Thoughts on the #52HikeChallenge!

#52HikeChallenge 2019

After summiting my very first mountain at the end of 2018 (it was a small one, but it was still one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my life), I knew that I wanted hiking to be a big part of 2019. I grew up going on hikes with my Mum, and every year we go on a mother-daughter hiking adventure. I also plan at least one solo hiking adventure a year. But this time, I wanted something sustainable and long-lasting throughout the year. So when I found out about the 52 Hike Challenge, I knew that it was the right thing for me!

Nature has always been therapeutic for me. I have a busy mind, and it’s one of the best places for me to take a step back and *breathe*. Also, dealing with chronic illnesses, I have been looking for a way to stay in shape that isn’t as daunting as a gym membership that might be shelved for months at a time. So this challenge was a perfect choice, both mentally and physically!

What is the 52 Hike Challenge?

So the 52 Hike Challenge is pretty straightforward. You want to get 52 hikes within one year from your start date. A lot of people start at the beginning of the calendar year (which I did), but really, you can start any time! The hike needs to be minimum 1 mile in length, and they encourage at least 50% new/non-repeated hikes. I found these parameters easy to access, which helped make this challenge an addictive one for me!

I was so proud of myself for completing the challenge! There were many times last year where I actually felt like hiking was keeping me sane. For example, I would have to travel for medical appointments but then sandwich them with a new hike to give me a chance to reflect and re-connect with myself. There are times when it’s easy to be mad at your body, frustrated with your health and exasperated by your emotions. Hiking simultaneously helped keep me distracted, but also kept me more in tune with myself. I found it quite meditative – one step in front of the other, listening to the sound of my own footsteps and the nature around me. I truly believe in the restorative power of nature, especially after this year. This challenge to helped me stay relatively positive and strong throughout the year. I am grateful that I was able to take on this challenge, and happy and proud that I was able to finish it. The experience was incredibly worthwhile. I hope to continue spending as much time outdoors for my own physical and mental health, and I am so excited to be sharing that with my little one!

Favourite Hikes

Landon Bay easily was my favourite Ontario hike! Part of the Thousand Islands National Park , Landon Bay is a series of 6 trails that goes through amazing rock formations, forest, and lake views. If you decide to hike up to the lookout, you are treated to one of the best views of the Thousand Islands!

I travelled out west to photograph an adventure session and had some big hiking plans for when I was out there! Plans quickly changed, but I did get to squeak in an otherworldly hike in the Kananaskis area. Ptarmigan Cirque is a gorgeous loop in between Mount Arethusa and Mount Rae in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. This interpretive guide was a lot of fun to follow! I did not do the whole hike for two reasons. The first is that it was a longer lasting avalanche season due to the fluctuation in temperatures last year. There was no alert out for the park, but it is better to be cautious. The second is because a whopping snowstorm hit on my way up! It was surreal watching the clouds drop and the snow come in. I had never experienced anything like that before, let alone at the elevation of 8,000 ft! I sat for a while and had my lunch in the snow before making the decision to head back down. If I had waited about 30 minutes, it would have been sunny again, but I thought it best to play it safe.

I learned about Goodrich Loomis from Alex and Jake years ago, and I had only been back one time since. I knew it had to be one of my 52 hikes and I was able to complete it in December with my friend, Sharon. It was STUNNING. The way the snow was glittering in the sun and the quiet of the winter made it absolutely magical. It was an instant favourite!

Other Stats

This is the closest trail to my home and it is beautiful! So when I wanted to get out quickly, the Belleville Waterfront Trail was always my first choice.

My longest hike of the year was supposed to be a backpacking trip with Women Hike Wild/Blue Bark and Co. through Bon Echo Provincial Park. Sadly, I had to cancel, and this hike (also with Women Hike Wild) ended up being my longest!

List of Ontario Hiking Locations

Below is a list of most of the locations where I went hiking for the 52 Hike Challenge! Some spots I do not mention because they are “secret” or in vague locations!

Belleville Waterfront Trail	H.R. Frink Centre (Belleville)	Vanderwater Conservation (Tweed)
Potter’s Creek (Belleville)	Zwick’s Park (Belleville)	Cedar Valley Park (Oshawa)
Sidney Conservation (Stirling)	Amherst Island	Massassauga Point (PEC)
Millenium Trail (PEC)	Silent Lake PP	Presqu’ile PP (Brighton)
Sandbanks PP (PEC)	Goodrich-Loomis (Brighton)	Lynde Shores Conservation (Oshawa)
Ptarmigan Cirque (Alberta)	Bow Valley Provincial Park (Alberta)	Nose Hill Park (Alberta)
Rouge National Urban Park (Toronto)	Trinity-Bellwoods (Toronto)	Ward’s Island (Toronto)
Harry Smith Conservation (PEC)	Landon Bay (Thousand Islands)	O’Hara Mill (Madoc)
Bleasdell Boulder Conservation Area (Trenton)	Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation (Kingston)	Darlington Provincial Park
Santa Monica Pier (Cali)	Miami Beach

If you are curious about each one of my hikes, you can check out my instagram highlights! Although I am not tracking them online, I have been doing the challenge again this year and I am already more than halfway through! A lot of the hikes have been repeated due to travel restrictions, but it is hands down my favourite way to stay mentally and physically healthy. Please reach out if you would like any tips on how to do your own 52 hike challenge!