The best advice for safe and successful summer hiking

Tips for summer hiking

Kathleen Steele is an outdoor enthusiast and proud Nova Scotian. An outdoor ambassador for @trailshop and @takeitoutsideinc she has hiked many of the province’s trails and been witness to countless waterfalls.

Born in London Ontario, Kathleen lives in Truro, Nova Scotia, her home for most of her life. When not working at her full time job you can find her in Truro’s own Victoria Park. Kathleen says she believes when you spend time in nature, nature transforms your life. She is always looking for a new hiking trail, waterfall or beach to explore.

Kathleen shared her best tips and tricks for safe and successful summer hiking with INSPIRE ME Magazine.

Kathleen Steele is an outdoor enthusiast who is always looking for a new hiking trail, waterfall or beach to explore. #exploring #novascotia #hikenovascotia #novascotiatrails #novascotiawaterfalls

What's the most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to summer hiking?

The number one tip I have, regardless of the season, is to research the area in which you are interested in visiting. Whether it be waterfalls, hiking trails, or the Bay of Fundy, knowing the area, the length of trails, things like tide times, eroding cliffs, difficulty ratings, is very important. Before I embark on any trail I make sure I have information printed and/or saved to my phone. The most valuable information I seem to gather is from reaching out to people on Instagram. Never hesitate to reach out to someone to ask about their knowledge of a trail system, myself included. There are many other resources available as well such as Hike NS, All Trails, Google, etc.

What are your tips for successful hiking in the summer?

A few of my suggestions for successful hiking in the summer are:

Make sure you have plenty of water to hydrate. When you are out on trails in the summer you may go through your water much quicker than any other season. If you don’t have a LifeStraw I would highly recommend purchasing one, keeping a LifeStraw in your backpack is a must.
Layer your clothing, weather can be inconsistent.
Hiking in the summer means bugs, pack the bug spray that works best for you. Keeping the bugs off make for a much more enjoyable hike.
Summer is the time of year that ticks are very active. When you are done hiking change your clothes and check yourself over for ticks.
Pack it in, pack it out. Please leave no trace.

What do you take along with you when hiking in the summer?

Here is a list:

Snacks
Water and LifeStraw
Extra pair of socks
First aid kit
Camera for pictures
Flashlight

What is one piece of equipment you would recommend for someone who wants to start hiking?

This may sound very simple but hiking boots. When I first started hiking I wore only sneakers and thought it was fine but as soon as I invested in a pair of hiking boots I haven’t looked back. I would recommend hiking boots that are waterproof, supportive and durable.

What are some summer hiking safety tips?

My number one safety tip would be to always tell a friend or family member where you are going, who you are going with, and details about the hike like the length and time you expect to be gone.

If it was your job to inspire someone to get out for a hike, what would you say to them?

Start simple, start small, and get out there. Time in nature is never wasted. I feel honoured to have seen parts of this beautiful province that I may have never seen if it weren’t for exploring trails, beaches, and waterfalls. These trails have taken me not only to parts of this province seldom explored but they’ve taken me “home.” There is beauty all around us, all you have to do is look!

These trails have taken me not only to parts of this province seldom explored but they’ve taken me “home.”

Do you have a favourite hike or hiking destination?

Honestly, this question isn’t easy because we have an abundance of beautiful trails and places in Nova Scotia that I would have a hard time choosing a favourite. They are unique in their own way. If I had to choose I would say Cape Breton Highlands as I haven’t hiked one trail in the National Park or Highlands that I haven’t fallen in love with.

Can you list your top five hiking trails in Nova Scotia?

In no particular order (excluding Cape Breton Highlands):