Seawall Trail Winter Expedition

March 10-15, 2023

The proposed Seawall Trail is hands down one of the more difficult hikes in Nova Scotia so we decided to make it just a bit more difficult by offering it in the winter. This 4-day trip takes you deep into the mountainous backcountry of the Pollett’s Cove Aspy Bay Wilderness area to places very few have explored. If you’re looking for something to push you mentally and physically, this would be it! Here are the details:

Trip Details:

2023 Dates: March 10th - 15th, 2023 (if these dates don’t work for you, contact us about private dates)

Duration: 6 Days (4 days trekking)

Distance: Approx 45 km +/- w/ 5500ft Elevation Gain

The proposed Seawall Trail has been getting a lot of attention over the last few years and

The winter route starts in Meat Cove and covers around 45 km +/- as you head south over frozen lakes, barrens, and to some pretty amazing views deep within the northern Cape Breton Highlands. Spend 4 days and 4 nights backcountry with our experienced guides covering approx 10 - 15 km per day ending in Pleasant Bay.

You might notice that this route has less elevation gain than our summer route however don’t confuse that with it being easier because it sucks just as much!

What’s included?

• Accommodations on night one and night 5 at the Highlands Hostel.

• Transportation to/from The Highlands Hostel (details discussed after registration).

• 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 suppers during the trip.

• All necessary group equipment for the trip including water filters/tablets, stoves, and stove fuel. A full list of what’s required will be provided upon registration.

  • Fully supplied includes a 4-season tent, -18c or better sleeping bag, therm-a-rest, snowshoes, trekking poles, and 60L backpack. This option does not include all personal clothing items.

  • Self-supplied clients will have to provide all of the above equipment themselves however, we have minimum requirements which will be outlined in the gear list. Not meeting gear requirements may result in a loss of deposit and not being permitted to depart with the group.

• Professional guide services and safety plans for the entire trip.

• LLIT welcome bag.

What’s not included? 

• Personal items and equipment. A full list will be provided.

• Meals, alcoholic beverages, and gratuity on nights one and six.

Things to know:

• This trip will require a decent level of fitness since your backpacks will be weighted with food and equipment for the entire trip. It is recommended that you train with a weighted backpack and snowshoes before this trip just to become accustomed to your kit.

• The weather can fluctuate a lot during the trip. It can easily flip from warmer temperatures and sunny days to -30c and 100km/hr +/- winds.

• There is a good chance that we will see moose and coyotes on this route as we will be some of their prime habitats but this is not guaranteed.

• We will provide you with a personal gear checklist and have a minimum requirement for some personal gear and items. One-on-one gear checks via zoom will be done prior to the departure date where we will go through each piece of kit to make sure that you meet the min gear requirements. Failure to meet min gear requirements before the trip may result in a loss of deposit and not being permitted to depart with the group.

• Check out two of our post-trip podcasts from previous years’ winter expeditions!

  • 2020 Post Trip Podcast

  • 2022 Post Trip Podcast

Fee Breakdown:

• Application fee: $25.00 (credited towards the deposit).

• Deposit: $500.00 ($25 Deposit + $475) required after successfully passing the application process to hold your spot. *Fully refundable up to 28 days prior to departure.

• Final Balance: Due 28 days before departure.

• What’s the difference between fully supplied and self-supplied?

  • Fully supplied includes 4 season tent, stoves, fuel, -18 sleeping bags, a sleeping pad, snowshoes, and, trekking poles.

  • Self-supplied means that you will be responsible for providing all of your own camping equipment.

• Cancellation Policy:

  • Full refund if canceled up to 28 days prior to the trip start date.

  • 50% refund if canceled between 28 and 14 days prior to the trip start date.

  • No refund will be provided if canceled between 14 days and the trip start date.

How to apply:

• To apply for this trip you will be required to pay a $25.00 application fee and will be required to fill out our Winter Expedition Questionnaire which will be emailed to you once the fee is processed. *The application fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee your position on any trip.

• Each application will be assessed on an individual basis and you will be notified of the next steps. A lack of experience is not an immediate disqualification but we need to plan appropriately for the safety of all participants.

• Once all of the positions are full, we will close applications for the 2022 season.

2023 APPLICATIONS are now open!

Save 20% on All full-supplied Registration fees if an application is submitted before November 30th, 2022

If you have any questions please email us. Thank you for your interest.