The magic of winter hiking is unmatched—snow-dusted trails, crisp air, and serene landscapes. But winter’s beauty comes with its own challenges. Are you ready to explore safely?
Winter hiking is an incredible way to experience nature, but staying safe should always be your top priority. As the snow glistens underfoot, remember these key tips to keep your adventures both magical and safe:
🧥 Layer up: Wear moisture-wicking base layers, insulating mid-layers, and a waterproof outer shell. Proper clothing helps regulate body temperature and prevents frostbite.
🌨️ Check the forecast: Know what conditions to expect and avoid hiking in extreme weather. Storms can roll in quickly!
🎒 Pack essential gear: Bring trekking poles, sturdy boots with good traction, and safety gear like a headlamp, whistle, and emergency blanket.
🗺️ Stay on the trail: Wandering off marked paths can lead to danger, especially with snow obscuring landmarks.
📞 Tell someone your plan: Always let a friend or family member know your route and estimated return time.
Winter hikes can be the highlight of the season if you're prepared. So, grab your gear, lace up your boots, and let safety lead the way!
Solastalgia is the emotional distress caused by changes in a familiar environment, leaving us feeling sadness or worry about transformations in a place we love. It’s a reminder of our deep connection to the landscapes that shape us and the responsibility we share to care for them.
In the Annapolis Valley, we see the impact of climate change and human activity on the trails, forests, and waterways we treasure. Hiking can be a way to process these emotions, deepen our appreciation for nature, and inspire action to protect what remains.
By treading lightly and practising Leave No Trace, we honour the spaces we love and work toward preserving them for future generations. Solastalgia is a call to cherish and safeguard the places that mean so much to us.
#wordoftheweek #solastalgia #climateaction #leavenotrace #natureconnection #onestarhiking #annapolisvalley
Anyone else wake up this morning and do a double take when you looked out the window????
December welcomed much of Nova Scotia with a blanket of snow. There's just something about the tranquillity of fresh snow in the morning before the snowblowers start blasting and everyone goes about their busy days.
Traditionally, winter was a time to slow down. We would work less, hibernate more, and enjoy the shorter days. But that's not so much the case these days.
After I got over the initial shock of seeing this much snow, I made my first cup of coffee for the day and ventured outside with Zaida. I stood in silence, sipping my coffee, taking in the beautiful scenery, and watching Miss Z do zoomies in the snow! I can't think of a better way to start off a new month. ...except for the shovelling I'm about to do!
As we move into the winter season, what are some things you're looking forward to? Will you take some time to slow your pace?
#december #firstsnow #coffee #snow #tranquil #goodmorning #today #reflection #annapolisvalley #winter #dogsofinstagram #slowdown #guidedhiking #onestarhiking #winterhikes #resilifitcoaching #youarestrongerthenyouthink
Seriously, though... how many of you can say you left the trail worse than you arrived?
It's not very often. And when it does happen, it's usually due to lack of preparation, an unforeseen trail closure that wasn't reported, or something else unrelated to spending time in nature.
The natural world teaches us so much about the world. From collaboration to complex relationships to inclusion and diversity and pretty much everything in between, nature is pretty incredible. But most importantly, it teaches us to sllllooowww down and appreciate all the little things around us.
At One Star, we believe the true rewards are:
🍂 the endless shapes, colours, and sounds
🧠 the mental health benefits
😌 the opportunity to take a deep breath and relax
What are some of your favourite hiking rewards?
Do you know what's just as important as using your hiking gear? Caring for it!
It's easy to come home from a hiking adventure, kick off your shoes, change into something warm and cozy, and deal with your gear later. But this can lead to undesirable wear and tear caused from mould, or damage to fabric from dirt, sweat and chemicals like bug spray and sunscreen.
Make sure to air out your gear, keep it clean, and store it properly. The better you treat your gear, the better it will treat you!
#trailtiptunes #hikinggear #onestarhiking #justforfun #novascotiahikes #nstrails #exploreannapolisvalley #naturetherapy #singalong #fridayfun #getoutside #guidedhiking
When I first started to hike, I was OBSESSED with how fast I could complete a trail. And if I did a trail more than once, I would try to beat my previous time.
But here's what I missed out on:
🪻 Spotting new-to-me plants and flowers
🐦 The tranquillity of bird songs
🍄 Learning about the bajillion types of fungi that are out there
🐢 Actually enjoying the experience and surroundings by slowing my pace
🧘♀️ Relaxing and reconnecting with nature
But since Zaida entered the picture in late 2020, this 'ol girl has taught me the importance of slowing down. We stop every 3 seconds. She sniffs EVERYTHING! Sometimes, she just stops and looks around, then looks back at me, and then gives me an "I told ya so" face.
She's completely changed the way I hike and my appreciation for the natural world around me (even though I was already a pretty big fan!).
This is why One Star Hiking has adopted slow-pace hiking as one of our core values. It helps our heads and our hearts heal. It reminds us of childhood and being carefree. It allows us to appreciate what's in front of us. And sometimes that's emotional. Sometimes, it's just what we need to breathe and take a time out from this chaotic world we're in.
No matter your reason, I highly recommend some gentle strolling through nature. Zaida sure loves it - and so do I!
I think we could all benefit from hugging a tree right now.
It's been a tough week for a lot of folks, regardless of where you find yourself geographically. As a woman living in Canada, the fear I've been feeling leading up to and now post-Election is hard to put into words. I see similar trends happening here, and it's difficult to grasp how we got here.
I've shared previously that spending time in nature and hug trees, in particular, was a coping mechanism when my mental health isn't at its best. So this morning, Zaida and I took a drive to the Woodland trail in Wolfville to decompress, reflect, and try to make sense of what's happening around us.
This trail holds a special place for me. It's the first trail I ever guided a hike on. It was also a biology lab for me during my undergrad. I spent many hours here.
The Woodland trail is also home to a beautiful century old red oak. When I came upon it, I knew immediately I needed to show it a little love. So, I wrapped my arms around it and took some deep breaths. Instantly, my heart rate slowed. The anxiety started to melt. I felt safe enough for a few seconds to let out a big breath.
I wondered for the rest of the hike how much kinder we might be if everyone hugged a tree from time to time. It's not likely I'll ever know the answer. And I'm not even going to leave you with some uplifting "everything's going to be okay" message because I truly don't know.
But what I can tell you is that nature is a great teacher. It's complex and filled with many challenging relationships. Yet, without human interference, it adapts and thrives. Let's all take a deep breath and spend some time showing our appreciation of nature. And most of all, let's try to be kinder to one another.
- Emily
