A Challenging Experience – Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks

Teams at the 2010 Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge

The 1st Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge took place July 17 with 10 teams participating.  Pattern a bit after the UK 3 peaks Challenge, hikers were challenged to hike  Franey, Sugar Loaf and Acadien mountains in 12 hours or less which also included 2.5 hrs driving to the mountains. Each Peak ranged from 1400-1500 in elevation  with total hiking distance of 21 kms and over 4000 in elevation. The event began at 7:00 am. and finished before 7:00 pm.

On top of Franey Mountain, one of the 3 Peaks, in the 2010 Cape Breton 3 Peaks Challenge, July 17th.

Teams were impressed by the views at the top of each peak, the physical challenge and the experience this new event provided.  It was a great start for this new event and many are looking forward to next year.  Our Hike the Highlands festival team enjoyed meeting all the new hikers &  teams.  

"Certin to be Hurtin" team, one of the ten teams who completed the CB Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge

 Thanks to all the teams, and partners for making this 1st CB Highlands 3 Peaks a success and for your input in evaluation, suggestions and recommendations in helping planning for next year’s event. The event was hosted by Hike the Highlands Festival with assistance from Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Thanks to Lori Burke, an avid Cape Breton hiker who completed the UK 3 Peaks Challenge, for all her planning assistance with this event.

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Photography Special – Explore

Explore - Photography Special

The July /August edition of Explore Canada’s Outdoor Magazine has an article that caught my eye – ” Shoot Like a Pro ” Compiled by George Nathan.. This article provides 63 tips by some of Canada’s top outdoor photographers… All these pro tips can be useful whether you own a point and shoot or DSLR camera. 

Here are just a few tips mentioned by Mr. Nathan and the top outdoor photographers : a) For the best mirror reflection get low to the water -TK,  b) take pictures of hikers in lines  – JK, c) TK recommends 10 megapixals for point and shoot cameras because they have tiny sensors, d) if you buy a point and shoot camera get one that shoots as wide as 28 mm. You won’t miss wide angle shots. – JK and e) For editing photos, JAK recommends purchasing Adobe Lightroom ($300) rather than Adobe Photoshop ($700). Lightroom and Aperature programs can help you organize your photos properly.

You have about seven weeks to practice and try out these pro tips and others before the 7th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival – Sept. 10-19.  The festival will be having its popular photo contest this year and all hikers in the festival are eligible to enter photos. The photo contest has produce some amazing shots over the years, some of these can be viewed in the festival’s photo gallery.

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Walking with Emily Forrest

Emily looking back at Black Brook Beach, Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Every once in awhile you get a rare opportunity to do something special & unique in your life….. Recently, I was able to walk two days with Emily Forrest. She is walking the coastline of Nova Scotia – 2,995 kms from May 13 to August 8, over 88 days, an average 40 kms a day walking.  Her goal is to promote the benefits of walking to Nova Scotians and having an active lifestyle. She is promoting the NS Heart & Stroke Foundation Walkabout program and Brigadoon Village Project – a camp for children  with chronic diseases.

Emily looking at the Bull Moose

On our first day it was foggy and Emily and I didn’t get to see much except seeing a bull moose between South Harbour & Smelt Brook. Emily hadn’ t seen one on Cape Breton yet so it was a nice treat.  The second day, there was no fog so we got to see alot of the coastline from New Haven to Ingonish Beach and Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Plus got to see alot of fishing boats pulling out their lobster traps near the rocks.  The weather was warmer that day and starting to sap my energy level. I found out later it was 33 degrees…. I made it ok but I learned alot about myself that day and what heat can do to your body.  Some suggestions for hot days – Take a temp guage for your daypack/backpack, take salt tablets,  extra snacks, extra water and pour water over your head (from streams) to cool down your body….

When walking with Emily you soon realize this lady is very down to earth person and easy to talk to on every subject. She may not consider herself an tremendous athlete but she is ….walking 40 kms a day is not easy…..She averages 5 km an hour…and does this for 88 days. She takes one rest day every two weeks…

In concluding, I am glad I took the opportunity to spend two days with Emily Forrest and to get to know this amazing person and athlete. Thanks Emily and good luck on the rest of your trip.  You can follow Emily at facebook and twitter

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Emily Forrest now in the Cape Breton Highlands

Emily Forrest - NS Come to Life Photo

One of Nova Scotia’s amazing persons, Emily Forrest, is in Cape Breton Highlands, walking along the coastline  to promote the benefits of walking, the NS Heart Stroke & Foundation’s Walkabout Program and Brigadoon, a camp for children with chronic illnesses.  Emily will be walking over 2995 kms over 88 days, covering an average of  40 kms a day.  She began her walkabout on May 13th and will finish on August 8th, 2010.

She will be visiting Margaree Harbour, Cheticamp, Pleasant Bay, Cape North, Neil’s Habour, Ingonish, Wreck Cove, North River Bridge in the Highlands. Check out her schedule and try to spend time walking with her along her route. She will appreciate this plus you can help her get to know a special part of Cape Breton. For more information on her walkabout & Emily check out this recent Chronicle Herald newspaper article – Walking Changed Her Life.

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2010 Cape Breton’s 3 Peaks Challenge coming up – July 17

Sugar Loaf Mountain - One of 3 Peaks

Ten teams have registered to date for the 1st Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge on July 17th.  The event has generated alot of interested by hikers as well the media community includng CBC and Canadian Geographic Magazine.  The Cape Breton 3 Peaks Challenge is all about hiking Franey, Sugar Loaf and Acadien mountains in 12 hrs – 7am. to 7pm.

The 3 peaks challenge involves approximately 9 hrs of hiking, 4300 in total elevation, 21 kms,  and 2.5 hours driving. This is a team event , four members to a team that includes a team captain. It is pattern a bit from the UK 3 Peaks Challenge.  Their challenge is 24 hrs long , hiking 43 kms and over 500 km driving.  

Their is still time to register a team for this event – deadline July 9th. Registration fee  is $100 per team and includes a souvenir t-shirt and a Parks Canada 125th Anniversary souvenir.  This event is hosted by the Hike the Highlands Festival with assistance from Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

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