Gratitude & Thanksgiving: Celebrating the Beauty of the Trails

Hey, trail friends! With our Thanksgiving just around the corner here in Canada, I’ve been reflecting on the past few years and how grateful I am to have experienced some of the most stunning hikes in this beautiful part of the world. My heart is full of gratitude for the trails and for having the bravery to start backpacking in my mid-40s!

If you are trying to decide whether to start, please don't hesitate any longer. If I had never decided to take that leap, I would have never had the opportunity to experience the beauty of the land, or the euphoria of accomplishment.

Here are some of the most amazing hikes I’ve had the privilege to explore, and I encourage you, if you are interested in backpacking at all, to put these hikes on your list. Feel free to email me if you have questions about any of them! 

• Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail, NB

• East Coast Trail, NL

• Dobson Trail, NB

• Cape Chignecto, NS (a yearly tradition!)

• West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island, BC

• Kejimkujik Backcountry, NS

• Fundy Footpath, NB

• And my most recent adventure—climbing the majestic Mt. Katahdin in Maine! 

It's moments like these, standing at the summit, or walking along coastal cliffs, that remind me why I deliberately train for strength, cardio, balance and range of motion - it all comes together to allow me to hike these places with confidence (check out an IG reel here). I feel so grateful for the natural wonders that surround us and even more thankful that my body is strong enough to take me there.