Jennifer Pharr Davis on ‘Hiking’ vs ‘Trail Running’ Culture (Ep.7)

Scott Jurek, one of the all-time great trail runners, called his attempt to break Jennifer Pharr Davis’ FKT (Fastest Known Time) for hiking the Appalachian Trail, “The hardest thing he’d ever done.” And yet, hiking and thru-hiking isn’t often given the credit it deserves either as a monumental test of endurance, or (on the other hand) as a less intimidating / more effective way to get more people outdoors.

So we talk to Jennifer Pharr Davis about the differences and divides between hiking culture & trail running culture; why — and how — she works to break down barriers and get more people outside; what she’s learned about “befriending adversity,” harnessing the power of failure, the increasing importance of connecting with nature, and more.

Jennifer is a hiker, author, speaker, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year who has covered over 14,000 miles of long-distance trails on six different continents. In 2011, she set the Fastest Known Time — for men or women — for the Appalachian Trail, at forty-six days, eleven hours, and twenty minutes.

She is also the founder and owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Company, a guiding service that strives “to make the wilderness accessible and enjoyable” for hikers of all ages, genders, and ability levels.

Jennifer is currently on a tour for her most recent book, The Pursuit of Endurance.