Lady Slipper on Franey Hiking Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park
It has been foggy this past weekend with drizzle so I decided to do a fitness hike and get some exercise in on one of my favorite trails – Franey in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. I took out my nordic walking poles, put my smart wool socks on – a different type this time – trekking heavy (cushion) crew socks. It was a warm and muggy day…so I took lots of water….and off I went.
The poles were a great help going up Franey and down and the new trekking heavy socks worked very well.. I took a few pics on the hike but what caught my eye were the Lady Slippers…however they seemed to be on their way out… I learned a valuable lesson on this hike – don’t wear cotton t-shirt on a hot and muggy day….I was soaked… a good base layer for example – merino wool, or polyster, keeps the dampness from against the skin… Not sure if it would of have kept the mosquitos away …They attacked me on the way down… but on the bright side, I did hike Franey in 2 hours….one of my best times yet and one of the benefits of a fitness hike.
Franey is one of the hikes featured in the 2009 Hike the Highlands Festival, September 11-20, 2009. It well known for its elevation and incredible views of the Clyburn Valley, South & North Bay & Middlehead. It is a classic hike with some of the best views of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park at the top.
The August 2009 edition of Backpacker magazine is full of great ideas for summer hiking and camping. Billed as the “Ultralight Camping guide. It features : 1) 81 Summer skills on Navigation, survival, weather, first aid, and wildlife, 2) 33 ways to slash weight, spend less, and double your hiking comfort., and 3) 30 crowd -free sactuaries hand-picked by rangers, guides and our map experts. Plus it includes gear reviews on hundred dollar hikers, summer sleeping bags, gregory backpack, pot, waterproof fire starter and more.
Something that caught my eye recently was a video by Backpacker magazine – How to cook bacon and eggs in a paper bag ? See below :
The Coastal Hiking trail will be one of the new hikes featured in the 2009 Hike the Highlands Festival. This trail is located in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and is approximately 5.6kms one way. It features Atlantic Coastline, coastal forest, sea birds and some difficult sections over cobblestones. The trail will start at Halfway Brook and end at Black Brook. Black Brook beach was rated as one of top beaches in Canada by Canadian Geographic Magazine… It has incredible waves and is popular with locals and visitors in the summer. There is a picnic park here and Still Brook Falls.
The first section is the trail is quite nice and ends at Neil’s Harbour beach…you may hear the fog horn depending on the day…..then we head back into the woods for a bit, – some wet areas… until we come out to the ocean. Here you will see the Neil’s Harbour lighthouse, the harbour and homes. Then next section you follow along the coast where you venture out to cobblestones five times before the last section of the trail. Depending on what time you hike the trail, you usually have a good chance to see a lobster boat or two. If you take your time you should not have any problems with the cobblestones. You may want to take your walking stick or poles for balance. The last section of the trail provides some great photo stops including squeaker hole…then you finish at Black Brook.. Take your camera …lots of great shots on this trail and wear hiking boots for support…Below are a few pics.
Black Brook was the scene for the Introduction to Geocaching workshop at Cape Breton Highlands National Park during Walking for the Wildlife weekend. Before the workshop, we were entertained by some incredible waves, sunny conditions and Still Brook Falls. Black Brook Beach is rated as one of the top ten beaches in Canada by Canadian Geographic Magazine.
Our instructor for the Introducing to Geocaching workshop was Ms. Angie Payne, a National Park interpeter with Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Ms. Payne indicates Geocaching is a worldwide phenomenon that involves participants with coordinates and a GPS unit to hide and find treasures. Cape Breton Highlands National Park are introducing geocaching to its visitors this year.
Ms Payne provide us with an introduction to GPS units, waypoints (coordinates) and then we were off to find five geocaching sites at Black Brook. I am pleased to say we found all five green boxes- thanks to our excellent instructor. There will be two more geocaching events at Cape Breton Highlands National Park this year – with Geocaching Challenge weekend – July 17-19 and a Geocaching workshop at MacIntosh Brook during the Hike the Highlands Festival, September 11-20. Two important websites for geocachers are Atlantic Canada Geocaching Association and Geocaching – The Offical Global GPS Cache Hunt Site.
Seven principles of Leave No Trace are - 1) Plan ahead and prepare, 2) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, 3) Dispose of Waste properly, 4) Leave what you find, 5) Minimize Campfire Impacts, 6) Respect Wildlife, and 7) Be considerate of Other Visitors. For more information on Leave No Trace visit their website.
I have been fascinated by the last two weeks in May and the change of flora and fauna in the Highlands of Cape Breton. It seems everything has come to life…hummingbirds are back, buds are out on trees and leaves are starting to grow. Moose are out eating, loons are back, the birds are singing.. what an incredible time of the year for a photographer. It also means mowing lawns, putting out our solar lights, getting decks & flowerbeds ready. And of course hiking on the trails again…yes!!!!
A few surprises in the article written by Ryan Stewart. One in Gros Morne – Ryan indicated the Lookout Trail that takes you to top of Partridgeberry Hills offers best viewpoint. I would have thought on top of James Callaghan Trail. You see that view featured on many of Newfoundland and Labrador TV commercials. I will definitely check that out the Lookout Trail the next time I visited Gros Morne. Franey Trail was rated best summit of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. No surprise there as Hike the Highlands Festival considers it one of the classics. But the writer does indicated that on the way down visit Mary Ann Falls for a swim. There is an error there – Mary Ann Falls is not on the Franey Trail. Otherwise, I really like the article and it provides some great ideas and tips to visit other parks across Canada.
Every once in awhile you get lucky with some pictures – being in the right place at right time. That is how I can describe my hike recently on the Clyburn Valley Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It was full of surprises with flora and fauna and of course great scenery. I got lucky and was able to get close to two pileated woodpeckers, and a grouse during my hike.
This trail continues to be one of my all time favorites. I always enjoy walking along the river, see Franey mountain in the foreground, the Clyburn Valley, the hardwood stands, the boulders, and the gold mine building ruins. It is a popular trail to see a moose and last year at Hike the Highlands Festival our group did see one.
Grouse on the Clyburn Valley Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park
On June 13 -14, an exciting new event will be coming to the Cape Breton Highlands – “Walking for Wildlife weekend. It will involve two free workshops on Saturday afternoon, June 13, - Leave No Trace beginning at 1:00 pm. at Jack Pine Trail and an Introduction to Geocaching beginning at 4:00 pm. at Black Brook Beach. The day will end with an evening presentation at 7:00 pm. – “Canadian Sea Turtle Network” at Keltic Lodge, Ingonish Beach.
On Sunday, June 14th, there will be a Cabot Trail Walk and Fun Run (16km) beginning at 10:00 am. Registration is 9:00 am. – 10:00 am at Broad Cove Campground – $5.00 individual and $15.00 a team (maximum of 5 to a team). The Coastal hike will begin at 1:00 pm. with registration at Black Brook Beach from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Registration is $5.00 per person. The weekend will end with a lobster supper from 4:00 pm. -6:00 pm. at St. Andrew’s Parish Hall, Neil’s Harbour – $12.00 per person, sponsored by the Neil’s Harbour/New Haven Volunteer Fire Dept.
The May edition of Backpacker magazine is out now and some great articles to get you ready for the hiking season. There is a fitness plan for every age group – 18-35, 35-50, 50-65 and 65 & up which also includes eating tips. As well there is a four week training plan to get you trail fit fast designed by Mellisa Racouillat and Darren Flagg.
There are field tests on Daybacks -Little Big Packs, field notes on a down jacket, trail runners & more and a review of featherweight shells. Backpacker website has a great 2009 gear guide review of 32 backpacks – day, weekend and weeklong, well worth reading. One of the highlights of this issue of the magazine, is the a great article on hiking the Grand Canyon by Annette McGivney. Below is a video on hiking the Grand Canyon. It recommends that you have 1 gallon of water per day plus high energy snacks high in salt to retain the water.
