2010 Hike the Highlands Festival

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 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

Mon 20 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / Clyburn Valley hiking Trail / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking / Hiking Cape Breton / Hiking Festival / Smokey Towers trail Comments Off on Day 10 – Smokey Towers & Clyburn Valley / /

Day 10 – Smokey Towers & Clyburn Valley

Forty hikers enjoyed the last two hikes of the festival on day 10, Sept 19 at Smokey Towers and Clyburn Valley…..the sun was with us on the last day of the festival. It was a sad day for many us – saying good-byes …the days seemed to go by fast.  Alot of  new friendships were...Read more

Sun 19 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Cape Breton Island / Cape Smokey Hiking Trail / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking Cape Breton / Hiking Festival / Money Point Comments Off on Day 9 – Money Point Light & Cape Smokey Hikes / / /

Day 9 – Money Point Light & Cape Smokey Hikes

Heavy rains the day before made conditions on Cape Smokey wet and on Money Point Light tricky with some washouts but 60 plus hikers enjoyed the sunny day. It was nice to see the sun again… Hikers were disappointed to see the conditions left by government officials & contractors who...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

Thu 16 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Acadien Hiking Trail / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / CBHNP / Hike the Highlands / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Festival Comments Off on Day 6 – PEI Hikers arrive / / / / / /

Day 6 – PEI Hikers arrive

Another sunny day provided hikers with amazing day for hiking on Day 6 featuring the Salmon Pool, Acadien and Le Buttereau & Le Chemin du Buttereau hikes on trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Today was a day, many hikers used their trekking poles. The PEI gang of hikers arrived...Read more

Wed 15 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Cape Breton Island / Hiking / Hiking Boots / Hiking Festival / Pollett's Cove / Trekking Poles Comments Off on Day 5 – Pollett’s Cove / / /

Day 5 – Pollett’s Cove

Hikers had a beautiful sunny, fall hiking day to enjoy the Pollett’s Cove hike on Day 5 of Hike the Highlands festival.  Led by veteran guide Dave Williams, thirty -four hikers enjoyed the spectacular scenery at Otter’s Brook and Pollett’s Cove. Interesting enough it rain most...Read more

Tue 14 Sep 2010 Tom Wilson 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival / Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cape Breton Island / Hike the Highlands Festival / Hiking / Hiking Festival / Sugarloaf Mountain Trail Comments Off on Day 4 – Sugar Loaf & More Spectacular Views / / /

Day 4 – Sugar Loaf & More Spectacular Views

 The NHN trails hike in Cape North provided a scenic view of South Harbour along with Peak Tenerife and Sugar Loaf Mountains.  A picnic lunch sponsored by St. Paul`s Island Historical Society was enjoyed by all  hikers at Cabot Landing Provincial Park before embarking on Sugar Loaf mountain...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