Hiking & Walking
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The Jodrey Trail, Blomindon Provincial Park in 2019
It’s been several decades since I hiked the Jodrey trail and all I remember about it was that it was muddy and steep. Guess what? it’s still steep. The trail climbs 190m winding through hardwood forests up, up and up! I know 190m is not much for the lot of you fit as a fiddle folk-but it is for me and it’s one of the reasons I wanted to try it again. Was it as hellish as I remembered? It wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong. The Jodrey Trail is no walk in the park. I was breathing pretty heavy way before I got to the top. But with age comes…
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Hiking Up Moses Mountain
Update! Apparently someone has seen fit to remove both the flag at the trail head and the one at the top of the trail. Grr. I always pre-hike an unfamiliar trail in preparation for a guided trek, so we planned this hike on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. This was attempt #2- we previously hiked what we thought was Moses Mountain-but nope. We are nothing if not stubborn,so today, through a somewhat circuitous route, we managed to drag ourselves to the top. How to Get There Take exit 5 from Highway 101, turn left from the off-ramp towards Windsor and then right on highway 1. Turn left onto Highway…
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Black Rock Fundy Shore Trail-A Hike Uncompleted
This blog allows me to impart information-I hope useful-to others and to report my successes and also those outings that were….let’s say less successful than I would like. A recent hike along the Black Rock Fundy Shore Trail was one of those outings. On a cool overcast May morning, we set out to do the 7.8 km Fundy Shore trail, starting from the Black Rock Community Centre. We weren’t newbies to the trail system; we’ve done shorter trails there before.But I have always wanted to do the one along the shore line. The community has done a wonderful job with trail upkeep and the Black Rock Fundy Shore trail is…
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Economy River Falls
Updated June 3rd. The trail to the falls is now cleared and is not a jungle anymore-thanks to whoever did the bush whacking It’s been years since I have been to Economy Falls-can’t even guess at how long. But being semi retired means one can pick up and go when the mood strikes them-usually. That’s what we did on a recent beautiful spring day -just packed a lunch and headed out for beautiful Colchester County. and the hike to the falls. First though, we had to get to the trail head. The road was a tad rough. Then at the trail head, we had to practically bush wack our way…
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Meandering to Meander River Falls
It was a perfect day to attempt to find the Meander River Falls-not too cold, not too hot, not raining and not icy,like the last attempt.. It was just right. Good thing too, because we spent an inordinate amount of time, while still heading in the general direction of where we thought the falls would be,climbing up and down the ravine in search of the trail.Great leg workout,though. There were sections that absolutely resembled a path where humans trod. Others I’m pretty sure were game trails…which we gamely followed. The path is clear once you step off the road, easily leading you to the falsehood that it will be that…
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What Not To Wear (on Your Summer Hike)
We are all familiar with the concept of layering, especially here in Nova Scotia where the weather can go from snow, to rain to humid and hot -not only in a matter of hours but within the distance of a few kilometers. (Everyone knows Mount Uniacke has its own weather system, am I right?) But what if you are heading out on a day hike on a sticky July Saturday? Here ,in a nutshell, is what you need to know when thinking about hiking clothing for summer. Bottom line for hiking tops: Cotton breathes & soaks up sweat-which can keep you cool but also allow you to…
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Polly’s Cove Hiking Trail
It took me three tries, but I finally found the Polly’s Cove hiking trail. And it’s not because it’s all that hard to find either. I don’t know what that says about me. We won’t go there, I guess. The parking at the trail head is sparse indeed- 4 vehicles would mean each being perfectly parked. Highway 333 is winding with some sharp corners and there is very little in the way of shoulder so not the safest place to park by the side of the road. There is another small parking lot just down the road (towards Peggy’s Cove).That just means a short hike before your hike. The terrain…
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Hiking Etiquette On and Off the Trail
As someone who hikes fairly frequently, I have noticed a marked increase in trail use over the last 10 years. Like all activities involving the human race, more people can sometimes equal more rudeness, carelessness and frustration, most of which can be virtually eliminated by adhering to a few (mostly) unspoken rules. For instance, who has the right of way on a trail? The hierarchy so to speak goes like this: Bikers yield to hikers. That being said, I have often stepped out of the way of a stream of bikers furiously peddling along the path-it’s just easier. Hikers yield to horses- although that is something I have yet to…
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Winter Walk at Keji
Anyone who knows me knows I love Kejimkujik National Park for all kinds of reasons. I can jump on my bike like a wild and fearless 11 year old and rock along the narrow trail from Slapfoot to Jake’s Landing, pack a bologna sandwich and kayak traditional Mi’kmaq waterways, swim under a falls, hike an old growth forest, roast hot dogs under a canopy of stars , take in a night theater or a guided walk…so much to do. Keji is a mecca for families, couple and solo campers with over 350 campsites pretty much filled every weekend from May to October. But it’s not simply known for camping and it’s…
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Forest Lakes Trails -Hike to Cameron Lake
Don’t you love Facebook events? It’s an opportunity to find trails I would probably never know about. This was the case on a recent frosty Sunday when a couple of friends and I took advantage of a guided trail along the Forest Lakes Trail system in Ardoise. Forest Lakes is a country club with luxury seasonal and overnight housing rentals and real estate. Out of my price range ? Absolutely. No matter. The trails are open to everyone. I suspect this was a marketing maneuver to get people up close and personal with their property. And why not? But with my my less than stylish hiking gear-I was wearing my…
