Hiking Resolutions – 2012

Sun reflecting off the ice

As new year begins, many hikers take time to reflect on the past year,2011 and what it was for them. Hikers remember the trails they hiked, the people they have meet, those incredible photos taken and those special memories.

It is now time to plan and prepare for the 2012 season… 1) One of the first things I like to do is review my equipment & its condition, do a complete  inventory and see what is needed to purchase for this year. Looks like it will be a new pair of boots and daypack,  2)  Develop a fitness plan for the winter and spring as well set kilometre goals for 2012.  I know that to stay in shape I need to do so many kilometres each year but I am careful not to become a fitness hiker where I miss those special moments with nature & photos. I have set a lofty goal of 1000 kms in 2012, 3) Improve my photography & creative skills  with the camera and take more 5 stars pictures.

Ice in the brook

And finally, 4) Develop a wish list of a new trails and challenges to explore. These include a) the hike a 100 km  for the Hikers Distance Award at the Hike the Highlands festival,  b) Complete the Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge ( hike 3 mountains in one day on Saturday, July 21, 2012,  c) hike Snowdon Mountain, Wales, the last of the UK 3 Peaks Challenge mountains to hike, d) East Coast Trail in Newfoundland and Labrador, and e) Cape Chignecto.  Other challenges on my list include Ride for Diabetes in June at Little Bras d”Or, , Cycling the Confederation Trail (300 km) in PEI and doing the Not Since Moses 10k/5k Walk & Run event.

Wow it certainly plans to be a busy year….Have you started planning your schedule for hiking in 2012 ?  I wish all hikers happiness, good health and lots of hiking in 2012.

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When you Believe, A Challenge is Attainable

2011 Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge - July 16th

Eighteen teams believed and took the challenge on – hiking three mountains in one day at the Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge, July 16th.  They all made it in safely and the organizers, Hike the Highlands Festival Society, are extremely proud of their accomplishments. Thanks to all the teams for participating in this event.

Seventy-two hikers hiked Franey in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Roberts Mountain in Pleasant Bay, and Acadien in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, in weather that featured showers & drizzle throughout the day and great hiking temperatures – 10-15 degrees. Interesting to note the following day features hot, sunny weather with temperatures over 30 degrees.

One of my highlights of my day was on Acadien hiking trail going up Cheticamp River Valley and hearing the sound of a flowing stream along the hiking trail.

The day ended with a closing reception and door prizes. One of the questions asked for door prizes was “How many steps did you take while doing the Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge, answer is 42,968 steps. Thanks to our two partners – Cape Breton Highlands National Park and Les Amis du Plein Air for all their assistance with this event.

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75 km Hiking Challenge – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Bull Moose on Le vieux chemin du Cap Rouge

The 75th Anniversary Cape Breton Highlands National Park in 2011 has provided hikers with a new challenge – hike  75 km from May to October. It also provides you with a wonderful opportunity to see the whole park,  its great scenery, wildlife and plants. And of course to get in shape for more events such as CB Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge and 8th Annual Hike the Highlands festival in September.

Hikers are required to keep track of your trails hiked and dates, record them on paper, signed it and pass it into the Parks Canada Cheticamp or Ingonish Visitor Information Centre where you will receive some 75th Anniversary prizes. Note: Hikers can only hike each trail once.  Be sure to take your camera with you and take lots of pictures.  Below are just a few of the pictures I took while completing the 75 km hiking challenge.

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Amazing Day of Hiking

It was our first sunny weekend in weeks or maybe months, and all I could think of was hiking, taking off km in the 75 km hiking Challenge – Cape Breton Highlands National Park and geocaching. I was getting the car packed when I heard a loon call out loud a yodle in front of my property on St. Ann’s Harbour.

I was off to Cheticamp and Cape Breton Highlands National Park to hike Acadien trail with the Les Amis du Plein Air hiking group at 8:30 am. I was a few minutes late but caught up with group later.  An incredible view at the top of this mountain and Cheticamp. I met alot of nice people with this group. Acadien is one of the 3 Peaks in the Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge on July 16.

I also managed to hike that day Le Chemin du Buttereau and le Buttereau, Benjies Lake, MacIntosh Brook, Bog and Jack Pine. It was close to a 20 km hiking day… At Benjies Lake, I came across a big bull moose but he let me passed and on the bog trail I got to hear and see a green frog. I close off the day getting 4 geocaches.. Below are a few pics of my amazing day of hiking.

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2nd Annual Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge

Roberts Mountain, Pleasant Bay

The big event is coming ….just 7 weeks to prepare and get ready for the Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge on Saturday, July 16, 2011 .. The challenge is to hike 3 mountains in one day – Franey (1400 ft), Roberts Mtn. (1400 ft) and Acadien(1500 ft).  Three of the highest and steepest mountains in Cape Breton. This event is open to 15 teams – 4 members to a team. One member must be the team captain and help organize and prepare the team for this event.

The day begins at 7:00 am at Franey at the Trailhead sign and concludes at the Acadien hiking trail. After finishing the last hike, teams will be asked to check into the Nature Bookstore inside the Parks Canada Information Centre at Cheticamp. A short reception & closing ceremonies will follow at the Main Theatre in the Visitor Centre building.

The registration fee for the Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge is $100 per team and includes a souvenir t-shirt for each member, Cape Breton Highlands National Park 75th Anniversary souvenir plus the closing ceremonies and reception. Teams can register and pay online. The event is hosted by Hike the Highlands Festival Society with assistance from Cape Breton Highlands National Park and Les Amis du Plein Air.

Register soon to be a part of this unique hiking challenge on Cape Breton Island.

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Hiking Franey in early May

Spring hiking means wet conditions, streams and brooks to cross, and using your trekking poles and wearing your gaiters. But don’t forget about snow...Franey is one of your classic hikes in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park – incredible views on top and a nice aerobic workout.

It was around the 4th hill that I noticed more snow as hiked to the top of the mountain. The 5th hill had snow as well.  While at the top I took a few pictures of the Clyburn Valley showing there was snow on the mountains. Going down Franey you take an old fire road and this is where I really notice snow. Some places were 3-5 ft deep but I was lucky it was packed and I didn’t sink. The snow stayed close to halfway down the mountain and then there was ponds and streams to get around. Franey is one of three peaks hikers will complete in the Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge on July 16th.

Below are some more pictures of my Franey hike in early May

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Franey Hiking Trail – One of the top Ten in Atlantic Canada

Saltscape 10th Anniversary Magazine

Franey Hiking trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park was rated as one of the top ten hiking trails in Atlantic Canada by Saltscapes Magazine in their tenth year anniversary issue  featuring 100 reasons to love Atlantic Canada. …The accolade by Saltscape is no surprise to Hike the Highlands Festival. The view at the top is amazing and it not unusual for hikers to say wow when the see the Clyburn Valley..Franey is always been a classic hiking trail and is the first trail to hike in the new Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge event on July 17.  This team event ( involving 4 members) involves hiking three peaks  – Franey, Sugar Loaf and Acadien in 12 hrs.   Franey is also one of the 24 guided hikes in the 7th annual Hike the Highlands Festival – September 10-19, 2010.

Besides incredibles views at the top of Franey , this hiking trail is noted for wildlife & plants including the Lady Slipper…Below are some pictures of the scenery, lady slipper and Spruce Grouse and Chick.

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Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge

Franey, one of the 3 Peaks

A new hiking event is coming to Cape Breton….on July 17th,  Hike the Highlands Festival with assistance from Cape Breton Highlands National Park will host the Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge.  Pattern a bit from the UK 3 Peaks Challenge,  hikers in teams of  four will hike 3 Peaks in 12 hours… starting at 7:00 am. and finishing around 7:00  pm.

The 3 peaks are Franey, Sugarloaf and Acadien mountains averaging 400 m (1400-1500 feet high) approximately 20 km. The challenge involves approximately 113 kms of driving, and 20 km of hiking. Don’t under estimate the hiking distance, these are 3 of the toughest mountains in Cape Breton Highlands.   It also includes ascending and descending each of the mountains over difficult terrain. Most people will spend approximately 2.5 hrs driving between the peaks, and 9 hours or so walking in the mountains.

Only 15 teams will be accepted in this challenge. Teams comprised of 4 hikers, one must be designated as team captain. The team captain will be responsible for the a) safety and welfare of the team making sure each member is safely down each peak, b) preparing team members for this event . Because of limited parking in two out of three peaks…organizers ask that each team travel in one car.

The registration fee for each team is $100.00 and includes a souvenir t-shirt for each team member and a Parks Canada 125^th anniversary souvenir. The team captain will register his/her team online including team name and members names along with their t-shirt sizes as well pay online. Deadline for registration is Friday, July 2^nd.  Anything after this date, organizers cannot guarantee t-shirts with correct sizes.  Note: July 17th is Parks Day across Canada and there is no fee to use National Parks facilities on July 17th.

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