Hike the Highlands Festival -Sept. 12-21, 2008

2) hikers can register online and pay online. This is a two step process - pay online first for your pass(s) and then register for your hikes. Our festival is using the eventbrite online registration system and paypal -both are proven and tested systems.  To register your hikes, the festival is using the google docs     software.

For people who prefer to register offline, please print page 4 & 5 of the digital brochure, then complete the registration form and mail it in along with your registration fee to Hike the Highlands Festival Society.

A frequently asked questions (FAQ) section has been designed to assist the hikers with registration. A pdf file has been developed and can be printed off.

Hike the Highlands Festival Digitize Brochure

Brand new for 2008,  Hike the Highlands Festival now has a digitize brochure. Developed by NXTBook and sold by Dawson Communications, this digitize brochure allows you to turn the pages of our  brochure as well zoom in and to print one page at a time.  Instructions on how to use this technology are on the left page of the brochure.  Click on the page to zoom in and click on again to zoom out. You can also click on zoom button at top buttons, between + and - sign at the first page and change the % of zoom. 50% is good, so you can see the pages better. Turn the page by clicking on the bottom right hand corner.  Hope you enjoy the technology.

Like the most brochures we have a view typos. We regret any inconvenience this may have cause you. Here are the errors & corrections - 1) Page on the trails,  Saturday, Sept. 13 - should be Jack Pine instead of Jake Pine, 2) details is  spelled wrong at the end of that panel page.  3) registration - next panel, there is no daily hiking pass with national park pass.  Thank-you in advance for your cooperation.

Today, I enjoyed one of the classics, the Franey Hiking Trail located in the Cape Breton Highlands Park, along the Cabot Trail. It was my first hike on Franey this year and it did not disappoint. The temperature forecast today was around 28 degrees Celius. So I left early around 8:30 am to beat the heat and it worked.

My new hiking boots, Scarpa Kailish GTX and daypack - Deuter AC 28 worked fine and I did well on my first tough hike of the season. Although this trail is only 6.4 kms return, it takes 3-4 hours to complete because it has 5 climbs on the way up the mountain. The trail loops and comes back down the old fire road with only one hill to worry. However the road is downhill most of the way, rocky and gives your thighs and feet a workout.

Their are two great views to enjoy along the way - one at top of the 4th climb and the other at the top of the mountain. Both are spectacular and make great photo shots. Don’t forget to take the trail to the right at the top of the mountain which provides you with incredible views of the Clyburn Valley, Cape Smokey and Middle Head. Franey Hiking Trail is one of the trails featured as a guided hike in this year’s Hike the Highlands Festival. Below are some photos I took today.

Recently, I had the opportunity to hike Broad Cove Mountain, one of the hikes featured in this year’s Hike the Highlands Festival. I managed to get a picture of a Lady Slipper (see above) on my way up the mountain. Broad Cove mountain is a hiking trail located in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park along the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.

I also took a short video with my camera at the top of the mountain. You will see North Bay and Ingonish Island starting then Middle Head, Cape Smokey and Warren Lake. It is a short video 34 seconds but gives you a good idea of the great view from the top of the mountain. The trail is 3.2 kms return.

Trailpeak website provides a wealth of information on trails and divides itself into three sections - water (kayaking kite & surf, canoeing), earth (hiking, mtn. biking, climbing) and snow (cross country skiing, back country and snowshoeing). It has developed a database where their staff as well the trail users like yourself can enter information on various trails throughout Canada. You can join free as a member or pay a membership fee of $25.00 to download GPS co-ordinates of trails as well receive other membership benefits.

Trailpeak website features a number of hikes in the Hike the Highlands Festival. some of these include Franey, Middle Head, White Point, Sugarloaf, Cape Smokey, Uisge Ban falls, North River Falls, Skyline, L’Acadian,  Clyburn Valley and Freshwater lake. The Trailpeak staff visited the area a few years back in a FAM Tour sponsored by  Cape Breton Highlands Project and tourism industry of the area. Note: Some changes have taken place to the North River Falls trail and Uisge Ban falls since the Trailpeak’s visit to Nova Scotia.

Defintely, take a peak at this website. I am sure you will enjoy it as well give you a different perspective (from other hikers) on some of the trails featured in this year’s Hike the Highlands Festival.

Hike the Highlands Guides & Sweeps are getting ready for the September hiking festival with St. John Ambulance First aid training. Picture above is one course that took place recently in Indian Brook on the North Shore with instructor Lyle Donovan who is a paramedic as well a Fire Chief for a volunteer Fire Dept.  More training will take place in August with our Annual Guides & Sweeps training day.

Many of the guides are out hiking now getting familiar with the trails, flora and fauna.  Some like myself are working in new hiking boots and checking out trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park,  Nova Scotia Provincial Parks and Victoria County Hiking Trails. We have had a wet spring but the trails are in good shape.

Safety is an important part of Hike the Highlands Festival with each hike having a guide and sweep for every 20 hikers. Many guides & sweeps volunteer for additional hikes as they enjoyed hiking as well and meeting hikers. In case you are wondering what a sweep is, they are hikers at the end of each hike who making sure all the hikers make it out safely and let the guide know.  

Recently, I wrote an article on Hiking Boots including the new Scarpa Kailish GTX Hiking Boot -Editors Choice 2008 Award Winner, Backpacker Magazine.

Backpacker Magazine has a good video below on how to Fit your Boots Right. With less than 80 days before Hike the Highlands festival starts, now is the time to buy boots and have them worked in before the festival.

The board of directors of Hike the Highlands Festival is pleased to announce that in 2008 you can buy both the Hike the Highlands Festival Pass and Cape Breton Highlands National Park entry pass together from our festival.  In past years, you had to go to different locations to buy each of them.  In 2008, you will be able to purchase both passes on-line as well at the registration headquarters. Those hikers who have purchased a National Pass already can still purchase a Hike the Highlands Festival pass separately.

A Park Entry pass/permit is required for use of all facilities in the national park, including hiking trails. The pass is valid until March 31, 2009 and includes use of the groomed cross country ski trails in the winter. More than 2/3 of the trails featured in this year’s hiking festival are located in the national park. 

Registration for the Hiking Festival will open in mid-July 2008. Hikers will pick up their passes at the registration headquarters at Glenghorm Beach Resort, Ingonish when they arrive.  The registration fees for both passes together are as follows - Individual - $70.00, Couple- $110.00, Family - $130.00. Your registration fees includes guided hikes, evening presentations, opening & closing ceremonies, and more. For further information visit the registration page on the Hike the Highlands Festival website.

There are some great daypacks out there for hiking, one of them is the Deuter Futura 28 AC. It is available from Mountain Equipment Co-op but I sure you can purchase it from other outdoor stores. I was impressed by amount of space, the pockets and sections with this day pack. The bottom section of the daypack is quite roomy where you can put a camera bag, or a jacket and other items in and open from the bottom. Another nice feature was the rain cover. I have tried it out already and kept everything dry.  This daypack also has a unique aircomfort suspension system which will be great for hot weather and keeping your back cool & dry. Lots of adjustable straps to keep you comfortable on your hike. If there is a weakness it might be the waist strap and padding but I will know more when I go on a longer hike.  What is your favorite daypack and one you would recommend ? Drop a line and let others know by adding your comments.

Have you taken out your boots yet ? Tried them on and said Hmm… maybe I might need a new pair this year. The boot pictured above is the Scarpa Kailish GTX Hiking boot - Editors Choice 2008 Award Winner, Backpacker magazine.

There are some great resources out their to help you make the right decision about buying hiking boots and  getting a good fitting boot. 
1) ABC of hiking.com is a great place to start  and has a nice guide.
2) About.com has a good article Before you buy Hiking Boots 
3) Potomac Appalachian Hiking Club article - Buying Boots that Fit
4) Hiking Boots Guide - Hiking Boots Review and Guide
5) eHow - How to buy Hiking Boots ?
6) How to choose Hiking Footwear ? REI

Other important resources for you are Mountain Equipment Co-op, Explore magazine, Outside Magazine & Outside Online, and Backpacker Magazine.  Many of these magazine or companies have videos, podcasts and reviews on their website to help you make the right decision on your next hiking boot.