Hiking above the Clouds – Cape Smokey

Trails Day, Saturday, June 4th, 2011

On International Trails Day, Saturday, June 4th, we hiked the Cape Smokey hiking trail , a 11km seacoast trail that features a number of scenic look-offs – seven in total.  The look-offs are located over 900 feet from water on high granite cliffs. Besides the hike today, our tasks were to clean-up the final look-off and trim limbs and branches on the way out. It was Hike the Highlands  way of giving something  back to one of Cape Breton Highlands favorite hiking trails.

Unfortunately, we did not get to see much on the way out as it was a thick of fog. It started to clear a bit on the end and yes even the sun came out. My friend, Tim found the geocache at the end of the trail and that made his day. Locals call the end of the trail – the green spot. It is a wonderful view when it is clear and you can see Ingonish Harbour, Middle Head and Ingonish Island  and the bays – North and South. We could hear the lobster boats below and their engines as well the harbour buoy- a fog horn.

Coming back as the sky got clear and we stop a few times at the look-off near the coasts. It was evident by the views, we were hiking above the clouds that day. A great way to end the International Trails Day in Nova Scotia. Hope your day was special too. Below is a few pics of the day.

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2010 Hiking Schedule Announced

Money Point (Gulch)

The 2010 schedule of hikes for the 7th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival is out now…There will be 24 guided hikes over ten days – Sept. 10-19.  Three new hikes will be offered this year – Polletts Cove (18km), Money Point Light (14 km) and Le vieux chemin du Cap-Rouge ( 6km).  Hikes coming back in 2010 include Cape Smokey, Acadien,  Benjies Lake, Bog,  and Money Point (Gulch). Hikers who enjoy photography will like the new trails added and the hikes back for 2010. Outstanding scenery will be enjoyed.

Two of the new hikes, Polletts Cove & Money Point Light are rated the highest yet for level of difficulty – 5E and will require the hiker to be in good physical condition, wear hiking boots,  use trekking poles, and carry the appropriate food & water.  The above hikes will begin at 9:00 am. and are expected to take most of the day. Hikers must dress appropriately and be prepared for all conditions. Le vieux chemin du Cap-Rouge is a new trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park built on the old Cabot Trail.

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2008 Festival Dates Announced

On behalf of the board of directors for the Hike the Highlands Festival Society, I am pleased to announced the 2008 dates. Next year’s festival will take place from September 12-21, 2008. “Hikers have been getting used to this time of the year & our great weather, and so it was appropriate to stay the course, ” says Tom C. Wilson, Chair, Hike the Highlands Festival Society.

Our committee has already started working on next year festival and  the first tasks on the agenda were to review evaluations from Hikers, our Guides and Sweeps  and look at next year’s Hiking Schedule and Trails.  The committee should be announcing in the next month or so the 2008 Schedule of Hikes for the Festival.

Our team of volunteers, partners and sponsors look forward to serving you in 2008.

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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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Thank-you to an Amazing Team of Volunteers, Partners & Sponsors

A ten-day festival takes a number of volunteers to put on and an organizing committee that is well versed, experienced and committed. Hike the Highlands was fortunate to have both, as well an amazing team of guides and sweeps to lead 18 guided hikes during the festival. My sincere thanks to all of you for a job well done. It has been a pleasure to work with a such a great team.

As equally important, the festival partners and sponsors play a major role in the success of this festival. Thanks to all our festival partners – Cape Breton Highlands National Park,  NS Health Promotion & Protection, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation,  Glenghorm Beach Resort,  NS Tourism, Culture, & Heritage,  DCBA, City Printers,  Moving Forward with New Media Team,  and Aliant.  Thanks to all our sponsors who have contributed to our festival –  Ingonish Freshmart, Victoria Farmers Co-op,  St. Margaret’s Village Co-op, Neil’s Harbour Co-op, Pharachoice, Neil’s Harbour, Shopper’s Drug Mart, Sydney, Lynn’s Craft Shop, Ingonish Gift Company, Dino’s One Stop, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Billy Budge, Bill Danielson,  Coastal Waters Restaurant,  Novico – Upper Cove Store,  Ingonish Home Hardware, Ingonish Chalets,  Doucette’s Rite Stop,  Margaret Karrel, Blue Heron Gift Shop, High Wheeler,  Baddeck Home Hardware,  The Outdoor Store,  Zodiac Adventures,  Fisherman’s Daughter Gift Shop, Pharmasave, Neil’s Harbour, and Keltic Lodge & Spa.

Because of this team, the 4th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival was such a great success. Thank-you to all of you for your contribution and committment to this festival. An Amazing Team……

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Last Day of the 2007 Hike the Highlands Festival

It is a sad day in the Cape Breton Highlands today…this is the last day of the Hike the Highlands Festival.  It has been a wonderful ten days of hiking and making new friends. The weather cooperated throughout the festival and our meterologist, Bill Danielson, did a great job giving us sunny conditions for the most of the festival. 

Forty hikers enjoyed the last two guided hikes today at Corney Brook and Uisge Ban Falls. Yesterday, 50 hikers hiked Franey and Middlehead trails during another beautiful sunny day.  Altogether over 460 hikers enjoyed hiking the 18 guided hikes during the festival.  

The closing ceremonies on Saturday night featured a slide show of many of the hikes during the festival,  thank-you (s) to volunteers, festival partners & sponsors, hikers and communities, door prizes and food.  It was an evening of celebration and thanking hikers, volunteers, festival partners and sponsors for a wonderful festival.

In closing, thanks to all of you for making the 4th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival such a great success and for an  amazing 10 days of hiking in the Highlands. See you back next year.

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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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Festival Starts tomorrow – Friday, Sept. 14

The big day has arrived and  our committee is excited and ready to welcome hikers to the 4th annual Hike the Highlands Festival.  Five new hikes, all new evening presentations, opening and closing ceremonies are just some of the reasons why you should not miss our festival. Spectacular highlands & ocean scenery, exploring nature, and being active are  just some of the experiences you will have during the festival. Hikers are friendly people and  you will have a chance to have many conversations and make new friends. You should feel rejuvenated when you leave this festival.

The festival headquarters are located at the Heather room at the Glenghorm Beach Resort, Ingonish from Sept. 14-23.  The registration desk will be open on Friday, Sept. 14 from 3:00 pm. – 9:00 pm, Saturday, Sept. 15 from 8:00 am. – 12:00 noon and  6:00 pm. – 8:00 pm and on Sunday, Sept. 16 from 8:00 am. – 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. – 8:00 pm.  You can still register for the festival 1) on-line or at the 2) Heather room or 3) at the trailhead of the hike. Glenghorm Beach Resort is also home to the Thirsty Hiker Pub….. that features nightly entertainment throughout the festival.  Ask at the registration desk in the Heather room, about specials for hikers in the Hike the Highlands Festival.

A new feature this year will be a daily post on this blog to keep people informed on the festival activities & events.  I will probably have a few more surprises for you. So drop by often and find out more about our great festival.  Note: The lady in the picture is Mary MacDonald, one of Hike the Highlands festivals Guides, and also a park interpreter, CBHNP, enjoying the view from Franey Hiking Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. She will be guiding on the Jack Pine and Jigging Cove Lake Hikes in the festival.

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Jigging Cove Lake

I have the pleasure of sharing with you an article written by Mary MacDonald, one of the guides in this year’s Hike the Highlands Festival and Park Interpreter, CBHNP.  

Jigging Cove Lake – Mary MacDonald, Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Jigging Cove Lake trail provides hikers an opportunity to immerse themselves in a rich Acadian forest habitat with strong Boreal components without having to endure steep climbs.  For those speedier hikers who don’t wish to linger too long in one spot, the whole trail can be done in an hour.   The trailhead and first few meters of the hike are quite unassuming.  However, as the trail unravels, you soon find yourself catching glimpses of a lake sparkling between Spruce and Maple trees swaying in the wind.   The trail descends towards the lake where it splits to the right and left.  Before continuing on your adventure, I recommend taking a few more steps closer to the lake to take in the wonderful view before you.  

Jigging Cove Lake is a magical spot teeming with life.  You may catch a glimpse of a moose enjoying the cool water, a green frog sitting on a lily pad, or hear the splash of fish jumping for insects. Regardless of which direction you choose to circle the lake, you will be serenaded by a number of birds including Black-Capped Chickadees, Nuthatches, Juncos, and Palm Warblers.  Their distinctive songs are a perfect accompaniment to the many shades of greenery that surround.   Crossing the occasional small bridge, take a moment to listen to the sounds of the streams as water rushes over moss covered rocks.  Sections of the trail shaded by Spruce, Fir, and Yellow Birch will open up into lush fern thickets that blanket either side of the trail.  While hiking the trail it is possible to spot the soft needles of the Tamarack rising above the abundant Sheep Laurel.Jigging Cove Lake is one of the 18 Guided hikes featured at the 4th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival taking place from September 14-23, 2007 in Inverness & Victoria Counties.  The festival Headquarters are located at the Heather room,  Glenghorm Beach Resort, Ingonish during the festival.   For more information on the festival and how to register visit : http://www.hikethehighlandsfestival.com

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Hike the Highlands – Google My Maps

Hike the Highlands Festival web site uses google my maps to help hikers find the trailhead,  pictures of the trails and trails descriptions.  Videos will be added later. This new technology makes it easier for the hiker to plan what hikes they will be doing during the festival.  Visit our map page on our festival web site for more information. To get a glimsp of some of things google my maps offers see our slideshow below.

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