Trekking Poles

Wed 14 Jan 2015 Tom Wilson Outdoor Gear / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Preparing for the Season – Part 1 – Equipment / / /

Preparing for the Season – Part 1 – Equipment

A new year has begun, 2015, and it is time to start preparing for the upcoming hiking season.  The first order of business is to do an inventory of your equipment, review the condition of the equipment and see what needs to be replace before the season starts. Here is a checklist to help you...Read more

Sun 24 Jun 2012 Tom Wilson 2012 Hike the Highlands Festival / Branch Pond Look-off Trail / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Surprises on the Branch Pond Look-off Trail / / /

Surprises on the Branch Pond Look-off Trail

It was a day full of surprises….first the weather changed from an overcast day to hot sunny day – 20 plus degrees. Then I saw my first spruce grouse of the year.  At the 1st look-off, I caught up with and met a nice couple from Pennsylvania who were bird watchers. We had a nice...Read more

Thu 14 Jun 2012 Tom Wilson Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Hiking Boots / MEC / North River Falls / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Breaking in New Hiking Boots / / / / / / / /

Breaking in New Hiking Boots

It happened, the part I dread the most, my hiking boots were wearing out. My old ones had served me well but the tread was wearing down and I was feeling rocks. Threads were going in key spots and one side of my boot was breaking away from the rubber.  I order my new boots […]Read more

Mon 28 May 2012 Tom Wilson Cabot Trail / Cape Breton Island / Cape Smokey Hiking Trail / Hike the Highlands Festival / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Cape Smokey Trail – Great Coastal Scenery / / / / / /

Cape Smokey Trail – Great Coastal Scenery

With eight look-offs, Cape Smokey hiking trail provides the visitor with some amazing coastal scenery of the North Shore, Atlantic Ocean, and Ingonish area. This 11 km in and out trail located in a provincial park along the Cabot Trail, takes approximately 3 -4 hours to complete depending on your...Read more

Sun 01 Apr 2012 Tom Wilson Cabot Trail / Cape Breton Island / Dressing in Layers / Fleece Jackets / gaiters / Outdoor Gear / Photography / Red ISland Hiking Trail / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Spring Hiking – Red Island Trail / / / / / /

Spring Hiking – Red Island Trail

Like most hikers at this time of the year, it is hard to say no when the warm weather hits and its a beautiful day out there.  Off we went to the Red Island trail, Indian Brook, on Cabot Trail.  There was alot of discussion – will there be snow on the trail, can we […]Read more

Sat 03 Sep 2011 Tom Wilson 2011 Hike the Highlands Festival / Baselayers / CBHNP / Dressing in Layers / Fleece Jackets / gaiters / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking Boots / Hiking Tips / Mid-Layer / Nordic Walking Poles / Outdoor Gear / Packs / Raingear / Trekking / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Checklist for Hiking / / / / / / / /

Checklist for Hiking

With the 2011 Hike the Highlands festival starting in less than a week, it is important to have your checklist ready for hiking so you pack your daypack  and enjoy the day hiking, 1) Weather reports – always check the weather reports before you start out hiking for the day. You can then pack...Read more

Mon 15 Aug 2011 Tom Wilson Baselayers / Dressing in Layers / Fleece Jackets / gaiters / Mid-Layer / Packs / Raingear / Trekking Poles Comments Off on 5 Tips to Hiking in the Rain / / / / / / / / / /

5 Tips to Hiking in the Rain

Despite some hot weather recently, the 2011 summer, has been a mixture of rain, showers, drizzle and fog. Here are 5 tips to help you hike in the rain : 1)  Equipment – a) daypack with a rain cover. If your daypack doesn’t have one, invest in one,  b) rain gear – pants &...Read more

Thu 04 Aug 2011 Tom Wilson 2011 Hike the Highlands Festival / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / Dressing in Layers / Hiking Boots / Hiking Tips / Packs / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Some Tips to Help You Plan & Prepare for Upcoming Hike the Highlands / / / / / / / / / / / /

Some Tips to Help You Plan & Prepare for Upcoming Hike the Highlands

With just 5 weeks away, it is time to start planning and preparing for the Hike the Highlands Festival, Sept. 9-18, 2011.  Here are some tips: 1) Determine your Hikes  – Review the list of hikes scheduled ie. trail description, photos & map. Determine the ones you would like to do and...Read more

Mon 27 Jun 2011 Tom Wilson 2011 Hike the Highlands Festival / Acadien Hiking Trail / Benjies Lake Hiking Trail / Bog Hiking Trail / Broad Cove Mountain / Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / CBHNP / Clyburn Valley hiking Trail / Fishing Cove Hiking Trail / Franey Hiking Trail / Freshwater Lake Hiking Trail / Hike the Highlands / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Jack Pine Hiking Trail / Jigging Cove Lake / Le vieux chemin du Cap Rouge / MacIntosh Brook Hiking Trail / Middlehead Hiking Trail / Nature & Landscape Photography / Photography / plants / Salmon Pool Hiking Trail / Skyline Hiking Trail / Trekking Poles Comments Off on 75 km Hiking Challenge – Cape Breton Highlands National Park / / / /

75 km Hiking Challenge – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

The 75th Anniversary Cape Breton Highlands National Park in 2011 has provided hikers with a new challenge – hike  75 km from May to October. It also provides you with a wonderful opportunity to see the whole park,  its great scenery, wildlife and plants. And of course to get in shape for...Read more

Tue 31 May 2011 Tom Wilson Acadien Hiking Trail / Baselayers / Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / CBHNP / cross-country skiing / Franey Hiking Trail / Hiking Boots / Outdoor Gear / Roberts Mountain / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Hiking Challenges for Cape Breton Highlands in 2011 / / /

Hiking Challenges for Cape Breton Highlands in 2011

The year 2011 can be declared the year of hiking challenges in the Cape Breton Highlands.  Here are just a few below : 1) The Cape Breton Highlands National Park celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2011 has issued a 75 km hiking challenge from May to October.  You cannot hike on the same...Read more