Tips for the Start of Hiking Season

Jack Pine, Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Generally, the Victoria Day weekend is the start of the hiking season in the Cape Breton Highlands area for many hikers. You can expect wet conditions, some windfalls, cold temps, winds and much more. Here are some tips to get ready for the season:

1) develop a checklist for your hiking equipment, then review the condition of each item, make notes of what is needed to be replaced. Then make sure everything is packed before you go out hiking on the trail. The checklist should include the following – whistle, map,  rain gear, layers, trekking poles,  extra pair of smart wool socks,  gaiters, jacket, first aid kit, knife,  hat, sun glasses, bug spray, and a  camera with extra batteries etc.

2) Develop a training plan – a)  start your hiking season with short hikes, b) then move on to medium hikes and then c) longer hikes.  Build your strength up, get used to your equipment and then you are ready for some hiking challenges.

3)  Every hiking season brings many special moments and memories. Always bring your camera with you, bring extra batteries and memory card. You never know what you might run into or find yourself in the right place at right time. Below is a pick of a spruce grouse that I almost ran into on the Clyburn Valley hiking trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park on the long weekend in May.

Spruce Grouse, Clyburn Valley, CBHNP

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Day 10 – Smokey Towers & Clyburn Valley

Group Picture on top of the summit at Smokey Towers - Photo by Chrissie Hawley

Forty hikers enjoyed the last two hikes of the festival on day 10, Sept 19 at Smokey Towers and Clyburn Valley…..the sun was with us on the last day of the festival. It was a sad day for many us – saying good-byes …the days seemed to go by fast.  Alot of  new friendships were made and old friendships re-kindle…

Below are some pictures of the Clyburn Valley hike…. Next year’s festival dates have been set – Sept. 9 – 18, 2011. 

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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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Cape Breton Highlands National Park – Staff picks: Trails

MacIntosh Brook, CBHNP

Hiking is one of the most popular activities of visitors to Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  Staff have been asked for their picks of hiking trails to help visitors enjoy the National Park experience.  Ten were selected and they are 1) L’Acadien, 2) Franey, 3) Bog,  4) Jack Pine, 5) Skyline, 6) Glasgow Lakes Look-off,  7) MacIntosh Brook, 8) Salmon Pools, 9) Broad Cove Mountain and 10) Middle Head.  All of them are great choices.

Here are my ten picks of  hiking trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park – 1)  Franey,  2) Clyburn Valley,  3)  Broad Cove Mountain, 4) Le Buttereau,  5)  L’Acadien, 6)  Salmon Pools, 7) Coastal which includes Jack Pine, 8) Middle Head, 9) Fishing Cove and  10) Skyline.  I enjoy taking photos and the above ten hiking trails in the Cape Breton Highlands National park provide me with great photo opportunities.

What are your favorite hiking trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park ? Send me your comments….and why they are your favorites ? Hikers like to hear other opinions on trails.

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Clyburn Valley Hike full of surprises

Every once in awhile you get lucky with some pictures – being in the right place at right time. That is how I can describe my hike recently on the Clyburn Valley Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  It was full of surprises with flora and fauna and of course great scenery. I got lucky and was able to get close to two pileated woodpeckers, and a grouse during my hike.

This trail continues to be one of my all time favorites. I always enjoy walking along the river, see Franey mountain in the foreground,  the Clyburn Valley, the hardwood stands,  the boulders, and the gold mine building ruins.  It is a popular trail to see a moose and last year at Hike the Highlands Festival our group did see one.   

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Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl, Clyburn Valley

Sometimes you get lucky when you are hiking and see some amazing flora and fauna. My wife took her sister’s dog Bailey for a walk recently on the Clyburn Valley Hiking trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park and came across a Great Horned Owl.  Generally you hear an owl before seeing one.  She was amaze at how close the owl let her come and take a picture. Photo taken by Canon A720 camera with 6 optical zoom. 

The Clyburn Valley Hiking trail was one of the 24 guided hikes in the 2008 Hike the Highlands Festival.

Below is a short video (5 min.) on the Great Horned Owl.

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Clyburn Valley and Plaster Hikes – Last Day of Festival

The last day of the festival provided hikers with a beautiful sunny day and easy hikes on the Clyburn Valley hiking trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the Plaster hiking trail at Plaster Provincial Day Park.  It was a fitting way to close out the festival and say goodbye to many friends we made during the festival.

Thanks to guides Suzanne Lambert and Nona Dyke and sweeps Lisa Dixon, Chrissie Hawley and Mary An Wilson for an informative and relaxing day of hiking on two special trails in Victoria County.  Today, our festival welcome our newest & youngest member to our festival team – sweep Chrissie Hawley on the Clyburn Valley hike.

Please find a few pictures on the Clyburn Valley Hike today –

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Clyburn Valley Hike is back in 2008

One of my favorite all time hikes has always been the Clyburn Valley Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  It is a trail for all seasons as the trail is groomed for cross country skiing in the winter. One winter,  I was very lucky and saw a rare snowy owl on this trail just before the Gold Mine cabin.  This trail is a guided hike in the Hike the Highlands Festival this year on Sunday, September 21 at 10:00 am. 

There are so many nice features about this trail – you walk along the Clyburn River,  you past by one of the world’s top golf courses Highlands Links,  fish the Clyburn river for trout, you can explore the Gold Mine Buildings, see wildlife -usually moose, and birds,  plus hugh rocks that came down Franey Mountain. The trail is 9kms return and is relatively flat terrain most of the way.

Here are a few pics below I took the other day while hiking the Clyburn Valley trail.

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Smart Wool Socks – A Hikers Dream

Smart Wool Sock - Medium Cushion Hikng Sock

Recently, I had a chat with Debra Ryan, President of Hike Nova Scotia about long distance hikes , socks and hiking boots.  She indicated how Smart Wool Socks worked well with her 4 day hike at Kejimkujik National Park and I talked about doing the West Highland Way next year in Scotland – 95 miles over 8 days. 

I managed to pick up a pair of Smart Wool socks -medium cushion, at the Outdoor Store in Baddeck – they are more expensive than your normal sock – run you $16.95 to $20.00.   I tried them out on the Clyburn Valley Hiking Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park – left from our house, down the road to trail about 10 km return. The temperature was about 30 degrees. Came back took my boot off and then sock – feet dry but sock wet. Really do work. I found them very comfortable – I had the medium cushion sock. I did not use a liner sock.   

If you want to check out smart wool reviews from other hikers visit –
LLBean , Eastern Mountain Sports, REI, and Seirra Trading Post.

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