Outstanding Views on Today’s Hikes

Franey Hiking Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Sunny conditions prevailed on Day 8 after early morning rain and over 80 hikers enjoyed hikes at Franey, Freshwater Lake & Look-off and Smokey Towers. Today hikes featured outstanding views and cameras were very busy.  The Outdoor Nature Photography workshop with Wally Hayes attracted a great crowd and continued in the evening. Lori Burke ‘s presentation Hiking In Europe was outstanding and opened alot of eyes with trip preparation tips. 

Day 9 , Sept. 19th features Guided Wilderness Hike, Clyburn Valley and Broad Cove Mountain Hikes. In the evening, the festival will have its closing ceremonies.

The festival concludes on Day 10, Sept. 20th with hikes at North River Big Falls – highest waterfalls in Nova Scotia beginning at 9:00 am. and Red Island, Indian Brook at 10:00 am.

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Hiking with a Pedometer

$10.00 Pedometer for sale at North Highland Nordic Ski Club during the hiking festival.

With Hike the Highlands Festival just 3 weeks away, I have been busy getting ready for the ten days of hiking and 100 kms.  Today I hiked North River Big Falls – 18kms return with my pedometer in a little over 4.5 hours… Pretty proud of myself especially in 30 degrees temp plus high humidity.

So how long is 18 kms with a pedometer?  Well it is 22,000 plus steps with a pedometer… Pedometers will be available for sale at The North Highlands Nordic Ski Club in Cape North on Sept. 14th for $10.00. Linda Murray will be hosting  the Nordic Walking clinic – Hiking with poles on Sept. 14th at 10:00 am. A barbecue will follow at 11:30 am. and then the Sugar Loaf Mountain Hike at 1:00 pm. A great way to try out hiking with poles up and down a mountain and your new pedometer.

Below is a pic of North River Falls -105 feet (32 metres) the  highest water falls in Nova Scotia

North River Falls - Highest Waterfall in Nova Scotia at 32 meteres or 105 feet.

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Hike the Highlands 2009 Hiking Schedule Announced

On top of Sugarloaf looking at North, Dingwall, Middle & South Harbours

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, and Smokey Towers.  

Backed by popular demand are Meat Cove Mountain, Cape St. Lawrence/Lowland Cove, Salmon Pool, and Red Island hikes. There will be 24 guided hikes in this year’s festival and hikers will have the opportunity to participate in our  long distance hiker awards program of 100 km, 50 km and 25 km.

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2007 Photo Contest Winners

The results are in and judges have spoken.  Here are the winners in each category with honorable mention. Thank-you for all the entries.   Winners – 1) Best Picture – Janet Hutchingson, Lawrence, Kansas, USA,  2) Best Scenery -White Point – Patricia McCormack, Port Hawkesbury,  Honorable mention – Sugarloaf – Neil Yan, Markham, Ontario,  3) Best Plant – Tina Shea on Franey,  Honorable Mention – Bob Harrison, Mushroom,  North River Little Falls,  4) Best Humour –  Sharon Proctor, Cape St. Lawrence – Pony,  Honorable Mention –  Dupie-Milne Ashton,  North River Little Falls,  5) Best People – Janet Hutchingson, Lawrence, Kansas,  Honorable Mention – Bob Harrison, Skyline,  6) Best Animal – Bull Moose, Skyline,  Bob Harrison,  Honorable Mention – Pony, Cape St. Lawrence, – Bob Harrison.

The photos below will be uploaded to the web site in a next few days.

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North River Big Falls

Fellow Hiker and Guide, Mary MacDonald, recently sent me some great pictures of the guided hike out to North River Big Falls during the Hike the Highlands Festival. It was a beautiful sunny day on Sept. 20 and a high of 26 degrees during their hike. Guide David Williams led the hike with sweep Derek Quann. Interesting enough we had four nurses on this hike.  North River Falls are the highest waterfalls in Nova Scotia, over 100 feet.

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Sunny & Hot Day (26 degrees) for North River Guided Hikes

Another great sunrise this morning at Ingonish Centre. North River Guided Walks on the Big Falls and Little Falls trails enjoyed sunny conditions with a high of 26 degrees on the seventh day of the Hike the Highlands Festival today (Sept. 20). 36 hikers enjoyed the protected areas of North River Provincial Park in Victoria County.  A number of nurses were among the hikers today. 

Today’s evening presentation by BethSheila Kent on “Strictly for the Birds and North River Little Falls Hike” was enjoyed by 20 plus people at the Chanterelle Inn, North River.  Many thanks to Earlene Busch and her staff for allowing us to use the great evenue for this event.

Tomorrow’s guided hike is Red Island at Indian Brook near St. Ann’s Bay United Church beginning at 2:30 pm.  Weather forecast is sunny with a high of 19. Friday’s evening presentation is “Wild Wonders of Diverse Landscapes by Marie Stradeski at 7 pm in the Heather room, Glenghorm Beach Resort, Ingonish. Note: This will be the last presentation of the festival. Closing ceremonies are Saturday, Sept. 22 in the evening,.

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