How much will the Workshops cost?
Workshops will cost $175 per day. This cost includes lunch and an endless supply of tea and coffee. The cost of supplies varies dependent on the workshop. The supply cost will be listed upon registration launch on Feb 10
Where is the conference being held?
Gros Morne National Park has several small communities within it, and the 2015 Fibre Conference will be centered mostly around the community of Rocky Harbour. Some events are happening in Woody Point and Norris Point too.
Participants are encouraged to stay in accommodations in Rocky Harbour or in nearby Norris Point. Rocky Harbour is about a 40 minute driver from the airport of Deer Lake. Deer Lake Airport is serviced by Air Canada, West Jet and PAL Airlines.
The drive from St. John’s is about a 8 hour drive in good weather. Normally we do not get snow that time of the year.
Some workshops will be held in the community of Woody Point, a registered historic community. Woody Point is about an hours drive around stunning Bonne Bay from your accommodations.
What can we expect the weather to be like?
One thing on everyone’s tongue in Newfoundland – all the time – is the weather. We like to say “Wait five minutes and in will change!”
You should be here for our magnificent autumn colours!
But in early October expect everything from +18 C (about 65 F) and sunny to -3 C (30 F) and freezing rain. It can be gorgeous, sunny and heart breakingly stunning or cold, rainy and even snowy. Brrr.
We suggest you pack for cold & wet weather and bring decent rain gear. Throw in a tee shirt just in case we get lucky with warm sun!!!
What do I need to bring?
One of the reasons the Fibre Conference is being held here is the vibrant and living tradition of working with wool in all of it’s forms…. that is a hint of what our weather is like. We need and use our wool clothes to keep warm! So get out those funky wools that you just don’t get a chance to wear at home – and enjoy!
• Robust waterproof rain coat (we have wind here- light plastic ponchos get torn to pieces!)
• Rain boots or shoes that keep water out
• Warm sox
• Warm hat
• Scarf
• Gloves
• Insulated layer (either heavy polar fleece coat, or if you come from a warm climate your wamest winter coat, or a down layer).
• Warm sweater to wear under it all. (we tend to pull our wool out in September here… if we were lucky enough to put it away for the summer!)
• Slippers/sneakers to slip into and get out your wet outdoor boots
• If you plan to hike bring rain pants/wind pants too.
• Hiking boots are good for our harder trails (Gros Morne, Green Gardens)
• Sneakers will do you for our easier trail (Tablelands, Green Point, the Coastal trail, the Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse Trails)
• Don’t bother with an umbrella – the wind will destroy it.
What about facilities? Banks/Food/Medicines?
Rocky Harbour, Norris Point, and Woody Point are small coastal outports with only very basic shop offers.
Norris Point has a small hospital and pharmacy. Woody Point has a community health clinic.
All three communities have small general dealer/groceries where one can purchase very basic food (canned soups, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, eggs, hot dogs, etc.). Shops and our excellent restaurants start closing the end of September as the tourists drift away, so it is hard to say what will be open when you arrive for your visit. In Rocky Harbour and Norris Point a wider range of restaurants and shops will be open than in Woody Point.
Rocky Harbour has a Bank of Montreal branch.
Deer Lake is where the airport is located, and is the closest community with grocery stores, and two larger pharmacies. The Bank of Montreal and Scotia Bank are found here and there is a dollar store. Fast food restaurants and hotels are plentiful.
For large grocery stores with a wide selection of vegetables and fruit, as well as ethnic foods and organic foods one must go to Corner Brook (1.5 hours from Rocky Harbour), or stop along the highway on your way in from St. John’s in either Grand Falls or Gander.
I want to eat out, where can I go for some good food?
In late September many of the local restaurants start to close, and after Canadian Thanksgiving on the 12th of October most close. Rocky Harbour will have the largest selection of restaurants still open, and Justin Thyme should still be open over Thursday to Sundays in Norris Point. Woody Point should still have the Merchants Warehouse open, and possibly the Bonne Bay Inn.
Where do I go for more groceries/banks/ supplies?——Corner Brook!
Corner Brook is the closest large “service centre” with a large hospital, a branch of the university and its art school and gallery, and many shops and groceries. It is 1.5 hours from Rocky Harbour and 30 minutes from Deer Lake.
The university book store carries some art supplies, and the Walmart has a very restricted supply. If you want to work on your own craft practice it is best to bring your own supplies or buy them at the conference Market Place.
Scotia Bank, TD, CIBC and the Bank of Montreal are found here, as is wide array of hotels.
There is a mall with a Sears and a variety of shops. Canadian Tire, a Dominion, Wal-mart and Bulk Barn are found just off of the highway. There is a Sobey’s and two local groceries (Coleman’s). It’s here that you can find ethic and organic foods. The down town core has a variety of coffee shops, Newfoundland, European and Chinese & Vietnamese restaurants – plus a hopping sushi joint serving locally fished fishes!
I want to explore Gros Morne more, what else can I do here?
Hiking:
If you want to hike in Gros Morne Mountain, or any of the trails really, be prepared for extreme weather changes and make sure you bring clothes for cold and rainy weather (see above).
The trails in the northern part of the park, with the exception of Gros Morne Mountain, are flat and easy walks. The Gros Morne trail is a magnificent hike but give your self a good 7-8 hours to hike this arduous route. Expect extremes of weather!
Everyone has to do Western Brook Pond trail, a easy 45 minute walk into the pond. Watch for caribou grazing the low lands around the trail and highway there. The Coastal Trail follows the sea shore. A circuit of short trails around the Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse are certain to delight all, as they wander through fields, boreal forest, along cliff edges and down to rocky shores. This is a good place to see moose, gannets and maybe whales and eagles.
The southern hikes are just as magnificent and the landscape is very very different from the northern part of the Park. The Green Gardens Trail is one of the great hikes of eastern North America. It is long and difficult but rewarding, and the full loop should only be done by very experienced hikers. The Tablelands Trail is short and easy and totally surreal, but autumn wind can be a big issue on this trail. The short Lookout Trail winds its way up through forest to the best overlook in the park, which is up on the arctic barrens (do it! you may never get the chance again!). Look for caribou and moose when you reach the summit!
For more information about hiking and guided tours please a list of tours being offered as part of the conference is found elsewhere on this website. One can call the park at 709.458.2417. Check out the websites of VisitGrosMorne.com or that of Gros Morne National Park of Canada.
Don’t forget we are also interpreter guided walks!
You can register for these tours when registration launches on February 10
Green Point: Stroll through Strata
Green Point: for Friday and Sat (Oct 16-17) 4-6pm
Visit the spectacular sequence of layered rocks along the coast of Gros Morne National Park and discover why Green Point is a global reference point for geological time!
$12
Please note that this tour is for those participants who have a free day on Friday or Saturday or are taking workshops in Rocky Harbour or Norris Point. There is not time to travel from Woody Point after your workshop to attend this walk.
You will also need a valid park day pass. These can be purchased at the Fisherman’s Landing Inn upon registration for $8.30
Tablelands: Walk Upon the Earth’s Mantle
Sunday Oct 18 4-6pm.
Experience a geologist’s dream! Learn about tectonic plate collisions, ice age features, and plant life in a seemingly barren landscape.
$12
Please note that this tour is for those participants who have a free day on Sunday or are taking workshops in Woody Point. There is not time to travel from Rocky Harbour/ Norris Point after your workshop to attend this walk.
You will also need a valid park day pass. These can be purchased at the Fisherman’s Landing Inn upon registration for $8.30
Fibre Arts nl 2015 