Looking back upon 2023

In my latest blog post, I listed the stories that you have read the most this year. But as I do every year, I also wanted to look back upon my favourite hikes and visits in 2023.

This year, I hiked over 300 kilometres of trails. I went to the summit of around fifteen mountains, visited three provincial parks in Ontario and Manitoba, two national parks in Quebec and twelve state parks in various U.S. states. Choosing my favourites among all the places visited this year was particularly difficult.

So this is just a small overview of all the hikes, visits and trips I did this year. I feel so privileged to have been able to visit these beautiful places, and I can’t wait to see what 2024 will bring!

The most memorable hike – Mount Lafayette in the White Mountains

The hike to the summit of Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire is one of the most difficult hikes I have done to date. But what a hike! There are no words to describe how magnificent the scenery along the famous Franconia Ridge was. And although my legs were painful for several days after this hike, I can’t wait to go back and test myself on other trails in this region!

My favourite local hike – Bowman Forest Regional Park in the Outaouais

The Bowman Forest Regional Park in the Outaouais region was a nice surprise. For the moment, the park only offers one trail, but this trail offered me a nice snowshoe hike and beautiful views of the region. I can’t wait to see this park grow even more in the coming years!

My favourite hike abroad – Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain in the Adirondacks

It’s hard to compete with the hike to the summit of Mount Lafayette, which will remain among my most beautiful hikes for a long time. But in the past year, I’ve also hiked some awesome trails in the Adirondack Mountains as part of the Fire Tower Challenge. My favourite hike among them was without a doubt the one to the summit of Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain. For a small mountain, the view at the top was impressive!

The unexpectedly pretty hike – Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse in Montreal

I visited several magnificent places in Quebec as part of the 75S Challenge, but I was particularly surprised by my hike at the Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse in Montreal. This urban park highlights a pretty forest that made me forget that I was still in the city. And what about its beautiful elevated footbridge!

The must-do hike I have finally done – Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario

I have visited several Ontario provincial parks over the past few years, and yet I had never visited the largest, oldest and most popular provincial park in my home province. So I was happy to finally have the opportunity to go to Algonquin Provincial Park for the very first time this year. I only hiked two short trails there (the Logging Museum Trail and the Spruce Bog Trail), so I know I’ll be back so I can explore it even more!

The place I’m hoping to go back to – Savannah, Georgia

I had dreamed of seeing Savannah, Georgia for a long time and I was not disappointed. What a beautiful city! Its slow pace, its quiet squares and its tall live oaks with branches covered in Spanish moss won me over. I hope to return one day, not only to enjoy the city, but also to explore more of its parks and coastal landscapes.

For 2024, I wish you all lots of beautiful hikes, unforgettable adventures and peaceful moments with your loved ones! Happy new year!