People keep asking me about this new book on the Pacific Crest Trail book, Wild, by well-known author, Cheryl Strayed (“Mama Sugar”). “Are you worried about it?” they always ask me. My honest answer is NO. Cheryl Strayed must be a good writer because she has a loyal following. She certainly has a good story about her relationship with her mother, drug abuse, etc. Better yet, she headed off to the Pacific Crest Trail to...

Gay hikers are disproportionately represented on both the Appalachain Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. While I’m personally not gay, I noticed that those who were gay seemed to fit in seamlessly. It just wasn’t an issue in our intense day-to-day struggles. “I never in my life felt so free, such a part of a community,” said Magic Bullet in Yogi’s PCT Handbook. Gay partners openly hiked and camped together. Issues such...