Hiking Without Limits

06/06/2026

With a week to go before Hiking Without Limits, yesterday was my last training Hike. Mary Ann Falls is the Park’s newest trail, following what used to be the Cabot Trail until about 50 years ago. Well groomed, it is the only Park trail I know of that is also open to cyclists. The turn around point at 7.5 km is a beautiful waterfall.

06/03/2026

As we head into the last 10 days of preparation, I wanted to thank a number of area businesses who have offered greatly appreciated in-kind contributions, minimizing overhead costs and therefore maximizing the contributions eventually destined to Soldier On/Sans Limites. In no particular order of priority, a huge thanks to the following:
- Highland Signs in Cheticamp for providing publicity signs for our support vehicle,
- Pat Boudreau Service Station for providing a gas coupon for our support vehicle,
- Roots to Boots Festival for including Hiking Without Limits in their activities and publicity,
- Harbour Restaurant in Cheticamp for providing a kickoff breakfast for Day 1 of Hiking Without Limits,
- Mr Chicken, Restaurant Evangeline, Last Chance Sandwich, The Rusty Anchor, Mountain View Restaurant, Morrison’s Restaurant and Coastal Restaurant for providing meals along the way, and
- Cheticamp Co-op for providing grocery items for meals not covered by on route restaurants.

06/03/2026

Just 10 days to go before the beginning of Hiking Without Limits on 13 June. A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed. With a huge boost from last Friday’s Kitchen Party at the Cheticamp Legion, we have already met, and even doubled our modest goal of fund raising for Soldier on/Sans Limites.
For the new arrivals to the page, here is a rundown of Hiking Without Limits. I will be hiking from Cheticamp to Ingonish along the Cabot Trail through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park (about 100 km) between 13 and 21 June. Along the way, I will hike all 26 of the Park’s named trails (another 150 km or so), while overnighting in the Park’s various campgrounds. Days will vary from about 20 km to 40 km, but mostly close to 40 km, depending on the distance between camp grounds.
Hiking Without Limits has partnered with Soldier On/Sans Limites, an organization who aims to keep wounded and disabled military members, both serving and retired, physically active. Contributions can be made by e-transfer to [email protected], or directly to our portal created by Soldier ON/Sans Limites, linked below. Note that you must select the donated amount before pressing donate, as the site defaults to a certain amount unless you do so.
On the first day of the event, 13 June, the Harbour Restaurant in Cheticamp will host a kick off breakfast between 7 and 11 AM. A portion of the proceeds from each breakfast sold will be donated to Hiking Without Limits. A donation box will also be on hand for anyone wishing to contribute.
Keep following this page where I will share more details of the hike, including the ability to track my progress during the actual event.

https://www.soldieron.ca/?give=LGE8PWEV&fbclid=IwdGRjcARxGXpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR7eknrYUxeKSDGBvsX2-loiuXfT1cxt31TipU3jRBxFa-UKHMOws3YLs2VsOg_aem_0ZR4LONTS3fnWPyYK1Gk_Q

Soldier On is a Canadian Armed Forces program committed to supporting veterans and serving members to adapt and overcome permanent physical or mental health injuries through physical activity and sport. Soldier On is recognized for improving the quality of life of the ill and injured. The program is...

06/01/2026

Today’s trail, Franey, will be one of the last undertaken during Hiking Without Limits. Listed as “Difficult” on the Parks Canada website, it was actually not too bad. The categorization may be due to its length . At 13 km, it is amongst the longest in the Park. It may also be a remnant of the former Franey. The route has been rerouted and resurfaced in the last 2 years, making it considerably easier to navigate than in the past, or so I’m told. A few soggy spots and minor stream crossings, making waterproof footwear and trekking poles useful at times. The listed duration of 5-6 hours may also be a bit exaggerated, but that’s a very personal assessment.

You climb up and up and your reward is at the top!

05/30/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday evening for our Kitchen Party in support of Hiking Without Limits. Thanks to Jim and the whole crew from the Legion Jam Session for putting this together, and to Bruno Bourgeois who gathered his fellow local musicians to make this a memorable evening. Premier Tim Houston dropped in to say Hi, and MLA Kyle MacQuarrie hung out for part of the evening, sitting in to play with the Legion Jam Session. Overall, donations of close to $2000 were collected in support of Soldier On/Sans Limites.

05/28/2026

Today will be a dry run (maybe not so dry) of the Fishing Cove Trail, which is scheduled for the end of Day 3 of Hiking Without Limits. One of the rougher trails in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Park authorities have indicated that the winter and spring thaw were not overly kind on this wonderful trail. I guess I’ll need to have a look for myself.
I will also do a trial run of sharing my track via this page using my Garmin Messenger GPS tracker. Anyone wishing to follow along can do so by connecting to https://share.garmin.com/share/OFARC

Once connected, the password to access my track is Summer26. I should be on trail between 7:30 or 8 AM Atlantic Time and 11:30 or 12:00.

Follow along online. The MapShare site shows the progress of someone tracking with an inReach satellite communicator. Read messages they have sent to MapShare. You can even reply.

05/25/2026

A huge thank you to Rosie Grace for getting the word out through articles in the Inverness Oran and Le Courrier de la Nouvelle Ecosse.

05/25/2026

Just under 3 weeks before the beginning of Hiking Without Limits on 13 June. A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed, as we rapidly move toward our modest goal of fund raising for Soldier on/Sans Limites.
For the new arrivals to the page, here is a rundown of Hiking Without Limits. I will be hiking from Cheticamp to Ingonish along the Cabot Trail through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park (about 100 km) between 13 and 21 June. Along the way, I will hike all 26 of the Park’s named trails (another 150 km or so), while overnighting in the Park’s various campgrounds. Days will vary from about 20 km to 40 km, but mostly close to 40 km, depending on the distance between camp grounds.
Hiking Without Limits has partnered with Soldier On/Sans Limites, an organization who aims to keep wounded and disabled military members, both serving and retired, physically active. Contributions can be made by e-transfer to [email protected], or directly to our portal created by Soldier ON/Sans Limites, linked below. Note that you must select the donated amount before pressing donate, as the site defaults to a certain amount unless you do so.
Locals can also contribute in person if they so wish. On Friday, 29 May, at 8 PM, local artists will put on a Kitchen Party at Branch 32 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Cheticamp. Entrance will be free of charge, but donations to Hiking Without Limits will be accepted.
On the first day of the event, 13 June, the Harbour Restaurant in Cheticamp will host a kick off breakfast between 7 and 11 AM. A portion of the proceeds from each breakfast sold will be donated to Hiking Without Limits. A donation box will also be on hand for anyone wishing to contribute.
Keep following this page where I will share more details of the hike, including the ability to track my progress during the actual event.

https://www.soldieron.ca/?give=LGE8PWEV&fbclid=IwdGRjcARxGXpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR7eknrYUxeKSDGBvsX2-loiuXfT1cxt31TipU3jRBxFa-UKHMOws3YLs2VsOg_aem_0ZR4LONTS3fnWPyYK1Gk_Q

Soldier On is a Canadian Armed Forces program committed to supporting veterans and serving members to adapt and overcome permanent physical or mental health injuries through physical activity and sport. Soldier On is recognized for improving the quality of life of the ill and injured. The program is...

05/23/2026

As additional followers have joined the page since I last posted the itinerary, I figured I’d repost it, along with a few timing adjustments . For those wishing to plan on joining me for one or more of the trails, here is what the itinerary looks like for now. Timings could be slightly adjusted as we get closer. Note that, though most trails are loops, returning to their start point, some have entrances at both ends. For example, I will enter Le Chemin du Buttereau Trail, but exit at the Buttereau Trail. I will also enter Le Vieux Chemin du Cap Rouge at the South end and exit it at the North end. Though I will be hiking along the Cabot Trail between the various trails, I will discourage too many people from accompanying me for safety reasons. As for the off road trails, the more, the merrier.

13 June (18 km day)

0700-1100: Kick off breakfast at Harbour Restaurant in Cheticamp. Part of the proceeds of every breakfast sold will be donated to Hiking Without Limits
1000-1230: Salmon Pool Trail (Accompanied by Roots to Boots hikers) 9.5km
1300-1600: Acadian Trail (Cabot Trail entrance) 8.5 km
Overnight Cheticamp Campground

14 June (19 km day)

0830-1000: Chemin du Buttereau trail 4 km
1030-1200: Vieux Chemin du Cap Rouge (south entrance start) 5 km
1400-1600: Corney Brook Trail 7 km (will be slightly shorter due to bridge washout)
1830-later: Roots to Boots campfire at Cap Rouge campground
Overnight at Cap Rouge Campground

15 June (34 km day)

0930-1130: Skyline 8 km
1300-1330: The Bog 1 km
1439-1500: Benjies Lake 3 km
1600-1800: Hike down to Fishing Cove 6 km (I will be spending the night)

16 June (16 km day)

0830-1030: Hike up from Fishing Cove 3 km
1530-1630: McIntosh brook trail 2 km
Overnight McIntosh Brook campground

17 June (31 km day)

0900-0930: Lone Sheiling 1 km
1300-1700: Aspy Trail (starting from Big Interval Camp Ground) 15 km
Overnight Big Interval campground

18 June (38 km day)

1300-1700: Mica 13 km
Overnight Cabot High School

19 June (27 km day)

0830-0930: Neil’s Brook Beach 2.5 km
1030-1130: jack pine 3 km
1130-1230: jigging cove 2.5 km
1330-1400: green cove 1 km
Overnight Broadcove campground

20 June (38 km day)

0800-1200: Mary Ann falls 14 km
1200-1300: broad cove mountain 2.5 km
1330-1500: Warren Lake 5 km
Overnight Ingonish Beach campground

21 June (38 km day)
0800-0930: middlehead trail 5.3km
1030-1100: freshwater lake and look off 2 km
1200-1700: franey 13km
1800-2000: clyburn 8.5km

05/19/2026

Next week will see my only overnight prep hike before Hiking Without Limits starts. On Wednesday the 27th, I’ll hike down to the Cheticamp campground by way of the Gypsum Mine trail, setting up my campsite around 2 PM(check in time).At about 3:30 PM, I will start the Chemin du Buttereau trail from the south end. By about 4:30 PM, I will start le Vieux Chemin du Cap Rouge at the South end. From the Cap Rouge campground, I will hike back to Cheticamp campground along the Cabot Trail. If weather permits, I’ll have a campfire at site 5 around 8 PM before bedding down for the night. On Thursday, the 28th, I’ll aim to start the Acadian Trail around 8 AM. Coming off the Acadian, I hope to drop by Last Chance Sandwich around 11 AM before heading back home along the Cabot Trail. Feel free to join me at the Chemin du Buttereau trailhead, the Vieux Chemin du Cap Rouge Trailhead, the Acadian Trailhead or Last Chance Sandwich if you wish to accompany me on any part of this warm up journey.