Gay Hikers Are Well Represented on America’s Hiking Trails

Posted by on June 15, 2011 in Appalachian Trail, Gay Hikers, Pacific Crest Trail, Skywalker--Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail | 1 comment

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 as gay marriage, gays in the military, etc. were openly debated.

“If in doubt, walk,” John Muir memorably said. I firmly believe that the more people who hike, the better off we will be as a society. That obviously includes gays.

Bill Walker is the author of Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail. He is also the author of Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago. Walker, who is nearly 7-feet tall, is currently working on a book on the subject of height.

1 Comment

  1. Thanks for bringing up this topic in your book..We all try to get along and it’s the trail and the hiking spirit which bring us together and tolerates that everyone Hikes their own Hike…

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