

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N A

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m rd NUNAVIK t Ar io Saglek es aglek F w S airstrip (QUÉBEC) th Sou Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station

N 0 2 4 6 8 km NUNATSIAVUT Scale 1:450,000 (LABRADOR)