York Redoubt NHS

York Redoubt has been a military installation for over 200 years.  Today, it is a national historic site with lots to explore.  Trails all over the site lead through the woods and among the building relics.  Some of the trails are based on old roads and others seem to be paths worn by people taking short cuts through the woods.  The views from York Redoubt are really great and must have been fabulous when the view was open during periods of military activity.

Cannons are impressive. The interpretive signs note that these nine-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns fired pointed shells designed to pierce armored ships.

The 1798 martello tower was incorporated into other structures during the 1800s.  The darker uneven stone is part of the original round martello tower.

Even in February the site is popular, especially with dog walkers.  We estimate there were probably between 50-70 people at the site today.  Trails are graded and even.  In some places the trails do go along steep banks, where small paths take off for the more adventurous.  The stairs leading to the WWII fire command post are steep!

The site is easy to find about 10 km from downtown Halifax out along Purcells Cove Road.

Shearwater Flyer Trail

Last weekend the roads were quite icy, so we went for a walk close to home.  The Shearwater Flyer Trail is part of the old rail bed which has been converted to trails all around HRM and connects to the Salt Marsh Trail out Lawrencetown way.  This walk is very flat and straight.  It is an easy walk (when you’re not slipping on ice).  The western end passes behind houses and an industrial area, but once past these areas it is a pleasant walk in typical Nova Scotia spruce and scrub/brush woods. The ground in the woods is very wet and covered in mosses; Kalmia (sheep laurel) grows in more open, boggy areas.

There were burned woods along part of the trail.  Not sure when this area burned, but not too many years ago, I think.

The conks (polypore fungi) along this dead tree trunk caught our eye through the leafless trees.

Directions and maps of this trail were surprisingly few online.  However, the trail has been mapped and named on Google Maps.  We began near the western end, but I would suggest beginning at the parking lot identified on my map.

The trail is named for the former CFB Shearwater which while now a part of CFB Halifax continues to operate as an airport and wharf.

bridge walking – transit strike

The ferry is not running! During the current transit strike in Halifax there are lots of walkers out – even across the Macdonald bridge in winter! The view is fabulous and today the temperature was above freezing and the sun was out. Of course taking pictures added considerable time to my traverse, but the light was great and I had never taken the time to really look across the expanse of the view.  It is possible to see out to the ocean, past Georges, McNabs and Lawlor Islands.

The walk across the bridge adds about a 1/2 hour to my regular walk-ferry combo so… I have been alternately walking and catching a ride to work.  Sidewalks and my destinations make it easier to walk on the east side of the bridge, but I hope to try the west side too – just have to check that walkers can use the bike side!

a snowy Antigonish Landing

 We took a moment this past weekend to walk the Antigonish Landing.  This easy trail is great for winter walking.  The town (or someone) even plows it! The trail follows the Right River into the north side of Antigonish Harbour. The long views of this estuary and the surrounding farm land are restful.  The trail is part of the Antigonish Wildlife Management Area. The walk, from the parking lot by the heritage museum to the end of the trail and back takes about one hour or less. There is some good information by the NS province here – the twinning of highway 104 impacts area wetlands – about the wetland compensation plan actions.

Old growth forest

 The view near the Wolfville Watershed Nature Preserve across a part of the Minas Basin to Cape Blomidon is excellent – truly. Last Sunday Scotian Hiker and co. completed a loop hike around part of the preserve.  Many in the group had been there on previous hikes and even skied there years ago, but for some of us, it was our first time.  I am so glad I found the time to go. It is a fabulous walk through some of Nova Scotia’s rare old growth hemlock forest.  The preservation of these 605 acres is the result of an agreement between the town of Wolfville and the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.  Following Ravine Trail led us over an old concrete dam – part of the old water supply system (and still a back-up system) for Wolfville.  This dam is along either the Duncanson Brook or Little Indian Brook as is this waterfall. There are now at least two rough trails in the preserve as well as the parking lot. The preserve is fairly close to Wolfville, but definitely off the beaten track, so it is important to plan how you will get there.  Check the map.

an urban gem!

loops and more loops at Hemlock Ravine Park

Great big wet snow flakes were coming down by the time we got away to take a walk this afternoon.  We headed out for a short (one hour) early afternoon stroll. Lucky for us we had more time than that.  With all the criss crossing loops we missed a turn shortly after beginning – the plan was to follow the outside perimeter, but somewhere we missed a right turn and ended up exploring lots of loops.  The park is aptly named; there were beautiful hemlock trees, branches bending gracefully as the snow accumulated.

 The snowflakes gathered on branches in delicate piles.

 Hemlock Ravine Park is a small patch (~80 ha) of parkland in the middle of Bedford.  This park is very accessible and very pleasant to walk.  The trails are easy unless you go off trail and scrabble around the ridge along the ravine. The wet snow made these off-trail jaunts a bit slippery. HRM provides a map and there are frequent maps around the park. The Friends of Hemlock Ravine share info and photos too.

Salt Marsh Trail – Snow!

 December 25 was a beautiful winter day in 2011.  The Salt Marsh Trail was just the place to admire the snow (before it all left later in the week!). The trail begins in the woods, but quickly leads out into the salt marsh where the old rail line used to run.  It is really a great opportunity to walk with dry feet through a salt marsh environment.   Close to Halifax, the trail is easily accessible and even on Christmas Day we met other walkers and runners. The full length is 6.5 km, but since it is not return, tracks in the snow indicated that most people don’t go the complete distance. This trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail system and the HRM recreation web pages includes a map.  There are often ducks on the water here.  During our walk we saw lots of ducks and Canada Geese who may never leave if the weather continues as warm as it was today (10 C).