Hike the Highlands Festival https://www.hikethehighlands.com

The April 2009 issue of Backpacker magazine is out which features the Annual Gear Guide. This year Backpacker magazine features 521 reviews and skills. Of course there are the Editors’ Choice Awards, my favorite section,  as well the 10 page skills guide. The Annual gear guide looks at...Read more

The hiking schedule for the 2009 Hike the Highlands Festival has been announced and it includes nine new hikes.  They include White Point to Burnt Head, Coastal, Lone Sheiling, MacIntosh Brook, Robert’s Mountain, Red River to Black Brook, Red River to Otter Brook, Le Chemin du Buttereau,...Read more

With eight winter storms to date,  it has been an interesting winter here on Cape Breton Island.  The last couple of weeks have been great seeing  birds and animals.  Michelle Sears from Halifax started things off by saying  she saw a Auk at Englishtown Ferry – see pic 2 below. Then...Read more

Hiker Trish McCormick recently informed me that Hike the Highlands Festival has been recognized as a Nova Scotia Must by Allan Lynch in his new book (2008) ” Nova Scotia – Book of Musts -” the 101 Places every Nova Scotian Must See”.   Trish is one of Hike the Highlands...Read more

Sometimes you get lucky when you are hiking and see some amazing flora and fauna. My wife took her sister’s dog Bailey for a walk recently on the Clyburn Valley Hiking trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park and came across a Great Horned Owl.  Generally you hear an owl before seeing...Read more

Red Island Hiking Trail lost one of its great volunteers, leader and friend recently, John Graham MacInnes, who died at the age of 61.  John Graham was a tireless volunteer in the community, a municipal councillor for 23 years who held the positions of Deputy Warden and Warden for the...Read more

The judges have reviewed all the great photo entries and have made their decisions on the winning photos of the 2008 Hike the Highlands Photo Contest. There are five categories – Fauna, Flora, Humour, People and Scenery. The 1st place winners will receive a free 2009 Hike the Highlands Pass...Read more

Despite an overcast day and high winds – 50-70 kms, day four of Hike the Highlands Festival,  Sept. 15th, turned out to be amazing hiking day with lots of sun.  Day four hikes included Sugarloaf Mountain, NHN Trail and White Point. The day ended with a bonfire and weiner roast at Black...Read more

Some nice weather and great views provided 3rd day of Hike the Highlands Festival with memorable hikes at Money Point and Broad Cove. Sixty hikers were on the trails today. Special thanks to Guide Jocelyne Quann and Sweeps Lyndia Stepanovic and Brendan Tweig for a great job on Broad Cove and to...Read more

One of my favorite all time hikes has always been the Clyburn Valley Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  It is a trail for all seasons as the trail is groomed for cross country skiing in the winter. One winter,  I was very lucky and saw a rare snowy owl on this trail just before the...Read more