Some of the hikes I've done over the years.
Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo (PR1)
September 12, 2026 · Madeira, Portugal
PR1 (Vereda do Areeiro) connects Pico do Areeiro (5,965 ft / 1,818 m) to Pico Ruivo (6,109 ft / 1,862 m), the highest peak on Madeira, finishing at the Achada do Teixeira Mountain Spot Lodge. It's the most popular and most photographed hike on the island, famous for its "Stairway to Heaven" section. Registration passes for the trail were sold out by the time I planned my trip, so I booked it through a local guide company instead.
On my second full day in Madeira, I got picked up at 5:30 AM and taken by shuttle with a small group to the trailhead, where we watched the sunrise alongside a crowd of other hikers before starting out. From there it was completely unguided: the company just handled the drive and a quick briefing, then left us to hike the trail ourselves at our own pace, as long as we were back by a set time.
The hike itself was beautiful, and the light kept improving as the sun rose higher and lit up the mountains around me. I stopped at one of the peaks for a while to just take in the view, since I had some time to spare before I needed to be back at the meeting point. One of the best experiences of the trip.
Lower Great Range Traverse
August 15, 2026 · Adirondacks, New York, USA
I did the Lower Great Range Traverse with Justin. We got to the Marcy Fields parking lot a little after 7 AM and took the shuttle to the Garden trailhead. From there, we hiked along Johns Brook and then climbed the Ore Bed Brook Trail, which had a lot of steep steps. Once we reached the ridge, we headed north and took the "cable" route, a series of chains anchored into the side of the mountain, up toward the peaks.
We first stopped at a false summit before taking the out-and-back detour to Pyramid Peak (4,515 ft). Pyramid had the nicest view of the day. It was sunny and warm on that side of the ridge, with very little wind. From there, we continued across Gothics Mountain (4,736 ft), Armstrong Mountain (4,400 ft), Upper Wolfjaw Mountain (4,185 ft), and Lower Wolfjaw Mountain (4,173 ft).
After Lower Wolfjaw, we descended the Wolfjaw Trail back to Johns Brook and followed it out to the Garden trailhead before returning to Marcy Fields. Overall, the hike was about 27 kilometres with 1,700 metres of elevation gain. Gothics, Armstrong, Upper Wolfjaw, and Lower Wolfjaw were #19 through #22 on my journey toward becoming an Adirondack 46er.
Upper Great Range Traverse
July 25–26, 2026 · Adirondacks, New York, USA
The Upper Great Range Traverse crosses some of the most rugged terrain in the Adirondack High Peaks. We climbed Saddleback Mountain (4,515 ft), Basin Mountain (4,827 ft), Little Haystack, Mount Haystack (4,960 ft), and Mount Marcy (5,344 ft), in that order. Saddleback, Basin, Haystack, and Marcy were #15 through #18 on my journey toward becoming an Adirondack 46er.
We arrived at the Garden trailhead a little after 7 AM, but the parking lot was already full, so we parked at Marcy Fields and took the shuttle back to the trailhead. We planned to camp overnight and had heavy packs carrying all of our camping gear. After hiking about seven kilometres past Johns Brook Lodge and up Ore Bed Brook, we reached a wild camping spot, set up our tents, dropped off the heavy gear, and continued toward Saddleback with our day packs.
It was a hot, sunny day. Once we reached the ridge, the route involved a lot of quick elevation loss and regain as we moved from peak to peak, which was exhausting. The views were great, and Haystack was my favourite summit, with a 360-degree view of both the Great Range and Marcy. Marcy also had a good view, but as the highest peak in New York, it was a little crowded. We still found room for a quick nap at the summit before carrying on.
We reached our campsite around 8 PM, just as it was getting dark. We made some food and looked at the stars, which are incredible in the Adirondacks, before going to bed. We hiked out the next morning, stopped at the farmers market at Marcy Fields after getting back to the car, and finished the trip with a swim in the Ausable River.
Whiteface, Lookout, and Esther Mountains
July 6, 2026 · Adirondacks, New York, USA
Whiteface Mountain (4,867 ft) and Esther Mountain (4,240 ft) are both Adirondack 46ers. Whiteface is the fifth-highest peak in New York and is unusual among the High Peaks because there is an observatory and a road to the summit. Esther is a quieter side trip from the Wilmington Trail and does not have the same kind of open summit views.
This hike marked #13 and #14 on my journey toward becoming an Adirondack 46er: Esther was #13, and Whiteface was #14.
I got to the trailhead around 5:45 AM and was the first one there, so I had the entire trail to myself. It was still a little cool when I started, but it really started to heat up as the morning went on. I went out to Esther first, which did not have much in the way of views, and then continued up toward Whiteface.
The climb to Whiteface was the best part of the day. I had views of the mountain on the way up that I remembered from skiing at Whiteface a couple of years ago, when it was around -40 degrees (pictures from that at the end). I reached the summit a little before 9 AM, before the road and observatory opened, so I had the top to myself for a little while too. The views from the summit were really great: sunny, a little hazy, and a pretty perfect reward for the early start.
Earlier hikes (27)
Dix Range
June 13, 2026 · Adirondacks, New York, USA
The Dix Range is a ridge of five Adirondack 46ers deep in the High Peaks Wilderness. It was a beautiful day, I arrived around 6:30 in the morning to find the main parking lot already full, so I had to park at the overflow lot and walk an extra 5km just to reach the trailhead.
I did the loop clockwise, heading up the Beckhorn Trail to the Beckhorn (4,485 ft), a sharp shoulder on the southern ridge of Dix, before continuing out to the summit of Dix Mountain (4,857 ft). From there I traversed south across the range to Hough Peak (4,400 ft), then South Dix (4,060 ft), then an out-and-back to Grace Peak (3,994 ft), and finally Macomb Mountain (4,405 ft). The descent was down the Macomb Slide, a steep and exposed landslide chute that was pretty sketchy in places.
All told it was about a 35km day with nearly 1,900 meters of elevation gain. Dix, Hough, South Dix, Grace, and Macomb are all Adirondack 46ers, bringing my total to #8 through #12.
Street Mountain and Nye Mountain
February 16, 2026 · Adirondacks, New York, USA
Street Mountain (4,166 ft) and Nye Mountain (3,895 ft) were #6 and #7 on my journey towards completing the Adirondack 46ers. The two peaks are accessed via the same trailhead and are typically done together as a loop or out-and-back.
It was a surprisingly warm day for mid-February. We started out under mostly gray skies, but the sun began to peek through as the hike went on, and we had some nice blue skies on our way back down.
Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain
January 11, 2026 · Adirondacks, New York, USA
Cascade Mountain (4,098 ft) and Porter Mountain (4,059 ft) are two of the Adirondack 46ers, the 46 highest peaks in New York’s Adirondack Park. Cascade is one of the most popular of the 46ers due to its relatively short and accessible trail, while Porter is often done as a side trip from Cascade, adding a bit more distance to the hike.
This hike marked #4 and #5 on my journey toward becoming an Adirondack 46er. It was also my first winter hike of the year, and my first hike where I would be using microspikes and snowshoes, so we wanted to do a relatively easy hike to test out all the equipment and get used to it.
The microspikes were absolutely amazing. We were able to walk straight up large sheets of ice that had formed on the steep trail without slipping at all. There had been some recent rain that froze over, and there is no way we would have been able to make it up the mountain without them. We only really used our snowshoes once we got over to Porter Peak, which was less well traveled and had deeper, less compact snow, but it was still a lot of fun to finally get to use them.
Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, and Little Haystack
October 13, 2025 · White Mountains, New Hampshire, USA
This loop hike in the White Mountains covers three summits: Mount Lafayette (5,249 ft), Mount Lincoln (5,089 ft), and Little Haystack (4,780 ft). Lafayette is the highest peak outside the Presidential Range in New Hampshire and is known for its exposed summit and long views across the Whites.
The Franconia Ridge section is above treeline for a while, so you get a lot of wind and weather. The ridge walk is rocky and is one of the classic hikes in the region. Unfortunately, when I did this hike it was raining and incredibly windy, so I spent as little time as possible on the ridge.
Mount Mansfield
September 28, 2025 · Green Mountains, Vermont, USA
Third time hiking this. Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in Vermont, reaching 4,393 feet (1,339 meters). The summit ridge is known for its distinctive profile, which looks like a human face when viewed from the east. The upper part of the mountain is home to rare alpine tundra, which is unusual for the region.
This hike is only about 2 hours from Montreal, and is now one of my favourites in the area.
Mount Katahdin
July 14, 2025 · Appalachian Mountains, Maine, USA
The second time I've done this mountain. Mount Katahdin is the highest peak in Maine, standing at 5,269 feet (1,606 meters). It's the northern end of the Appalachian Trail and sits in Baxter State Park. The mountain is known for its rugged ridges, steep climbs, and unpredictable weather.
The Knife Edge trail, which is the trail I took this time, is probably the most famous route up, with some exposed sections that are a bit sketchy if you're not a fan of heights. The summit is usually windy and can be cold even in the summer. Katahdin is also a big deal for thru-hikers finishing (or starting) the Appalachian Trail.
Mount Kilimanjaro
February 13, 2025 · Tanzania, Africa
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, standing at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). It's a massive stratovolcano with three main cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The summit, Uhuru Peak, is on Kibo and is the highest point on the continent.
The hike is long and the altitude makes it tough, especially near the top. You go through rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, and finally a rocky, icy summit, with glaciers near the top.
We did the Lemosho route up over 7 days, and it was an incredible experience.
Mount Mansfield
September 14, 2024 · Green Mountains, Vermont, USA
Second time hiking this. Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in Vermont, reaching 4,393 feet (1,339 meters). The summit ridge is known for its distinctive profile, which looks like a human face when viewed from the east. The upper part of the mountain is home to rare alpine tundra, which is unusual for the region.
This hike is only about 2 hours from Montreal, and is now one of my favourites in the area.
Algonquin, Iroquois, and Wright Peaks
July 27, 2024 · Adirondacks, New York, USA
This hike covers three of the Adirondack High Peaks: Algonquin Peak (5,114 ft), which is the second highest mountain in New York, as well as Iroquois Peak (4,840 ft) and Wright Peak (4,587 ft). The route is steep and rocky, with a lot of scrambling and some exposed sections above the treeline. Weather can change quickly on these summits, and the wind at the top is no joke.
This hike marked #1, #2, and #3 on my journey toward becoming an Adirondack 46er. Algonquin is known for its open summit and wide views over the High Peaks Wilderness. The trail is popular but still feels wild, and you get a good mix of forest, bog bridges, and bare rock. Wright Peak is also known for the wreckage of a B-47 bomber that crashed near the summit in 1962, and you can still find some debris if you look around.
Mount Mansfield
June 21, 2024 · Green Mountains, Vermont, USA
Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in Vermont, reaching 4,393 feet (1,339 meters). The summit ridge is known for its distinctive profile, which looks like a human face when viewed from the east. The upper part of the mountain is home to rare alpine tundra, which is unusual for the region.
This hike is only about 2 hours from Montreal, and is now one of my favourites in the area.
Whistler
September 14, 2023 · Coast Mountains, British Columbia, Canada
This was the last hike of my sister and I's roadtrip across the States. We visited my old roommate Nick, who was living in Squamish at the time, and then headed up to Whistler for a two-day hike. I don't actually remember exactly which trail we did. Unfortunately, we couldn't take the chairlift down the mountain at the end.
Mount Rainier
September 1, 2023 · Cascade Range, Washington, USA
Mount Rainier stands at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), making it the highest peak in Washington and the Cascade Range. It's a massive stratovolcano, visible from miles around, and is known for its year-round glaciers and unpredictable weather. The mountain is surrounded by rugged terrain, alpine meadows, and dense forests.
We hiked up to Camp Muir, which is the highest you can go on the mountain without needing professional mountaineering gear like ropes or crampons. On the way up, we were stuck in a cloud and couldn't even see the direction we were heading—just following the route on AllTrails. We were walking on ice and snow most of the way, but when we got to the camp, we broke above the clouds and the view was incredible. This was my favourite hike on our roadtrip.
Mount Rainier Side Hike
August 31, 2023 · Cascade Range, Washington, USA
A little side hike we did around Mount Rainier, we hiked up to a nice waterfall. It was pretty wet and we got rained on where we had set up camp, Sis's tent flooded during the night, and you can see her trying to dry out the tent the next morning.
Glacier National Park
August 29, 2023 · Rocky Mountains, Montana, USA
Glacier National Park, located in the Rocky Mountains of northern Montana, is known for its peaks, alpine lakes, and over two dozen glaciers. The park is home to wildlife such as mountain goats, grizzly bears, and moose.
We hiked up to a historic mining tunnel that was dug into the mountain, which lets you walk all the way through to the other side.
Yellowstone National Park
August 26, 2023 · Wyoming/Montana/Idaho, USA
Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the world, established in 1872, and spans across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. It's known for its geothermal features, including the Old Faithful geyser, as well as its canyons, alpine rivers, forests, and wildlife such as bison, elk, bears, and wolves.
Grand Teton National Park
August 25, 2023 · Teton Range, Wyoming, USA
Grand Teton National Park is located in northwestern Wyoming and known for its mountain scenery, lakes, and wildlife. The park's centerpiece is the Teton Range, with Grand Teton itself rising to 13,775 feet (4,199 meters), the highest peak in the range.
The park has hiking trails ranging from easy lakeside walks to challenging alpine routes, with views of rugged peaks, glacial valleys, and wildflower meadows along the way. It's also home to moose, elk, bears, and bald eagles.
At the midway point of our hike, my sister and I took a dip in a freezing cold pond and enjoyed a couple of drinks, which was a fantastic and memorable break during the trek.
Badlands National Park
August 22, 2023 · South Dakota, USA
Badlands National Park in South Dakota is known for its sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires, mixed with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The park covers nearly 244,000 acres and has hiking trails that wind through layered rock formations and fossil beds, including fossils of ancient mammals like the saber-toothed cat. The park is also home to bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and a wide variety of birds.
This was a two-day hike that my sister and I did together. It was incredibly hot and sunny during our trek, and after camping overnight, we ran out of water by the next morning—which was a bit concerning, but we made it back to the car safely. During the night, we also heard dogs howling in the distance, adding to the adventure.
Maquoketa Caves
August 20, 2023 · Iowa, USA
Maquoketa Caves State Park in eastern Iowa is known for its network of caves, limestone formations, and wooded trails. The park has more caves than any other state park in Iowa, including Dancehall Cave, which stretches over 1,000 feet, and several smaller caves accessible along the hiking paths.
This is the first park my sister and I stopped at on our roadtrip across the United States, starting from New Brunswick on the east coast.
Gros Morne
August 7, 2023 · Long Range Mountains, Newfoundland, Canada
Gros Morne Mountain is the second highest peak in Newfoundland, rising to 2,644 feet (806 meters) above sea level. It's located in Gros Morne National Park, with views over fjords, coastal lowlands, and old geological formations. The hike to the summit is steep and rocky.
Gros Morne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its exposed mantle rock and its role in illustrating the theory of plate tectonics.
Robin and I did this hike after visiting Jack in St. John's, who was amazing and let us borrow his car to drive across Newfoundland Island to get to the park.
Signal Hill
August 2, 2023 · St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Signal Hill overlooks the city of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The summit rises to about 525 feet (160 meters) above sea level, with views of the Atlantic Ocean and St. John's Harbour. It's known for its role in military history and as the site where Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901.
The hike follows coastal trails past rugged cliffs and the Cabot Tower at the summit, and it's one of the most popular hikes in the region.
I did this hike while my friend Robin and I were visiting another friend, Jack, who lives in St. John's. We ended the hike at Quidi Vidi Brewery.
Mont Serrat
July 24, 2023 · Montserrat Range, Catalonia, Spain
Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain range near Barcelona, Spain, with its highest summit, Sant Jeroni, reaching 4,055 feet (1,236 meters). It's known for its jagged rock formations and the Montserrat Monastery, a pilgrimage site built into the cliffs. The hike has views over Catalonia and passes through rocky spires and forest.
I did this hike with some friends I met in a hostel while staying in Barcelona.
Les Calanques
July 18, 2023 · Parque National des Calanques, France
Les Calanques is a coastal area near Marseille, France, known for its limestone cliffs, turquoise coves, and rugged Mediterranean scenery. The hike has views over the sea for most of its length and is one of the more popular walks in southern France, crossing rocky trails, pine forests, and small beaches.
I did this hike with my friend Axel, who I met while traveling in France. He was living in Marseille at the time.
Mont Pépoiri, Mont Pétoumier, and Baus de la Frema
July 13, 2023 · Parque National de Mercantour, France
This hike in Mercantour National Park covers three notable peaks: Mont Pépoiri (2,674 m / 8,773 ft), Mont Pétoumier (2,604 m / 8,543 ft), and Baus de la Frema (2,246 m / 7,369 ft). Mont Pépoiri is one of the highest summits in the area, with views out over the southern Alps and the Mediterranean coast. The route crosses alpine meadows and rocky ridges.
I did this hike with my friend Tom when we met up in Nice. We caught the first bus to the mountain town of Valdeblore and hurried through the hike to make sure we caught the last bus back to Nice. Along the way, we saw wild horses roaming the mountain.
"This looks more like Lord of the Rings than New Zealand" - Tom
Cinque Terre
July 8, 2023 · Cinque Terre, Italy
The Cinque Terre is a coastal region in Liguria, Italy, made up of five colorful villages built into cliffs above the Mediterranean Sea. The classic hike connects Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, running along terraced vineyards with views out over the sea.
The highest point along the trail is around 1,200 feet (366 meters), and while it's not a mountain hike, it's one of the more popular coastal walks in Italy.
La Gaspésie Road Trip
May 22, 2023 · Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, Canada
This was more of a multi-day road trip than a single hike. I started in Saint John, New Brunswick, heading up to Mount Carleton—the highest peak in New Brunswick—then continued north to the Gaspé Peninsula. I visited Percé and Gaspé, hiked in Parc national Forillon, and then came back along the northern side, stopping at Gaspésie National Park. After crossing the St. Lawrence River at Trois-Pistoles, I explored Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay, and finally continued down to Quebec City and Montreal.
Secret Ontario Interior Spot
October 22, 2022 · Somewhere in Ontario, Canada
While I was living in Kingston, I spent some time exploring around eastern Ontario and found this incredible secluded lake. You can hike out to it and set up camp right by the water, and I have never seen anyone else around while I was there. I visited this spot multiple times while I was in Kingston, and it's one of my favourite places in the area. I hope to go back again at some point.
Mount Katahdin
July 21, 2019 · Appalachian Mountains, Maine, USA
Mount Katahdin, standing at 5,269 feet (1,606 meters), is the highest peak in Maine and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. It's located in Baxter State Park and known for its rugged terrain and steep ridges.
We hiked up and down the peak in a single day, and the next day tackled the class V rapids on the Penobscot River.
