Great Start for 2011 Hike the Highlands

Middle Head Group Pic by Sam Schwartz

The 8th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival got off to a great start with forty -two hikers enjoying the first hike of the festival – Middle Head in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  There were lots of hugs as friends said hi again. Sunny conditions and a great sunset provided some nice backgrounds for pictures.

The hikers return after the hike to our new festival headquarters, St. John’s Hall, for a meet & greet and opening ceremonies.  They were treated to snacks and a slideshow of last year’s hikes.

Today’s hikes are White Point to Burnt Head and Sugar Loaf , both popular hikes with great views of seacoast scenery. It will be windy today but gives us the opportunity for some great pictures of the waves breaking on the coastline.

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Day 4 – Sugar Loaf & More Spectacular Views

 The NHN trails hike in Cape North provided a scenic view of South Harbour along with Peak Tenerife and Sugar Loaf Mountains.  A picnic lunch sponsored by St. Paul`s Island Historical Society was enjoyed by all  hikers at Cabot Landing Provincial Park before embarking on Sugar Loaf mountain hike. Sugar Loaf views at the summit did not disappoint but hikers earned it by completing a tough climb up & down.

The day ended with an amazing evening presentation, “A Bird’s Eye View – discover the birds of Cape Breton and the habitants they call home”,  by Suzanne Lambert, Park Intrepreter, Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

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A Challenging Experience – Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks

Teams at the 2010 Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge

The 1st Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge took place July 17 with 10 teams participating.  Pattern a bit after the UK 3 peaks Challenge, hikers were challenged to hike  Franey, Sugar Loaf and Acadien mountains in 12 hours or less which also included 2.5 hrs driving to the mountains. Each Peak ranged from 1400-1500 in elevation  with total hiking distance of 21 kms and over 4000 in elevation. The event began at 7:00 am. and finished before 7:00 pm.

On top of Franey Mountain, one of the 3 Peaks, in the 2010 Cape Breton 3 Peaks Challenge, July 17th.

Teams were impressed by the views at the top of each peak, the physical challenge and the experience this new event provided.  It was a great start for this new event and many are looking forward to next year.  Our Hike the Highlands festival team enjoyed meeting all the new hikers &  teams.  

"Certin to be Hurtin" team, one of the ten teams who completed the CB Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge

 Thanks to all the teams, and partners for making this 1st CB Highlands 3 Peaks a success and for your input in evaluation, suggestions and recommendations in helping planning for next year’s event. The event was hosted by Hike the Highlands Festival with assistance from Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Thanks to Lori Burke, an avid Cape Breton hiker who completed the UK 3 Peaks Challenge, for all her planning assistance with this event.

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2010 Cape Breton’s 3 Peaks Challenge coming up – July 17

Sugar Loaf Mountain - One of 3 Peaks

Ten teams have registered to date for the 1st Cape Breton Highlands 3 Peaks Challenge on July 17th.  The event has generated alot of interested by hikers as well the media community includng CBC and Canadian Geographic Magazine.  The Cape Breton 3 Peaks Challenge is all about hiking Franey, Sugar Loaf and Acadien mountains in 12 hrs – 7am. to 7pm.

The 3 peaks challenge involves approximately 9 hrs of hiking, 4300 in total elevation, 21 kms,  and 2.5 hours driving. This is a team event , four members to a team that includes a team captain. It is pattern a bit from the UK 3 Peaks Challenge.  Their challenge is 24 hrs long , hiking 43 kms and over 500 km driving.  

Their is still time to register a team for this event – deadline July 9th. Registration fee  is $100 per team and includes a souvenir t-shirt and a Parks Canada 125th Anniversary souvenir.  This event is hosted by the Hike the Highlands Festival with assistance from Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

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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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Photography Workshops

Wally Hayes, Jack Pine Trail, CBHNP

The 6th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival will be offering Outdoor Nature Photography workshops during the ten day hiking festival, Sept. 11-20, 2009.  Instructor & professional photographer, Wally Hayes,  is reknown for his incredible photos with NS Tourism, Culture, & Heritage now totalling over 600,000. Many can be seen on novascotia.com website as well in the Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers Guide – Travel Guide. He is also well known for his incredible Audio Visual presentations (Wally Vision),  and now a very popular NS Blogger.

He will be offering two workshops – one each weekend during the hiking festival on Outdoor Nature Photography.  The first one is Friday, Sept. 11, 2009  at  1:30 pm.  and the second one – Friday at Sept. 18th, 2009 at 1:30 pm.  

Loon

The workshop will cover scenics, landscapes and nature subjects, including closeup or macro photography. Bring your camera as this is a hands on workshop on hiking trails. You must pre-register for this workshop. Limited to 25 participants.
You may get lucky and capture a photo of a loon on Freshwater Lake or Warren Lake in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park during the festival.

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