Top 5 of 2016 with Maritime Outdoor Family!

Maritime Outdoor Family has had lots of fun outdoors in 2016 both here at home in the Maritimes and travelling beyond. Here are our top 5 outdoor moments!

1. Stanley Glacier, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

Up 8.4km of talus slopes to our first family glacier hike! This one was our favourite of the year and the most challenging! It was a cold, rainy day and we were so proud of our 5-year-old kiddo's hiking! 

2. Cape Split, Nova Scotia

As posted here, we are so proud of our kiddo for her new longest hike of 13km!

3. Johnston Canyon, Banff National Park, Alberta

While Johnston Canyon is a major tourist attraction, it was well worth the visit. Also, many of the tourists don't venture beyond the Lower Falls to the Upper Falls, so the second half of the trek was less crowded. Over a course of 5.2km, we ventured across narrow catwalks down in the canyon, saw numerous waterfalls with beautiful shades of turquoise blue water, entered a cave and had a waterfall splash on us we were so close to it.  

4. Bluff Trail, Pot Lake Loop, Nova Scotia

This is a hike I have done many times (and even wrote about it here before), but I had not yet brought the kiddo out to this boulderous, barren haven. While this loop is not an easy hike, my 5-year-old loved all of its 9km! She even brought her journal to make notes of all the wildlife she saw and decidedly pronounced herself the leader of the hike! 

5. Backcountry Camping at Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia
We've camped at Keji lots in the past (see here and here), but this was was a highlight for us because we went with friends who also have a 5-year-old. We don't often get to enjoy wilderness camping with friends with we kiddos. The two had a great time and upon discovering a beetle chrysalis made this fantastic sign to mark the beetle's territory. During the calm October weekend, we hiked the lovely 5km Hemlocks and Hardwoods Trail, spotted a couple of playful red-headed woodpeckers, and even saw over a dozen red-spotted newts when fetching our water from the lake. 

We are so grateful to have had so many amazing wilderness experiences this year on each of the coasts of this vast and beautiful country. We are looking forward to more outdoor explorations in 2017! 

Happy adventuring!

This Kid Hiked 11 KM!: Cape Split (Scots Bay, NS)

Cape Split is one of Nova Scotia's very popular hikes. The linear trail is fairly average in terms of what you are going to see along the way (mostly a bunch of Nova Scotian forest along a fairly straight well-maintained path), but the 'peak' of the trail is absolutely stunning! Sea cliffs are a fun feature of Nova Scotian hikes, and the sea cliffs and chasms at this cape are gorgeous. 

I have heard many people comment on how hard of a hike it is, but I would personally rank it moderate. I would say it is an easy hike in terms of how smooth the trail is (there are no technical bits and minimal elevation gain) and because no navigation is required; however it is 12 km so I would call it moderate for length. 

Her new favourite thing is leading the hike!

When we planned our trip to Cape Split, we thought it would be a fun day hike with our 5 year-old. We expected her to make it most of the way in and that we'd have to carry her intermittently on the way out since the trail is 12 km after all. After hiking the first five years of her life though, this kid was ready! She hiked the whole way in without breaking a sweat and hiked most of the way out with some occasional piggybacking during the last 2 km. Her only complaint was that we weren't camping because she wanted to hang her food in the trees away from the bears! Talk about proud mama moment!!

“But I wanted to hang our food in the trees away from the bears!”

Pack a picnic for this hike for sure! The cape is the best part, so you should sit and enjoy the view when you get there. There are hundreds of gulls just past the cape (and potentially chicks depending on when you go!). Bring binoculars for kiddos to check them out. If you are really up for an adventure, you can descend to the beach (depending on tides). I would only do this if you are a more experienced hiker and understand how dramatic the Fundy tides are. We did not descend to the beach with the kiddo.

If you are looking to camp nearby, check out Blomidon Provincial Park. There is also a lovely hike at Blomidon along the Jodrey trail. 

A Cautionary Note 
Sea cliffs are incredibly dangerous! It is not a joke. People who are careless can and do fall off, and some die. Whether you are hiking this trail as an adult or as an adult with child, make sure no one goes too close to the edge! With respect to kiddos, I say parents know their children best. If you have a wandering 2 year-old, save this trail for another time. If you have a strapped on baby or a trail-smart preschooler, go for it but never let that child out of your sight while on the cliff. 


Info for baby-slinging folks

• Keep kids away from the cliff edge! This is not a hike for toddlers (see note above on cliffs). 
• Use a kidcarrier for this one. It is not a stroller-friendly hike. 
• There are outhouses at the beginning and at the midpoint of the trail. This is a long hike for kiddos though so be prepared should nature call before you get to the outhouse! 
• It is usually quite windy on a cape, so try to put hats with chin straps on the wee ones so theirs hats don't blow away. 

A New Favourite Morning Walk: Conrad's Beach (West Lawrencetown, NS)

I attribute my satisfaction with this beautiful Saturday to a combination of starting off with fresh air and to going with the flow. Today started with a walk on the beautiful Conrad's Beach. We spent a couple hours wandering the shoreline and meandering back through the woods. I can't think of a better way to start the day!

The best part of walking a beach first thing in the morning is you beat the crowds! It is truly peaceful.

The trail from the second beach through the woods is short and sweet. A perfect blend of beach and Nova Scotian forest! We even saw wild irises growing! 

A bit more about Conrad's:

• There are two beaches separated by a bed of rocks. 
• The boardwalk, which had been badly damaged, has been replaced! 
• This is a breeding area for Piping Plover, so stick closer to the water especially with dogs and don't go near restricted areas.

Planning Summer Adventures

It is somehow already mid-June. I had the best of intentions to plan out summer trips well in advance this year and guess what? Life.

So take it from a pro (at not booking things in time that is) that you should always book your backcountry campsites well in advance!If you're thinking a national park on Canada Day weekend sounds fun, be sure shooting (but don't shoot in a national park without permit) that a billion other Canadians are thinking the same.

So here we are. The backcountry sites at our nearest and dearest national park, Kejimkujik, is booked up for nearly every weekend this summer.

Sooo, now what? Be sure to know that when one adventure doesn't work out, another is just around the corner!

This summer we're looking at some walk-in camping at Porter's Lake, some backcountry camping at Kenomee Canyon, potentially some island camping in the Halifax harbour (aka McNab's), some epic day trips including Admiral Lake Loop, and a very exciting large trip (more on that to come!).

I rejoice every day that I can make time in my life for the outdoors and have a body that is healthy enough to take me deep into the wilderness!

So, what are your plans for connecting with the wild this summer?

We're now on Facebook!

Dear blogosphere, 

We are now on Facebook! Like us to hear more and share more about outdoor adventuring with wee ones! 

Enjoy the sunshine! 

Maritime Outdoor Mama 
facebook.com/MaritimeOutdoorFamily/

A Peaceful, Natural Family Getaway: Big Hill Retreat (Big Hill, Cape Breton)

As spring settles in, I am reflecting on Maritime Outdoor Family's best adventure of this past winter. It was without a doubt our week of hibernation in Cape Breton at Big Hill Retreat. In December, we escaped the noise of the winter holidays and set off to celebrate winter solstice by reconnecting with nature, with each other, and with ourselves. 

Big Hill Retreat was perfect for just that. With only three secluded cabins and a long enough uphill dirt road that you did not want to have to push your 2-wheel drive car up more than once, we truly did hibernate. Our days were spent lighting the woodstove, cooking, reading, doing family yoga, and walking/snowshoeing the trails on the property. 

Morning fire after a fresh snowfall.

Daily yoga with a 4-year-old!

 Fresh snow for snowshoeing!

Big Hill Retreat was the perfect nature getaway! The owners, Terry & Linda, are very welcoming; the cabins are rustic yet comfortable and beautifully constructed; and the property has beautiful private trails accessible without needing to get in your car. It was winter bliss! If you want to escape and feel off the grid while still having the conveniences of electricity, this is the place! 

White Pine Trail

Trail signs made from recycled tin lids.

Practicing her skills! 

Waterfalls Trail

Trails were well labeled. Our kiddo loves looking at maps! 

Little Prince Trail

Le petit prince

Little Prince Trail on a warmer day

Other hikes nearby:

• Uisage Ban Falls Provincial Park 
• North River Falls
• Lewis Mountain 

Guess Who's Back & Snowshoeing: Dollar Lake Provincial Park (Wyses Corner, NS)

Dear blog, let me breathe air into your lungs, compress your chest, and will you back to life. I'm sorry to have abandoned you, but damn, how does one find time for it all? Today I come back to you for a short and snappy post about snowshoeing. More posts to follow on various other adventures over the past 6 months. 

Today is frigid by Nova Scotia standards: -17 degrees Celsius with the wind. We piled on our layers of fleece and wool and set out to snowshoe at Dollar Lake Provincial Park, which has awesome winter trails that are groomed by Ski Martock. 

The snowshoeing was great even though snot froze to the beards of men all around me and my daughter's cheeks looked like she had rosied them with clown make-up. We may have only lasted an hour before the wee one had us convinced her legs would need to be amputated if we didn't stop, but it was worth the trip anyway. We got to get outdoors, breathe fresh air into our lungs, see cheery faces on the trail, and prove to ourselves that winter doesn't have to be something to lament about. 

A Bit More About Cold Weather with Kiddos

• Let's face it, some of the hardcore will laugh at your level of preparation & gear required, but all of this will make the adventure much smoother! So laugh away!
• LAYERS: There cannot be too many. You are better off carrying the extra layers that are shed than cutting your trip short with a miserably cold kiddo (remember, they do not suffer through silently like some adults).
• Snacks freeze, and it can be really hard for wee ones to chew granola bars and other usual trail noms. For cold weather hiking, we always bring an herbal tea in our Kleen Kanteen to warm us up. On really cold days, consider a trail treat for kiddos to spice things up. There is less variation in the surroundings on snowy hikes, so a trail treat can be something kiddos look forward to. Today, we brought oatmeal with raisins, coconut, and walnuts to warm our bellies.

• On the note of enticing trail food (even for an hour-long hike that would normally not warrant a snack), kiddos need distractions! We use distractions year-round when the trail whining comes out: Are we there yet? In the cold weather, distractions are even more crucial. Singing a song, chatting about something new at school, or planning a yummy supper meal together can help distract from whining. If they are truly cold, tired, or hungry, you will know it! 

A Bit More About The Trails

• Trails are groomed by Ski Martock. Here is their map of the trails:

• Trail etiquette: no dogs, minimize foot traffic, snowshoes keep to the ungroomed side, in-line and skate skis have their respective tracks.
• Trailhead is found at: N 44 56' 45.9" W 63 18' 54.2"