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Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality By Michael Haynes Goose Lane Editions - 128 pages Cost: $12.95 Softcover ISBN 0-86492-298-1 "City Trekking" reviewed by Ronnie Scullion
Haynes has 'trail vision' - his work and much of his 'play' are focused on hiking and trail explorations. An avid hiker, he is executive director of the Nova Scotia Trails Federation. He has authored a number of books on the subject: Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, now in its 7th edition, and Hiking Trails of Cape Breton. And he is a familiar voice from CBC's Information Morning, talking about hikes and trails. The parks, beaches and trails visited in Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality are approached from a hiker's perspective. Meticulous detail about each route is given: length or return-trip distance; the time it will take to complete; the type of trail surface to expect - gravel, footpath or paved; type of usage -- hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing or horseback riding; and the facilities that are available - washrooms, picnic tables, canteen or other. Accompanying maps illustrate the routes, surrounding topography and landmarks. Haynes provides trailhead access information suggesting parking areas or bus routes, where appropriate, and the best approaches through city streets and traffic. Background information about each trail is given and often supplemented with additional historic or geographic information. Then follows a brief description or walking tour, as Haynes guides the reader step-by-step along the path, pointing out scenic stops, where the trail intersects roadways, or the location of facilities. The most noteworthy tidbits of information are saved for the insets, interspersed throughout the text. This is Haynes at his best and most familiar -- conversationally introducing the listener/hiker to some little known historical fact, natural phenomena or observation on local flora or fauna -- adding depth and colour to the sights en route. Here, for instance, the reader learns of the fanfare devoted to the public presentation of the one-shilling rent paid to the Lieutenant-Governor each year for Point Pleasant's Martello Tower; or that, of the many species of gull found in this province, not one of them is correctly called a 'seagull'. Haynes informs us that forest fires "can produce a pure forest of jack pine" because of the high temperature required for the germination of the seeds. Whether guiding the hiker on a familiar pathway or a lesser-known route, Haynes offers practical suggestions: cell-phones will not work along the trails at Abrahams Lake. He suggests all hikers carry a whistle. With this guide the reader can plan his or her days' outing, trusting the accuracy of the well-researched material. The suggested trails are for the most part very accessible and geared for leisurely walks. Even tiny trekkers, Haynes assures us, will be able to master the majority of these routes. The
comparative chart 'Trails at a Glance' lets the reader quickly distinguish
which trails are seasonal, ascertain suitability for running, and compare
other features, such as trail length. Included at the end of the guide are
addresses of various outdoor organizations, clubs and government
departments; and a list of relate websites. Tourists and residents alike will find this guide an invaluable companion to take along on an afternoon's hike or an evening's stroll. With Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality in hand, all else that's needed are comfortable walking shoes, a couple of hours' free time and a love of the outdoors.
Designed &
maintained by Outdoor Nova Scotia, Liverpool, N.S. BOT 1KO |
Hiker
and trail guru, Michael Haynes, introduces a unique approach to enjoying
the city and its environs. He guides us along 'city trails', introducing
twenty-five such routes in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
