{"id":5697,"date":"2009-07-21T09:22:50","date_gmt":"2009-07-21T09:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.geocachingonline.com\/?p=731"},"modified":"2015-01-28T12:14:49","modified_gmt":"2015-01-28T12:14:49","slug":"cape-breton-highlands-park-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ravenview.com\/cape-breton-highlands-park-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape Breton Highlands Park Event"},"content":{"rendered":"
We had a wonderful time this past weekend at the Cape Breton Highlands Park Event that was held in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park here in Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n

The 950 square kilometer (590 sq mi) Cape Breton Highlands National Park<\/a> with its spectacular highlands and ocean scenery is located on Cape Breton Island, on the northeast tip of Nova Scotia, Canada. The world-famous scenic highway, the Cabot Trail, runs through the park.<\/p>\n

The event was part of the park’s First Annual Geocaching Weekend, of which the highlight was the introduction of the park’s new Geocache series, the ‘EcoCache Geocache Challenge’, and the release of the cache coordinates.<\/p>\n

The Ecocache Geocache Challenge is a five part series of Geocaches that the park developed with the help and support of the Atlantic Canada Geocaching Association<\/a> to introduce people to our natural and cultural heritage. <\/p>\n

Each of the caches takes you to a different trail within the park and in order to complete all five Geocaches you will hike between 17 to 21 kms and drive from Ch\u00e9ticamp<\/a> to Ingonish<\/a>. Total time for this series of Geocaches will be 6-9 hours. (They do not have to all done in one day! \ud83d\ude42 )<\/p>\n

When you complete all five of the caches, you receive a limited edition Parks Canada Geocoin. <\/p>\n


\nThe Cape Breton Highlands Park Event<\/a> began on Friday night in one of the huts at the Ch\u00e9ticamp Campground with Highlands Park staff member, and facilitator of their Geocaching program, Angelina Payne giving us a warm welcome. She then gave an introduction to the park, the park’s Geocaching program and this weekend’s special event. <\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

From there we took a short walk to the theatre area of the park’s Visitor Center for a Geocaching Workshop presentation by ACGA member ‘stagunner<\/a>‘. The workshop, centered around a Power Point presentation, was designed to introduce the newcomer to the sport of Geocaching and we’re sure that even the experienced cacher picked up a tip or two! <\/p>\n

And this was followed by a Wilderness Safety Workshop with Tom Wilson of Hike the Highlands Festival<\/a> who gave a great overview of trail safety precautions and proper hiking gear. <\/p>\n

At this point it was almost time to retire as tomorrow’s hikes required an early start. However, most of us made a beeline for the 3 Geeks Outdoor Store<\/a> mobile division to satisfy our swag needs. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

The following morning we all met, about 30 of us, at the Visitor Center bright and early for the 8am release of the EcoCache Geocache Challenge co-ordinates.<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

We each received a ‘passport’, called a “Cacheport”, to log the caches. Each Geocache contains a log book, an information card about the area and a unique punch that you must use to punch your Cacheport when you find the cache. There are also questions pertaining to the particular trail or area that must be also answered correctly in order to claim the Geocoins.<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

These are special caches, specifically for the EcoCache Geocache Challenge. As per the
\nParks Canada Geocaching policy<\/a>: Trade items are not permitted in these caches.<\/p>\n

After a brief update on today’s festivities and ‘good lucks’ given all around we were off!<\/p>\n

L’Acadien Trail – GC1V4CD<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first trail that we went to was L’Acadien. This is an 8.4km (5.2mi) loop trail that rises from 20 to 365m (65-1200ft) and offers panoramic views of the Highland plateau, the river canyon and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

We took the ‘right-hand’ trail up as opposed to the recommended ‘left-hand’ trail (just the rebels we are \ud83d\ude42 ) which took us through a steep valley and crisscrossed a brook. <\/p>\n

Birch tree stands grow on the mountain side as far as the eye can see:<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

There was a lot of moose droppings along the trail:<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

Was this the remains of a predator from long ago?:<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

The trail crisscrosses the brook several times, so many times that we started to sing the Eagles “Seven Bridges Road” \ud83d\ude42 :<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

Here we are at the top of the world:<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

Here are some cacher buddies that we met at the summit:<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

Here are some views from the top:<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

The trail down was a whole lot easier, even grass covered in places!<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

It took us about 3 hours to complete this trail and it would be the longest, and most arduous, trail of the day. It was an excellent hike and the views at the top, especially of the
\nGrande Falaise, made it worth it!<\/p>\n

From here it was on to the next one…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nBenjie’s Lake Trail – GC1V4CV<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Benjie’s Lake Trail is a 3km (1.9mi) trail that leads to, (you guessed it!), Benjie’s Lake. It takes you through wet barrens and evergreen forests. It is fairly flat with boardwalks on portions of it. <\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

This was a much easier trail than, and certainly welcomed after, L’Acadien. It was an enjoyable stroll through the woods. At the end there is a bench overlooking the lake where you can sit and enjoy the view. <\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

MacIntosh Brook Trail – GC1V4D4<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The next trail and cache in the series was the MacIntosh Brook Trail. This trail was one of the shortest at 1.7kms (1.1mi) with only a small incline of 30 – 65m (100 – 215 ft).<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

The tree covered trail follows MacIntosh Brook up one side to a beautiful waterfall and then returns on the other side of the brook while crossing a few bridges along the way.<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

Again, another great trail meandering through an old-growth hardwood forest!<\/p>\n

Jack Pine Trail – GC1V4D6<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Next on our list was the Jack Pine Trail which was a favorite! The trail is 2.3kms (1.4mi) long with a rise of 50m (165 ft) and offers an excellent introduction to the ‘elusive’ Jack Pines.<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

We mentioned in a a previous post<\/a> that the Dingle in Halifax was one of the few places in Nova Scotia where you could find them. Well, here is another place and boy, oh boy, is there a lot of them! Walking through the stands of Jack Pines was a real thrill. <\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

Freshwater Lake Trail – GC1V4D7<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The final trail and cache of the series and the day (wheww! Gettin’ tired! \ud83d\ude42 ) was the Freshwater Lake Trail. You access this trail from right hand side of the Ingonish Beach parking lot. It’s a fairly level trail of only 1.7kms (1.1mi) that skirts Freshwater Lake.<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n
Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

As the fog was rolling in it reminded us of pictures we seen of Loch Ness in Scotland and we expected the Monster to rise it’s head at any time \ud83d\ude42 .<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

With this cache we were done… finally! We were on the road for about seven and a half hours (minus a half-hour lunch break) and we hiked over 20 kms! <\/p>\n

To claim a Geocoin, you must bring your completed passport (including answers) to the Ch\u00e9ticamp or Ingonish Visitor Centre. Since we were near the Ingonish Visitor Center we stopped in there to claim our prize:<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

Aren’t they beautiful?! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

The event closed with a seafood barbeque dinner at the Atlantic Restaurant at Keltic Lodge<\/a>. Unfortunately we weren’t able to attend this but from what we heard it was great.<\/p>\n

Cape Breton Highlands Geocaching<\/div>\n

We had a wonderful time! And how could we not? We were in beautiful Cape Breton in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and we were Geocaching. This was a fantastic day and an even more fantastic event! <\/p>\n

Thanks to everyone that was involved in creating the EcoCache Geocache Challenge. It truly is a winner!<\/p>\n

Keep on cachin’!<\/p>\n

This post was originally posted on our now defunct website, Geocaching Online<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We had a wonderful time this past weekend at the Cape Breton Highlands Park Event that was held in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park here in Nova Scotia. The 950 square kilometer (590 sq mi) Cape Breton Highlands National Park with its spectacular highlands and ocean scenery is located on Cape Breton Island, on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[628,103],"tags":[710,570,854,104],"yoast_head":"\nCape Breton Highlands Park Event - Ravenview<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cape Breton Highlands National Park with its spectacular highlands and ocean scenery is on Cape Breton Island, on the northeast tip of Nova Scotia, Canada.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ravenview.com\/cape-breton-highlands-park-event\/\" \/>\n<link rel=\"next\" href=\"https:\/\/ravenview.com\/cape-breton-highlands-park-event\/2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cape Breton Highlands Park Event - 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