Progress Report - July 2011

In Nova Scotia, 2011 will not be remembered for its wonderful summer. There has been rain of some description more than half the days since the beginning of May, and perhaps more frustrating, it has been very unpredictable. The weather this summer has been so changeable that forecasts change every day - sometimes hour by hour.

For example, on one expedition I left Halifax after viewing a forecast that predicted five consecutive days of sunshine - or at worst, mixed sun and cloud. Before I reached the Canso Causeway the weather forecasters were hedging their predictions, even for that day. In the end, there was one day of sun, and three days of rain and fog. at the end of the fourth day, with the latest forecast for more thunderstorms that night, I gave up and returned to Halifax. Instead of the 12 routes I had confidently planned to hike, I had completed only 8, and shorter ones at that.

This has made it difficult to plan longer trips, and I must confess to getting very tired after hiking 20-30 km a day then spending two or three nights in a tent in the rain. Nevertheless, I have been out frequently in July, often in cloudy or rainy weather. Not that I object, particularly, to cloudy weather, but I must admit that photographs generally look better when taken in the sunshine.

As I already mentioned, I was able to get out to Cape Breton for a more extended trip. I managed to complete the following routes:

1. Acadian - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
2. Branch Pond - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
3. Broad Cove
4. Cape Auguet Eco-Trail
5. Cape Mabou
6. Centennial Trail, Port Hawkesbury
7. Coastal - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
8. Egypt Falls
9. Franey - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
10. Judique Flyer
11. Mabou Rivers
12. Middle Head - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
13. Usige Ban Falls
14. Warren Lake - Cape Breton Highlands National Park
15. White Point

In addition, I was also able to hike a few on the mainland:

1. Blomidon Provincial Park
2. Channel Lake - Kejimkujik National Park
3. Crowbar Lake
4. Gold Mines - Kejimkujik National Park
5. Hemlock Hardwoods - Kejimkujik National Park
6. Mersey River - Kejimkujik National Park
7. Peter Point - Kejimkujik National Park
8. New Germany Rail Trail
9. Six Mile Brook

This brings my total, to the end of July, at 57. However, 43 still remain to be done, and it is also uncertain whether I can use all the routes I hiked. Some, such as the Cape Auguet Eco-Trail, were in deadful shape, and can only be trekked by the very experienced - and even then it will be difficult.

However, I still have three months to complete the trails. Stay tuned for future updates, and wish me luck - wish us all luck - with the weather.