Hiking Tips

Mon 06 Jun 2011 Tom Wilson Cape Breton Island / Cape Smokey Hiking Trail / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Cape Breton / Hiking Tips / NS Provincial Hiking Trails Comments Off on Hiking above the Clouds – Cape Smokey / / /

Hiking above the Clouds – Cape Smokey

On International Trails Day, Saturday, June 4th, we hiked the Cape Smokey hiking trail , a 11km seacoast trail that features a number of scenic look-offs – seven in total.  The look-offs are located over 900 feet from water on high granite cliffs. Besides the hike today, our tasks were to...Read more

Tue 31 May 2011 Tom Wilson Baselayers / Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / CBHNP / Clyburn Valley hiking Trail / Dressing in Layers / gaiters / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking Boots / Hiking Tips / Nature & Landscape Photography / Outdoor Gear / Packs / Uncategorized Comments Off on Tips for the Start of Hiking Season / / / /

Tips for the Start of Hiking Season

Generally, the Victoria Day weekend is the start of the hiking season in the Cape Breton Highlands area for many hikers. You can expect wet conditions, some windfalls, cold temps, winds and much more. Here are some tips to get ready for the season: 1) develop a checklist for your hiking equipment,...Read more

Tue 26 Apr 2011 Tom Wilson Baselayers / Dressing in Layers / Fleece Jackets / gaiters / Hiking Tips / Mid-Layer / Outdoor Gear / Photography / spring hiking / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Some Tips for Spring Hiking / / /

Some Tips for Spring Hiking

Getting an early start to hiking season is what most hikers want but it forces us to hike in wet spring like conditions and in snow sometimes. Here are some tips to start the season off early: 1)  Crossing streams – With melting snow and milder conditions, streams are higher this time of the...Read more

Thu 06 Jan 2011 Tom Wilson 2009 Hike the Highlands Festival / 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Acadien Hiking Trail / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / CBHNP / cross-country skiing / Fishing Cove Hiking Trail / Franey Hiking Trail / Hike the Highlands / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hike the Highlands Guides / Hiking / Hiking Cape Breton / Hiking Festival / Hiking Tips / Jigging Cove Lake / Le vieux chemin du Cap Rouge / Middlehead Hiking Trail / Nature & Landscape Photography / Photography / plants / Salmon Pool Hiking Trail / Skyline Hiking Trail / snowshoeing Comments Off on Thanks Marie – Hike the Highlands / / / / / / /

Thanks Marie – Hike the Highlands

Marie Stradeski, a friend and volunteer of Hike the Highlands Festival has left Cape Breton Highlands National Park and is heading for the Pacific Rim National Park in British Columbia.  Marie was Heritage Presentation Officer III at Cape Breton Highlands National Park for the past 6 years. She...Read more

Mon 06 Dec 2010 Tom Wilson Backpacker Magazine / Baselayers / Explore Magazine / Fleece Jackets / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Tips / MEC / Mid-Layer / Mountain Equipment Co-op / Nature & Landscape Photography / Outdoor Gear / Packs / Photography / plants / Raingear / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Christmas Gifts for Hikers / / / / / / / / / / /

Christmas Gifts for Hikers

The christmas trees are up in some homes and more are on its way. It is that time of the year again…I read the other day on Canadian Tire Flyer cover – just 3 weeks to go. Wow time is flying by….Here are some ideas for you to help you decide and pick out the right […]Read more

Mon 25 Oct 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Baselayers / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / CBHNP / Fleece Jackets / Hiking / Hiking Tips / Mid-Layer / Packs / Raingear / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Hiking in the Rain – A few Tips / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Hiking in the Rain – A few Tips

Hiking can be enjoyed in most types of weather but the key is to prepare with right type of equipment, clothes and gear. Here are some tips that I learned over the years hiking in the Cape Breton Highlands, Scotland and Ireland. Tip # 1 – Rain gear is supposed to be breathable however most...Read more

Sat 18 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Broad Cove Mountain / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / CBHNP / Dressing in Layers / Fleece Jackets / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Festival / Hiking Tips / Mid-Layer / Middlehead Hiking Trail / Outdoor Gear / Raingear / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Day 8 – Proud to Walk with Them / / / / / /

Day 8 – Proud to Walk with Them

Today’s weather forecast was 30-40 mm of rain, heavy at times with winds 20-70 kms… I never thought 40 hikers on Day 8 would show up at 9:00 am. to hike Branch Pond Look-off at Cape Breton Highlands National Park. They showed at Middle Head at 10:00 am and later in the afternoon at...Read more

Fri 17 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Baselayers / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / CBHNP / Dressing in Layers / Fishing Cove Hiking Trail / Fleece Jackets / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hike the Highlands Guides / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Festival / Hiking Tips / Le vieux chemin du Cap Rouge / Mid-Layer / Skyline Hiking Trail Comments Off on Day 7 – Carry On / / / / / /

Day 7 – Carry On

It finally happened it rained during hikes on day 7 of Hike the Highlands festival. Despite inclement weather, all three hikes – Skyline, Fishing Cove and Le vieux chemin du Cap Rouge were completed.  The passionate and dedicated hikers were out in full force today. They carried on despite...Read more

Mon 13 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Hadrian's Wall / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hike the Highlands Guides / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Festival / Hiking Tips Comments Off on Day 3 – Cabot Landing & Money Point Gulch / / / /

Day 3 – Cabot Landing & Money Point Gulch

Day three of Hike the Highlands Festival  – Another overcast day with 70% chance of showers but it did not discourage any of the hikers. Close to twenty hikers enjoyed the Cabot Landing Beach walk led by guide Shaune Warren and the historic significance of this provincial park. Another 30...Read more

Mon 13 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Baselayers / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / CBHNP / Franey Hiking Trail / Hike the Highlands / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking / Hiking Festival / Hiking Tips / Mid-Layer / Nature & Landscape Photography / Photography / Wally Hayes Comments Off on Day 2 – White Point & Franey / / / / / / /

Day 2 – White Point & Franey

The hiking gods were with us today and all three outdoor events took place on day 2 of  2010 Hike the Highlands Festival, despite a weather forecast that included rain & showers…. The nature & landscape photography workshop orginially scheduled for White Point moved to Black...Read more