Day 2 – White Point & Sugar Loaf hikes

White Point

Close to 100 hikers enjoyed the hikes on Day 2 of 2011  Hike the Highlands Festival at White Point and Sugar Loaf . It was a day to enjoy great coastal scenery,  a climb up a steep mountain and to prepare you with some wet weather.

White Point hike provided great coastal scenery, the history of the Unknown sailor and  Two Tittles. This trail is featured in many photos especially Wally Hayes, retired professional photographer with NS Tourism. He enjoyed this trail at sunrise, sunset and during the day.

Sugar Loaf Mountain

Sugar Loaf , one of the classic hikes on Cape Breton Island and also part of 3 Peaks Challenge, made for some quick pictures at the top as the skies opened up with rain.  There are some great pics of nearby mountains, North Harbour and 4 mile beach on the summit.

Day 3 hikes include Meat Cove Mountain and Money Point Gulch, both feature outstanding views at the top of each mountain. Don’t forget your camera on this sunny day.

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Love at First Hike

Sophia & JF

In 2009, a young lassie, Sophia, from England came to Canada for a year to travel and work.  Her first stop was Hike the Highlands Festival…About midway thru the festival she met a lad from PEI who was studing at University of British Columbia. JF was working at Cape Breton Highlands National Park as a park interpreter and during the hiking festival was one of the guides. They met and got to know each other on several hikes during the festival including Lone Shieling, Skyline, and Broad Cove as well at Thirsty Hiker Pub. 

Their relationship continued and love blossomed over the next two years. JF was always proud to say he met Sophia at Hike the Highlands. Recently they were married at University of British Columbia. On behalf of Hike the Highlands team and fellow hikers, congratulations to both of you on your marriage and we wish you all the best.  Hopefully someday you will come back for a visit and see us again at our hiking festival.

Below are some pics of  Sophia and JF at Hike the Highlands Festival in 2009 when they met.  Photo credits to Wally Hayes & Tom Wilson. Thanks Marieve for the title of the Post.

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Day 2 – White Point & Franey

The hiking gods were with us today and all three outdoor events took place on day 2 of  2010 Hike the Highlands Festival, despite a weather forecast that included rain & showers…. The nature & landscape photography workshop orginially scheduled for White Point moved to Black Brook, Cape Breton Highlands National Park,  because of rain. Wally Hayes showed us how to take pictures of waves breaking over rocks and falls pictures.

The White Point/Burnt Head hike led by guide Lisa Dixon had 49 hikers enjoyed the incredible coastal scenery and breaking waves on the coastline.  Showers started at the end of the hike but everyone had made it back in time. The Franey hike in the afternoon attracted 54 hikers, the most ever on this trail, and caused a few parking problems but it worked out ok. The sun came out on top of the mountain to brighten the day & show the spectacular views of the Clyburn Valley.

The evening presentation by Andrew Powter – hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland attracted a nice crowd and lots of interesting questions. At the end of the evening,  Andrew and Juanita  talked about the The  East Coast Trail in Newfoundland and showed pictures of their hikes on this trail.

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Day one of Hike the Highlands went well

Despite overcast skies, and a few rain drops, everything went well on day one of the 2010 Hike the Highlands Festival.  Wally Hayes dazzle us with his amazing knowledge of photography and shared with us some great tips including geotagging your photos, composition, and shooting with macro lens. The Nature & Landscape photography workshop used Middle Head hiking trail as its venue.. The evening hike at Freshwater Lake attracted a number of hikers led by guide Kersti, Park Interpreter, CBHNP.  The day ended with opening ceremonies, and  a Hiker Safety presentation by Erich Muntz, Resource Conservation Supervisor, CBHNP.  

Second day of the festival, Saturday, Sept. 11th, features  1) a Nature & Landscape photography workshop in the morning at 8 am. by Wally Hayes at White Point,  2) hikes at White Point/Burnt Head 10 am.  and Franey at 2 pm. Both hikes are well known for their incredible scenery and led by veteran guides, 3) in the evening, there will be a presentation on hiking the West Highland Way (95 miles), Scotland by Andrew Powter…

Hikers will notice the new blue trailhead signs at all hiking trails in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park this year.  Below are some pictures of the day at Photography workshop

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2010 Hike the Highlands Festival Opens Today

Money Point Gulch Hike

The 7th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival opens today with a Nature & Landscape Photography Workshop, Freshwater Lake Hike and Opening ceremonies.  The 10 day hiking festival runs from Sept. 10 to Sept. 19, 2010.
The festival headquarters & registration desk are located at Glenghorm Beach Resort, Ingonish and is open today at 12:00 noon to 9 pm. 

One of Cape Breton's favorite picture - is Cap Rouge along the Cabot Trail

The festival begins with a  Nature & Landscape Photography workshop with Wally Hayes at 2 pm.  Photographers meet at the Festival Headquarters first…  Opening day hike is Freshwater Lake, a short hike in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, to get the legs moving and begins at 5:30 pm. meet at Ingonish Beach parking lot….  Opening ceremonies follows at 7 pm. and features welcome, a look back at 2009 festival & forward with 2010 festival, Hikers Safety presentation By Erich Munez, CBHNP,  meet & greet, and food. 

It plans to be a great start for the 7th Annual Hike the Highlands festival. Follow us throughtout the 10 days on facebook,  twitter, our blog and our website.

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Nature and Landscape Photography Workshop with Wally Hayes

Wally Hayes, Professional Photographer

Hike the Highlands Festival will offer two Nature & Landscape Photography Workshops by Wally Hayes, professional photographer, on Sept. 10th and Sept. 11th in Ingonish . ……One of Nova Scotia’s top photographer, Wally brings passion and a great love of the outdoors along with his tremendous knowledge and experience as a professional photographer.  He is great friend of this festival for many years and his hiking photos are featured in Doers & Dreamers Guide for Visitors to Nova Scotia as well in ads, presentations and Wally vision shows.  He also enjoys hiking himself in Northern Cape Breton and Cape Breton Highlands National Park. 

The Nature and Landscape workshops will emphasize choosing a subject; composition and lighting; using people effectively in pictures; choosing lenses and apertures to control perspective, subject motion and depth of field. An after workshop debriefing will cover computer enhancement and management of digital images and making panoramas. There are two workshops – first one is Friday, Sept. 10th starting at 2:00 pm. at Middle Head and the second one is Saturday, Sept. 11th beginning  8:00 am. at White Point.  You can register and pay online.

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