Faces of Greenbelt: Marc Frigon, Hiker, Photographer, Supporter

If you’re looking for a little inspiration this fall — or any time of year — to get outside and explore the trails of Essex County and beyond, look no further than the Instagram account of Marc Frigon, also known as That Frigon Hiker (@thatfrigonhiker).

An outdoor enthusiast and amateur photographer, Marc has spent the past five years exploring the region — including numerous Greenbelt properties — and sharing his adventures with a growing community of followers. In his posts, he clearly delights in discovering new trails, taking in beautiful landscapes, and encouraging others to do the same.

“Being out in nature is my favorite way to clear my head and recharge,” says Marc. “It also rekindles that childhood sense of wonder. When I’m outside, I’m just more aware of the sights, sounds, and small details around me, the things you might otherwise miss as you rush through your day.”

While he attributes his love for the outdoors to excursions he took with his father while growing up in the suburbs of Boston — an early highlight was climbing Mount Monadnock at age five — and to a long-standing love for nature-oriented fantasy series like “The Lord of the Rings“ and “The Chronicles of Narnia,” it wasn’t until around 2021 that Marc became fully committed to taking on more serious adventures.

“I definitely kicked things up several notches around the time of the pandemic,” he says. “I was learning about peak bagging and thought, I’m not getting any younger, so now’s the time if I really want to get into hiking.” Since then, he’s bagged just over 50 sizable peaks in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and plans to keep adding more to his list.

Around this same time, Marc also started an Instagram account bearing a tongue-in-cheek play on his last name to share his adventures and explore his creative side. “I’ve been surprised by how much engagement I get on my page,” he says. “It’s been a really fun way to connect with other people, discover new trails, and build a little community around a shared love for the outdoors.”

One of Marc’s early revelations as he was getting into hiking was just how many Greenbelt properties and trails were found around the region. From his hometown of Beverly, where he lives with his wife and two children, to the area around Gordon College in Wenham, where he works in the IT department, he found countless new areas to explore.

Since then, he has become something of a Greenbelt superfan, visiting properties on a regular basis (often sharing his photos and enthusiastic reviews on Instagram) and coming to learn more about the importance of land conservation and stewardship. In 2024, Marc participated in the Go-Getter Trails Challenge and has also become a valued Greenbelt member and supporter.

“I never realized how many trails there are right in my own backyard,” he says. “It’s been great exploring as many of them as possible and inspiring others to get outside and discover all this area has to offer.”