Journal Entries

Day 1:

One cool thing about the High Peaks region is that there are a ton of lean-to style shelters for caping in all throughout the trail system. Additionally, there are a lot of tent sites in various locations as well, sometimes near the shelter, and other times in completely different places. All camping is free of charge - they way we like it. It reminded us a lot of the AT. Why can't we have this in Canada? Maybe it exists somewhere, be we haven't found it yet.

Day 1:

One thing we are learning about the Adirondacks is that the trails tend to be wet. Sometimes really wet. As if someone decided that the easiest way to build a trail was to route is straight up the middle of a creek.

Day 1

Day 1:

At the trail head, in high spirits, especially considering the fact that we seem to have dodged the worst of the rain before heading out.

Day 1:

When planning for our trip, we learned that the use of bear canisters is required in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. The regulations on the website say that hard-sided bear canisters are required, thus Ursacks are out. Bear Vault canisters and Ursack bags are the only two forms of food protection readily available where we live, and thus we ordered a Bear Vault.

Unbeknownst to us however was the fact that the black bears in the region have figured out how to brute force their way through Bear Vault canisters, as was shown on display at the visitor centre near the trail head. Thankfully the ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) loaned us a different brand for our trip, free of charge.

Needless to say, I will be returning our unused Bear Vault to MEC, and informing them that perhaps they should consider stocking a more effective brand.

Great hike! - but grateful to get back to the parking lot, sit down and take off the muddy shoes and soggy socks. I would definitely do this hike again. Photo is on the blurry side - @hammerhead photographer/hubbie/hiking partner might have been feeling a bit wiped-out too :-)

Beautiful long view overlooking the bay. It's Canada Day weekend (July 1st) - the water is carrying faint sounds of a motorized vehicle rally on the beach below.

Wonderful to have two women friends join me on September 5th for a long hike - about 25K, the perimeter of The Bluff Wilderness Trail, https://wrweo.ca/wrweo2014/BluffTrail/webMap.html - close to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This trail has four connected loops, excellent for choosing a trail depending on time frame, desire, and stamina. The first loop, Pot Lake Loop, has plenty of roots, rocks and boulders to navigate. A good workout with views for the effort. Pressing in to the back two loops, Bluff Loop and Hay Marsh Loop, you’re rewarded with a wilderness experience with open views of lakes, huge rocks (erratics) with some camping spots if you wish to make it a two-day adventure. Our day was warm with the occasional (very welcome) breeze, no bugs - limited wildlife: a few birds and two small green snakes.

In late August 2016 park officials visited to inspect the first segment of the trail, extending from the head of Tutka Bay to an alpine valley.

We spent the day riding around the big, open backcountry of Yellowstone National Park with Wilderness Pack Trips. It was my first time seeing Yellowstone from the back of the horse, and now I can't wait to do it again. Up next: blog post and video chronicling our day.