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WHAT'S NEW
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Take a hike
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Relax your mind, take in the scenery and enjoy an excellent form of exercise.
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By Jo Napier
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Great trails
Canada offers an endless array of great hiking trails. We've reviewed and rated four favourites:
Easygoing (EG)/ Moderate (M)/ Advanced (A)/ Seriously Challenging (SC)
• The Cape Breton Challenge, Nova Scotia (EG-A)
Beginner to advanced hikers can find challenges and craggy, rough-hewn beauty along Cape Breton's Cabot Trail. Nova Scotia-based FreeWheeling Adventures offers a five-day coastal hike that includes the national park, Cabot Trail and the breathtaking Margaree Valley. (www.freewheelingadventures.com or 1-800-672-0775)
• The Bruce Trail, Southern Ontario (EG-SC)
This 800-kilometre-long, world-renowned footpath is a day hiker's delight. It starts at Queenston Heights on the Niagara River, follows the rugged and scenic Niagara Escarpment around Hamilton, goes up the escarpment past Milton and Caledon, then parallels Georgian Bay and snakes up the Bruce Peninsula to Tobermory. (www.brucetrail.org or 1-800-665-HIKE)
• The West Coast Trail, British Columbia (A-SC)
A national favourite, with its rocky headlands, natural beaches and forests of cedar, spruce and pine, this Vancouver Island trail is part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Access is tightly regulated, so remember to make an advance reservation. (www.westcoasttrailbc.com or call 250-726-7721 for more information. To make reservations, call 1-800-663-6000.)
• The Canol Heritage Trail, Northwest Territories (A-SC)
The terrain is straightforward, the river crossings can be scary and the keys to success -- preparation and forethought -- can't be stressed enough. But the rewards are sublime. (Call 867-587-3514 for more information.)
Hiking tips:
Injuries and ailments sidetrack many hikers, but most problems are preventable. Veteran Vancouver-based hiker Carol Raaymakers, director of sales and marketing for Fresh Tracks Canada, has tackled trails across Canada. She offers these tips for beginner hikers:
• Start slowly and stretch frequently: your first hike should be a brisk walking pace on fairly level terrain -- for two to three hours, maximum.
• Wear proper shoes and clothing. Invest in hiking shoes and break them in before heading out for a long hike.
• Bring along company or consider joining a local hiking club.
• Always carry a first-aid kit and a backpack. For a two- to three-hour hike, you should each have a litre of water and continuously drink to combat dehydration.
• Don't carry too much. Essentials are socks, plenty of water and an extra sweater or fleece top. Always pack rain gear.
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