Deciding to do this hike was a matter of opening a 'Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality' guidebook and flipping through the pages until I found something interesting that was at least 10K. This Admiral Lake Loop was 'bang on' the distance and rated at "possibly the most challenging in the book" (a detail I filtered through an understanding of the rating standard).
My husband @hammerhead and I loved it. A great mix of boulders, ups and downs, lookoffs with rewarding lake views and the Atlantic Ocean off in the distance.
High clouds , a temperature hovering at the 0 degree mark, no wind - all in all this hike was a perfect Sunday afternoon solution for exploring a new hiking trail.
The perspective /view of Skull Rock Lookoff from below, hiking the Rail Trail back to the Trailhead, a short distance from Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Skull Rock Lookoff, the highest elevation of the trail's four lookoff points (a lot for a 10K hike!). It will be fun to hike this trail again in summer to compare the vegetation view.
This section of boulders - The Cave - reminded me of Mahoosuc Notch on the Appalachian Trail, except it was a matter of metres and not a mile! Quite a majestic and magical little section here with @hammerhead.
These icicles and very few patches of ice on the trail were the only seasonal signs we were hiking in February. No complaints here, no icy fingers taking photos!