Wed 13 Sep 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival Comments Off on Day 5 – Weather Improves / / / / / /

Day 5 – Weather Improves

                The festival moves to the Pleasant Bay & Cheticamp for next two days. The weather improves on Day 5, September 12th, 2023, and hikers can hike in T-shirts. Today’s hikes were MacIntosh Brook, Roberts Mountain and Benjies Lake. ...Read more

Tue 12 Sep 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival Comments Off on Day 4 – Rain / / / / / / / / /

Day 4 – Rain

                                           Day 4, September 11th started off fine with the sunrise hike on Broad Cove Mountain but just as the Clyburn Valley hike started it poured. Hikers...Read more

Tue 12 Sep 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival Comments Off on Day 3 – Cool Breezes / / / / / /

Day 3 – Cool Breezes

                    Day 3  of the festival, September 10th, started off hot & humid but by the afternoon the wind came up and provided hikers with some welcome cool breezes. Today’s hikes were Sugar Loaf Mountain, Money Point Gulch...Read more

Sun 10 Sep 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival Comments Off on Day 2 – Mica HIll / / / / / /

Day 2 – Mica HIll

Day 2 of Hike the Highlands festival, September 9th, featured three hikes – Mica Hill,  Broad Cove Mountain, and Warren Lake.  Another warm & humid day for hiking but the hikers managed with lots of breaks, water & snacks. Many hikers commented how the cooling towel kept...Read more

Sun 10 Sep 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival Comments Off on Opening Day – A success / / / / / /

Opening Day – A success

Opening day of the Hike the Highlands Festival, September 8th, was a great success with sixty five hikers enjoying Freshwater Lake and Look-off and Middle Head hikes. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Hike the Highlands Festival. The festival runs from September 8-17, 2023.  This 10 day...Read more

Mon 31 Jul 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival Comments Off on Hottest July on Record / / / /

Hottest July on Record

This month of July, 2023 was the hottest month on record, with 70% of days or more  over 30 degrees with humidity on Cape Breton Island. Hikers need to know how to hike in this weather or they will suffer from heat exhaustion or Heat stroke.  ( See Symptoms of Heat exhaustion & heat...Read more

Mon 26 Jun 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival Comments Off on Beat the Crowds / / / / /

Beat the Crowds

It is a phrase hikers are hearing too often and featured in almost all the outdoor magazines – ie. See the Summer issue of Explore – Canada’s outdoor magazine (see attached photo). The pandemic played a big role in increasing users on the trails and the physical & mental...Read more

Tue 23 May 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival Comments Off on Leaves Coming Out / / /

Leaves Coming Out

                      The grass is almost all green and the leaves are coming out on the trees. It is starting to warm up and people are coming outside to enjoy nature. The long weekend has come and gone and people are travelling and visiting...Read more

Mon 24 Apr 2023 Tom Wilson 2023 Hike the Highlands Festival / spring hiking Comments Off on Spring Hiking / / / / / / / /

Spring Hiking

Spring has arrived on Cape Breton Island and there is still some snow in the Highlands. Expect the following conditions when hiking in the spring :  wet conditions on the trail, windfalls & branches down, snow, higher brooks & streams than normal. So it is important to prepare for...Read more