Over the last decade, and more specifically in the last few years, a multi-day hiking route in the Northern Cape Breton Highlands has been gaining a lot of popularity. The 40-50km route between Red River and Meat Cove, most referred to as the Seawall Trail, is slowly creeping into the top of the list for those hikers looking for more of a challenge in Atlantic Canada. It’s really no surprise either…

As a company, we love to show people the great outdoors and offer the opportunity to explore locally. The outdoors, as we know it, is a place to learn and grow, to go on wild adventures, meet new people and push outside of your comfort zone. While it’s great to talk about our side of it, we want to invite others to share their stories; why they go outside, what it has taught them, tall tales from mountaintops and riverbanks. We want to create a space for people to be raw and honest, a spot right here to share and learn. Today’s post comes from Cheryl MacLennan, someone who was raised exploring Cape Breton and carries that spirit of exploration all over the United Kingdom, where she has lived for the last 16 years.

It’s 6 AM at our campsite. The sun is starting to peek over the rolling backdrop of the Margaree Valley as I carry a pot of coffee over the hill to fuel my group of anglers, now more-so friends after a night of chatting by the fire and overthinking fly choices. Our view is pristine, waking up at Live Life In Tents in the heart of the Margaree, I like to think we have the best view of the valley. We’ve come from different provinces, skill levels, ages, and backgrounds all to bond over a common interest: fly fishing.

Sometimes it’s so easy to congratulate a benchmark in other peoples lives when that benchmark is tangible: a ring, a graduation certificate, a birthday, the purchase of a house. But it had me thinking about how many things we don’t celebrate. How many milestones are people passing every day with a Goliath-sized strength and that we don’t even applaud?

We’re coming out the other side of a long year and a half (I think I’ve been saying that for months but hey, a girl can only hope), and there are some things worth celebrating, here. Things that don’t have a nice ring on it or a piece of paper to acknowledge all of the hard work.

Lee went into his house, pulled some of his own gore tex jackets out of his closet and came back outside. The nearly 6 feet of Lee dwarfed a 12 year old girl but he handed her his rain coat and said, “here, this will be big on you, but it will keep you dry.” She took it and zipped it up. It reached her knees, but at least she wouldn’t be as cold.

I sat here and watched one of my favourite parts of small businesses play out in front of my eyes. I thought, this, this is it. This is what everyone is talking about when it comes to small business, the exact charm that everyone loves.

…As you’re packing we know it can be tempting to think what if I need this. Chances are if you’re questioning it, you probably won’t. Below is a list of five basic necessities to check your items against the next time you’re preparing for a hiking trip.

30 creative minds got together to explore the Cape Breton Highlands, here’s what happened.