Winter 2012 is in full swing, there is tons of snow and even the weather has been relatively benign so far.
Marble Mountain is fully open and one of our guests described one day last week as “one of, if not the very best day’s skiing he’s ever had!”
Another set of guests who spent a day snowmobiling in the Lewis Hills late last week were raving about the conditions they found.
Escape the daily grind and come out to enjoy the best winter has to offer!
Simon and Jean
Want a new adventure to try this winter? Try dog sledding behind real siberian huskies in Gros Morne Park. Newfoundland Dog Sledding offers a variety of adventures for you to try to experience this unique activity. Adventures available include:
- 20 minute “initiation”. $45 (children $20)
- 1 hour “taster”. $150 (children $100)
- half day “ride” $295 (children $200)
- full day “ride “ $500 (children $350)
- overnight “expedition” $1000 (minimum 2 people)
Let us package this with your accommodation for a very different winter weekend!
Dog Team in Gros Morne Park
There is good news this winter for those who have always wanted to give snowmobling a go. Marble Zip Tours will be offering sled rentals right from Marble Mountain, offering easy access to the groomed trail network. They will have a fleet of around 60 sleds available so we would hope that availability won’t be an issue but as always would advise early booking to avoid disappointment.
Rental rates will be $219 per day for a fan cooled machine and $249 per day for a liquid cooled sled. A $500 refundable damage deposit will be required for all rentals.
Looking for tuition and a guide. Speak to us and we will be able to arrange that for you, or if you prefer anall-inclusive package including accommodation, sled rental and guiding.
This image will give you a hint of why it can be so worthwhile!
Winter has arrived in the Humber Valley and the snow has been falling again today. Dust off your snow gear and get ready to enjoy winter on the West Coast of Newfoundland. There are plenty of things to do while you are here. On the resort relax in your own hot tub out on the deck under the stars or inside the lodge laze in your cosy sitting room in front of a fire looking out over the snowy scenery, or if you are feeling more energetic get out and explore the beautiful wintery landscape around the area.
Take time to try out the the Blow Me Down Cross Country Ski Trail, www.blowmedown.ca or even closer to the resort The Pasadena Ski and Nature Park, www.pasadenaskipark.org just 5 minutes off the resort. Both parks welcome snow shoeing as well as cross country skiing and equipment can be rented once you get here.
Marble Mountain www.skimarble.com is already looking great with a coating of white and the staff have been making the most of the low temperatures over the last few days. Yesterday there were at least 5 machines producing snow on the mountain. It looks promising for a December 26th opening this season.
If you are into snow mobiles the Humber Valley Resort is surrounded by snow mobile trails. Let us know if you want to hire a snowmobile or the services of a snowmobiling guide.
The winter season is play time in Western Newfoundland so why not take the opportunity to join family or friends and come and rent a 3, 4 or 5 bedroom lodge at Humber Valley Resort at this most beautiful time of year. S B
There is no reason why a physical disability should prevent enjoyment of Humber Valley Resort. Anyone with mobility difficulties can make use of the wheelchair friendly facilities of Lakeside Lodge, one of the lodges managed by The Lodges at Humber Valley Resort. I am the son of the owners of Lakeside Lodge and a wheelchair user and I have found the facilities luxurious and practical.
Lakeside Lodge has a flat wheel-in access from an undercover carport to the living area on the ground floor. An accessible bedroom on this floor has an en-suite bathroom with a sturdy toilet and ample grab rails as well as a luxury shower which allows showering from a wheel chair or while sitting on a comfortable wooden bench.
All the facilities that a disabled guest needs have been carefully considered and made available. Moving around the Lodge in a wheelchair is straightforward as the doors are wide, the living areas are spacious and the whole of the main floor has hardwood finishes. Outside there is ramped access to multi-level decks one of which gives access to an outdoor hot tub.
Having stayed in disabled facilities in resorts around the world I can confirm that this adapted Lodge is among the most convenient, luxurious and accessible properties I have stayed in anywhere. The Lodge is both snug and warm in the winter and a venue which allows access to an outdoors lifestyle in the summer with French doors opening onto the decks. The Lodge is nestled in the forest and on the banks of Deer Lake so guests can often see the resident wildlife around the Lodge.
The remoteness of Newfoundland and its natural beauty make it an interesting and challenging place for a disabled traveller to visit. If you are an accomplished disabled traveller with a sense for adventure and a taste for luxury you will have to go a long way to top the beautiful setting of Humber Valley Resort, Newfoundland, Canada. S B
Summer may be great for golf, fishing and hiking and winter for skiing and snowmobiling but autumn is a wonderful time on the resort for walking and watching the changing colours of the season. This time of year offers an opportunity to soak up the beauty of the area, look for moose and other wildlife and explore new places without the summer crowds. Like many parts of the world the weather can be varied at this time of year, however warm Indian summer days offer a perfect opportunity for a game of golf or a long walk. On less perfect days you can relax with a good book or enjoy being pampered at the Spa facilities or a soak in your own private hot tub.
Opportunities off-site include hiking the ski trails of Marble Mountain to enjoy spectacular, panoramic views of the valley below, riding the Marble Zip line for an adrenaline rush or exploring further afield by car. Visit Gros Morne Park, the UNESCO World Heritage site or go further afield to explore White Bay or the Port au Port Peninsular.
This spectacular season is nearing its end but there is maybe one more weekend this year when you can enjoy the tail end of the season.
Contact The Lodges at Humber Valley to enquire about availability and rates.
Great news, Madison’s Restaurant in Steady Brook reopened last night with a new chef and a new look. We were priveleged to be at the first night and our initial impressions are that the new team are going maintain the quality we had all become used to and move things forward in new and excting directions.
The new chef is Derek Ingram who originally hailed from Western Newfoundland but did his training and earned his spurs in Toronto. He says that “he is excited to bring new, fresh flavours, using home grown herbs and local produce, infusing them with inspiration from global trends”. Front of house is in the capable hands of Steve, another Torontonian, who has gathered around him a capable group of friendly servers.
The new menu is interesting with new dishes like quinoa salad and moule frites as starters and mains lobster ravioli and for those with a large appetitie the “cowboy” steak – a 14oz ribeye on the bone. The food was beautifully cooked and atteactively presented.
Cost look like coming out at aound $50 per head for 2 courses with wine extra.
The reopening is great news for the area, we will be back and recommending that our guests give it a try.
Gary has now confirmed that the renowned River Course at Humber Valley Resort will be open for play on Saturday 21st May. Bookings are already being taken for this and later dates.
It is also hoped that all club house facilities will be open at the same time.
If the weather is kind and the course recovers from the winter more quickly than expected there is an outside chance that the opening date may be brought forward by a few days. If there is any change we will let you know.
Simon and Jean
Folks we have just published our “Stay and Play” promotion for summer 2011. Visit the “Special Offers and Promotions” page of this blog to see the details.
Just an update on the preparation of the course for this coming season. Gary tells me that course preparation is going well and that he expects to announce the opening date late this week but he assures me that it won’t be later than the May24th long weekend. We will update this blog to let you know the opening date just as soon as we hear what it is .
Simon and Jean
The 2011 iceberg season is off to an early start with a number of icebergs already showing up on the iceberg tracking website www.icebergfinder.com. This website is a useful reference tool for checking how many icebergs are around and where they are located.
In a news report last week the Canadian Ice Service was quoted as saying that they are expecting a season with fewer than normal icebergs, this despite the report a few days later that the large chunk that broke of a Greenland ice shelf last summer is south of Baffin Island and heading for the north Labrador coast.
Why not grab the opportunity presented by the early season and grab an early break to go iceberg watching.
Simon and Jean
