Fall into Adventure: Explore the Best of Canada & the US This October! A big welcome to the 49 new subscribers who recently signed up.
I got home a few days ago from an 8-day trip to Prince Edward Island. The primary focus of the trip was hiking a section of the 700 km Island Walk. I'll be writing more about it, but in its present form I wouldn't recommend it. I hate saying that, especially as I was hosted, but more than half of the hiking I did over five days (about 120 km) was on Highway 6. It's a busy road with trucks and traffic which is not my idea of a good time, especially in the rain when visibility is bad. The best bits of the Island Walk are on the secondary roads, beaches, and on some sections of the Confederation Trail. I think the Island Walk would be best as a bike ride - or the walk should be tweaked - with long sections of highway bypassed and secondary roads added. If they could do that (and I know that won't be easy), it would be a world-class experience, and hikers would flock to the province. Most hikers I know who do long distance trails, walk for enjoyment and nature, not just mileage. Lest you think I'm an outlier with these concerns, I can tell you that every walker I met (and people they had met) as well as B&B hosts and shuttle drivers agree with me. On the bright side, PEI is most definitely worthy of a visit. The islanders are hospitable and will go out of the way to help you. Cycle the island. Stay in one of the beautiful B&B's or inns like the Barachois Inn in Rustico or Points East Coastal Inn in St. Peter's Bay. Play golf. Follow in the footsteps of Anne of Green Gables. Don't miss a visit to one of the beautiful beaches. Our best day included a 10 km section of non-stop beach walking starting at Brackley Beach (pictured below) and finishing at Dalvay By the Sea. It was perfection.  Walking a gorgeous 10 km section of beach
New blog posts
1. A Guide to Backpacking the North Coast Trail on Vancouver Island In August four of us met up in Port Hardy near the northern tip of Vancouver Island for an 8-day backpacking adventure that including the North Coast Trail, an out and back hike to the Cape Scott Lighthouse, and a night at San Josef Bay. The North Coast Trail is a level of difficulty up from the West Coast Trail - but really only on the first few days when there are countless sections with ropes, including some that are near vertical. The upside - gorgeous campsites, beautiful white sand beaches, a fraction of the people seen on the WCT and no reservations needed save for the boat shuttle and pick up. It didn't hurt that we lucked out with the best possible weather either. 
2. Northover Ridge Loop Hike in Kananaskis Years ago I was told by a runner that I'd love the 34 km Northover Ridge loop backpacking trip in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. To his point, the views are magnificent and the entire route over the three days is scenic. But - if you don't have a head for heights and hate any kind of airy trail, the second day will have your stress level running in overdrive. It was a memorable three days for us.  Me on an airy part of the Northover Traverse
3. How to Hike Wheeler Peak - Nevada's Second Highest Summit One of the highlights of our week long trip to Nevada was the hike up 13,065 foot Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park. It's the second highest peak in the state with a good trail all the way to the summit. You need to acclimatize to the altitude if you don't want to feel awful at the top - and be ready to turn back if a thunderstorm pops out of nowhere, which they do on summer afternoons with some frequency. All in all, a great outing. Do it between late June and early October.  We started the hike up Wheeler Peak at sunrise
4. Greenwich Beach in PEI National Park via a Floating Boardwalk I did the hike to Greenwich Beach in PEI National Park last week. To get there I picked up a rental bike in the village of St. Peter's Bay and cycled the 10 or so kilometres to the park. From there it's an easy walk to the beach - and part of it is on the not-to-be-missed floating boardwalk. It's one of the top things to do on Prince Edward Island in my opinion.  The floating boardwalk in PEI National Park
Interesting reads
 Colourful Todos Santos in Mexico
What to do in October October can be a glorious month to get outside in Canada - though if you live in the west, you can be hit with early snowstorms. (Nothing so far in Calgary but my snow tires are on.) I'm heading to the Kootenay Rockies for some end of the season biking (Galena Trail and the Columbia & Western Rail Trail) and hiking today and the temperatures look like they'll be in the high teens. I know the fall colours will be great too. The western US is also amazing in the fall - and you don't have to worry about hurricanes. As most of you know if you've been following me for a while, Utah and Arizona are two of my favourite states to visit. I especially like using Moab as a base - and October is an exceptional time to visit. If I could go anywhere in mid-October in Canada, I'd head for Cape Breton Island to enjoy the colours. The pictures in this fall post by Davey and Sky are mind-blowing. Maybe next year. I also love the Shelburne, Nova Scotia area in October. The colours in the Miscou Island bogs in New Brunswick are peaking right now, so if you're in the province make a beeline to them. October is a glorious time to be in the Laurentians in Quebec. If you can be spontaneous, the 3 - 4 day Le Petit Train du Nord bike ride would be incredible. In late October one year, we hiked and camped at Havasu Falls in Arizona. It's quieter than other times and a stunner of a place to visit. A visit to Door County, Wisconsin last fall when the colours peaked was exceptional.
 Miscou Island bog decked out in fall colours
Travel contests Global News is offering Alberta and BC residents a chance to win a $5,000 stay in Richmond, BC. All sorts of goodies included in the prize package. Win a carry-on Osprey wheeled duffle bag from Travel Belize. Enter to win a 2-night stay at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, a $2000 Visa gift card and tickets to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
 Breathtaking Havasu Falls
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