Fireside Chat: Trans Thru Hiking

The first weekend of February was one of the weekends that started off frustrating and disappointing and then somehow redeemed itself in a big way. I had registered to attend the Indiana Wildlife Federation 2024 conference. The focus was on Indiana waterways, and I looked forward to learning a lot and connecting with fellow greenies. However, I had to cancel. Then I thought, well, it is World Wetlands Day, why not attend the wetland hike at Eagle Marsh. Again, because of a sore knee, I had to stay home. While pouting I navigated social media and discovered that Notch Hostel in the White Mountains of New Hampshire had a fireside chat series. For those of us not staying at the hostel we could attend virtually. The disappointing weekend began to brighten up.   

Notch Hostel has an active Social Justice approach to hiking and engaging nature. This includes being inclusive to people of color, women, people with ability challenges, Indigenous Peoples, and members of  
 the LGBTQ+ community. This inclusive approach is consistent with the values of this blog. If we are to address climate change in any effective way it will take all of us. If we are not to be discouraged from such a formidable challenge, we need the grounding and healing that comes from being in nature. That involvement in nature must be for all of us.  

 The fireside chat represented one of the communities often excluded or at least not consistently warmly welcomed into the green and hiking communities, the trans community. The talk was on Queering the Triple Crown. The speaker, Lyla “Sugar” Harrod is the first openly trans woman who has completed thru hiking the three national trails that make up the Triple Crown. That includes the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. She had hiked over 2500 miles. Her presentation was engaging, her insights useful, and her example was inspiring.  She provided practicle advise for hiking while out and freely referred to the wisdom of others.

 Now this is not the first time this blog has addressed LGBTQ issues and contributions to the larger Green Community. In LGBTQI-A and Being Green the blog addressed issues of safety, belonging, career opportunities of LGBTQ folks in a variety of green settings. This included hiking, conservation, gardens, and farming. It identified resources for members of the LGBTQ community.  However, the focus was on the larger, umbrella community (LGBTQ) and a broader sense of what is involved in being green. Lyla usefully narrowed the focus to the Trans community and the hiking community.  

 Lyla began her fireside chat addressing the larger context. She addressed what is queering or what does it mean to queer something. This action, this verb, referred to the act of challenging traditional norms or assumptions about gender, orientation, and identity. It requires a questioning of traditional hierarchal relationships and of gender expectations. Interestingly, she pointed out that many in the hiking community already question traditional norms. She stated that thru hikers are dismantling conventional wisdom by “blowing up their lives.” She was referring to rejecting traditional career paths and conventional relationships. 

 Lyla was inspiring. Her story is of a person who struggled with addiction and found her sobriety and her identity. She sees out-hiking as being a model to other members of the LGBTQ community who struggle to accept themselves or to outwardly be themselves. Lyla is an active member of a mentoring program for LGBTQ hikers.  

 Lyla’s chat and the Notch Hostel’s core values got me thinking about the growing commitment to inclusivity in the green movement. Hiking is still very much a White CIS male environment but that is changing. It is being challenged by POC, by female accomplishments and leadership, but also buy the growing LGBTQ identity in hiking. This PRIDE is important. Just as important as the organizing is the fact that Queer eco-activism is being studied. Tere is growing advocacy for LGBT involvement in conservation and eco-activism. This includes the League of Conservation Voters, The National Wildlife Federation (including a focus on youth), and The Butterfly Conservation Organization. Even the United States Department of Agriculture is providing resources. 
​
 So, I did not get to go the IWF conference. I did not go on a World Wetlands Day hike. But I did learn about the challenges faced by trans hikers. I was reminded of the many contributions of the LGBTQ community to the green movement. I was introduced to the many services and welcoming people that make up the Notch Hostel. And as far as the conference I missed, it turns out I can watch all the presentations on-line.  

Illustration by Kerri Pulley

---