Nordic Walking – Hiking With Poles
Nordic Walking Workshop - Hiking with Poles
Day four of Hike the Highlands Festival was an important day for hikers – it showed us the importance of hiking with poles and the proper techniques. It also emphasize dressing in layers and use of rain gear as the day involved showers.
Our instructor, Linda Murray started off the nordic walking workshop at North Highland Nordic Ski Trails, Cape North, by saying hiking with poles is not just for older hikers but for younger people as well. Both her 29 year old daughter and husband hikes with poles all the time.
The benefits of nordic walking are incredible for your body – easier on your knees and hips, better balance, increased aerobic workout (20-40% more with poles), and a full body workout. Our instructor, Linda Murray demonstrated the proper way of going up the hills as well down and stayed with us for the next hike at Sugar Loaf Mountain – an up and down hike.
The day ended with a great evening presentation by John Francis Lane, park interpreter on Species at Risk, Cape Breton Highlands National Park. We were amazed at how big the female American Eel was and the silver colour.
Day 5 hikes include Lone Shieling, MacIntosh Brook and Roberts Mountain. All three hikes today are on new trails.