Outdoor Gear

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

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 27 Aug 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Baselayers / Dressing in Layers / Fleece Jackets / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Tips / MEC / Mid-Layer / Mountain Equipment Co-op / Outdoor Gear / Packs / Photography / Raingear Comments Off on Equipment Checklist for Hike the Highlands / / / / / / /

Equipment Checklist for Hike the Highlands

With just two weeks before the Hike the Highlands festival, now is a great time to check your equipment out.  Here is a checklist of what you need for the festival : hiking boots,  hiking socks,  gaiters – protect your legs from branches, thorns etc along with keep your boots dry,  hiking...Read more

Wed 04 Aug 2010 Tom Wilson Backpacker Magazine / Baselayers / Dressing in Layers / Fleece Jackets / Hiking / Hiking Tips / MEC / Mid-Layer / Mountain Equipment Co-op / Outdoor Gear / Raingear Comments Off on Baselayers, Mid-layers & Rain Gear for Hiking / / / / / / /

Baselayers, Mid-layers & Rain Gear for Hiking

If you avid hiker – you have learn through trail & error, the importance of dressing in layers for hiking. Hot weather, cold weather and rainy weather required different strategies.  There is baselayer, mid-layer and raingear/jacket. As well, there are a number of different materials...Read more

Sat 10 Apr 2010 Tom Wilson Backpacker Magazine / Explore Magazine / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Tips / MEC / Mountain Equipment Co-op / Outdoor Gear / Packs Comments Off on Hiking Boots, Daypacks & Explore Magazine / / / / / / / / / / / /

Hiking Boots, Daypacks & Explore Magazine

The May 2010 issue of Explore – Canada’s Outdoor Magazine is out and two articles that caught my attention were Riding the New Wave  by Masa Takei and Best Gear for 2010 by Ryan Stuart.  Riding the new Wave was a story of  of four individuals paddling standing up on a paddleboard...Read more

Sun 04 Apr 2010 Tom Wilson Birding / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Tips / Mountain Equipment Co-op / Outdoor Gear / Photography Comments Off on Spring is here – Birds & MEC Catalogue / / / / / / / / /

Spring is here – Birds & MEC Catalogue

The start of Easter Weekend in the Cape Breton Highlands has brought sunshine, warm weather and lots of song birds back.   I saw incredible amount of birds today during our walk. They include song sparrows, junkoos, loons, canada geese, merganser ducks, golden eye ducks, robins, and more.  I...Read more

Mon 07 Dec 2009 Tom Wilson Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / CBHNP / Hike the Highlands / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hike the Highlands Guides / Hiking / Hiking Cape Breton / Hiking Festival / Hiking Tips / MEC / Mountain Equipment Co-op / Nordic Walking Poles / Outdoor Gear / Photography / Trekking Poles / Trekking Trips Comments Off on Christmas Gifts for Hikers / / / / / / / / / / /

Christmas Gifts for Hikers

Lots of great gifts for hikers out there that won’t hurt the pocketbook.  Here are some ideas for you :  1) a pair of smart wool socks, 2) a bear bell, 3) small mesh bag, 4) drybag, 5) a whistle, 6) a trail map, 7) a compass, 8) a watch with carabiner that hooks on […]Read more

Mon 19 Oct 2009 Tom Wilson Cape Breton Highlands National Park / CBHNP / Franey Hiking Trail / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Cape Breton / Hiking Tips / Nordic Walking Poles / Outdoor Gear / Photography / Trekking Poles / Victoria County Hiking Trails Comments Off on Franey Hiking Trail and Mary Ann Falls / / / / / / /

Franey Hiking Trail and Mary Ann Falls

One of my favorite things to do in the fall when leaves are turning is to hike Franey and later visit Mary Ann Falls.  Did both this weekend with my nephew and got lots of pictures. Unfortunately, the leaves were not at their full peak but the streams and the falls were flowing good with...Read more

Wed 14 Oct 2009 Tom Wilson Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / CBHNP / Franey Hiking Trail / Hike the Highlands / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Cape Breton / Hiking Tips / Outdoor Gear / Photography / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Celtic Colours Hike & Concert – Oct 15 / / / /

Celtic Colours Hike & Concert – Oct 15

On Thursday, October 15th, Cape Breton Highlands National Park and Hike Nova Scotia are offering a 3 hour guided hike to the summit of Franey Trail, Ingonish Centre beginning at 11:00 am.  during the week of Celtic Colours Festival. Meet at the parking lot at 11:00 am. by the Trailhead...Read more

Wed 16 Sep 2009 Tom Wilson 2009 Hike the Highlands Festival / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / CBHNP / Geocaching / Hike the Highlands / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hike the Highlands Guides / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Cape Breton / Hiking Festival / Hiking Tips / Nordic Walking / Nordic Walking Poles / Outdoor Gear / Photography / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Roberts Mountain Spectacular / / / / / / / / /

Roberts Mountain Spectacular

Day 5 of Hike the Highlands was all about avoiding rain and we did it. All three hikes  we got in. The last hike of day – Roberts Mountain lived up to expectations & more. It provided hikers with spectacular coastal scenery. Local guide Tina Roach, Pleasant Bay, indicated the Mountain...Read more