My Experience Being a Latina Hiking on the PCT

Trail TalkHeather Diaz
PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


Saturday, June 9, 2017. 

It is Day 44 of my Pacific Crest Trail hike. Stephen runs excitedly on the road while I laugh hysterically with relief. We finally made it to Kennedy Meadows, passed the 700-mile mark, and left the desert with no injuries. 


That June morning was celebratory. The trail into the high country flattened out, and we hiked 10 miles to Kennedy Meadows in three hours. The transition from the desert to the Inyo National Forest is apparent. There are lush green trees, which we hadn’t seen in ages. Best of all, we did it! The excitement flows through our veins and our souls. Bring on the beer at Grumpy’s!

I’m a 32-year-old Latina who grew up in the suburbs of Houston. In 2012, I moved to San Francisco, where I started my career in marketing. My partner, Stephen Woodson, is an open space technician who develops parks and green spaces. He is an Eagle Scout and an experienced backpacker, and I am an experienced long-distance runner. 

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


We connected through our appreciation and gratitude for the outdoors. The trails were our jam. He asked me to go on a hike for our first date, and the rest is history. I applied the same principles of running to backpacking, and it clicked. It was the most beautiful thing I had experienced, to slow down the pace, see the beauty around me, and share it with someone I love. 

When we arrived at the Kennedy Meadows General Store, a roar of clapping erupted. What is going on? What happened? It’s a tradition to clap and cheer for every person who arrives at this exact spot.

2017 was dubbed “the year of fire and ice.” For us, snow and raging river crossings still lay ahead. Kennedy Meadows represents the physical transition from the desert to the Sierra, so it requires a gear change. All encouragement and positivity are needed. Traditionally, many hang out here for a few days of rest before transitioning to the snow. I felt empowered and ready for the next 390 miles.

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


We were ravenous for lunch. The general store’s patio tables and chairs were crowded with scruffy, smelly, and dirty hikers. The energy was high. People waved down trail family or hiker friends they hadn’t seen in a while. 

As we were looking for a place to sit, no one waved us down. We recognized some faces but didn’t find a proper place for two. We decided to eat in front of the store where I found a tree stump to sit on. 

My partner and I had one crucial objective at Kennedy Meadows. We needed to find a group to join for the Sierra section. It’s strongly encouraged to hike with a group for the passes and river crossings. It’s dangerous to cross alone because the snowmelt swells the streams. Safety requires a team effort. Everyone at the tables seemed to have found their group. Some found their trail families early on, and they seemed to stick together. 

I didn’t know how they welcome new people because no one invited us to hike with them. I wondered how it starts. Is it a special connection? Do you see someone and instantly think, “We could be friends?” How did it work? I didn’t know how it felt, and I had never known how it felt. 

All I knew was that my trip’s goal was to have an adventure, do some soul-searching and find my rhythm. I thought it was odd that people attempted to hike alone and get outside their comfort zones only to get back into a group. But that’s my opinion.

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


Stephen and I discussed how we should approach finding a group to join. We talked about who we should ask and how we should ask. It felt as if we were asking, “Do you want to be friends?” 

We went up to one group and asked, and their response was “we have too many people in our group, we’re full.”  OK. Let’s ask another group. Their response in sum: “We’re getting off at Lone Pine,” aka Cottonwood Pass. My mind began racing. We wanted to hike beyond Forester Pass. Let’s ask another group. 

Rejection.

My heart now started racing too; my hands became sweaty and my throat felt dry. That familiar feeling, that I was being noticed or treated differently, crept in. I refused to think anything further at that moment. I kept my head high. My lifetime survival instincts kicked in, and I was able to remain calm. 

After getting rejected a few more times, Stephen and I discussed how we could move forward. We listened to a podcast that talked about negative stereotypes about couples. So maybe that’s the reason people didn’t want us to be a part of their group? Or perhaps they think we’re asking for a long-term commitment? 

We decided to approach people and tell them, “Can we join your group? We need a group to join in the Sierra for the river crossings, and we don’t intend to join permanently.” Maybe that would work. Nope. 

It felt like a broken record. It didn’t even matter how kind their response was — rejection hurt. If you’ve lived in the dating world, you can relate. The kindest “no” still leaves a deep wound. 

We had two thoughts. Maybe we can hike on as a couple and survive it? Or perhaps this is a sign we should ditch our plan and hike out to Lone Pine by ourselves? That is doable as a couple. 

On our last-ditch effort we found three hikers who welcomed us with open arms. Of course, our group was one of the most diverse. That felt like the story of my life. I always end up befriending a diverse group. 

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


That moment transformed our hike beyond our wildest imaginations. Stephen and I grew together as a couple and within our group. We all made it over Forester Pass and parted ways when Stephen and I flipped to Echo Lake. The rest of the group continued through the Sierra. 

I’ve run this story over in my mind a thousand times. Every single time I live through it, I discover something new. Do you see anything wrong? 

It took me three years to realize this situation is how racism often looks and feels. BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color) experience episodes like this in our everyday lives. 

Many people tend to see racism at the surface only, like a negative character trait. Therefore, people tend to associate being a good person as not being racist. They may see racism only when someone makes a blatant and disparaging statement. As a result, unless someone makes an overtly racist statement or act, they automatically assume there’s no racism. It’s usually much more subtle than that.

As we struggled to team up for the stream crossings, I didn’t assume any type of racism was occurring since no one said anything directly to me, nor am I calling anyone a racist. Still, in some cases, I felt what is known as a micro-aggression, which is defined as “a brief and commonplace daily verbal or behavioral indignity, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicates hostile, derogatory or negative attitudes toward people of color.”

It’s a familiar feeling. I’ve felt it all my life, and I felt it many times during our 44 days in the desert. Suddenly, all the implicit bias I’d experienced was staring back at me in the mirror. 

Throughout our time on the PCT, we were seeing the same groups over and over. We were passing one another. Yet a lot of hikers seemed to dismiss me and misunderstand my ability. It wasn’t direct. We would cluster together at certain spots along the trail or at camp, and I thought we could all hang out together. But it always ended up feeling awkward and unwelcome.

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


Stephen and I weren’t fast hikers, maybe doing 20 miles a day. Others were doubling that and then spending more days in town. We were just cruising. We’d actually get ahead of them at some points or catch up to them. Or we’d get somewhere, and people were surprised that we’d made it. They’d say, somewhere between the lines, “Oh you’re here!?” or “You made it?!”

What’s so strange is the Pacific Crest Trail should be one place we are all able to get together and connect. We all started from the Mexico and California border. We all hiked to the same place. We saw the same people and groups throughout the trail. In my eyes, we are the same — we are all badasses! Yet it didn't matter. I often felt like I didn't belong.

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


Let’s be clear. Many others did not make me feel this way. 

The point is that some people of color are uncomfortable on the trail because of this form of subtle yet hurtful behavior. That needs to be addressed. As a larger community, we are failing to recognize it because the blatant acts aren’t there. 

There’s another issue as well. According to the halfwayanywhere.com survey, 7.6% of thru-hikers on the PCT are BIPOC. That number has barely increased year over year. In California, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, 28.1% of residents are nonwhite. 

We need to find a solution to increase diversity on the PCT. During our hike, I only saw a handful of other brown people over 44 days, and we passed all of them. I did not see anyone who looked like me at Kennedy Meadows. The lack of diversity on the PCT contributes to these ongoing acts of bias. 

This is how racism looks and feels on an everyday basis. It might not look like your experience, but that doesn’t make it invalid. It’s crucial to understand the deeper levels of racism beyond the blatant hate and statements. 

It starts with checking privilege and implicit bias that we may have unknowingly inherited. It doesn’t make us bad people. It’s a bad habit society created, and it needs to stop if our community is to make progress.

Our first step forward as a community is to acknowledge there is an issue — that implicit bias exists on the trail. It contributes to racism, which is why we need to check our privilege at the door before heading out to the wilderness.

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


Thinking back, it makes me upset that we rationalized the situation when there were red flags everywhere since day one. As a result, it’s my goal to find my voice, speak out and share my thoughts and experiences. How can we move forward if we don't speak up? These are everyday thoughts and emotional battles for people who look like me. It's more challenging when you are the only Latina in the area and there is no one to speak with who can relate or feel these same emotions. 

To new BIPOC hikers: Don’t be discouraged. We found a space where we belonged, and so can you. Persistence, being prepared, finding people who welcomed us, and embracing the support from our loved ones kept us going. 

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


Everyone: I encourage you to see the value of thru-hiking beyond the hike itself. You can meet tons of amazing people from all over the world on the PCT. The thru-hiking community is generally good about being open. Go the extra mile and genuinely try to get to know people beyond a small circle of friends. Speak up if you see something wrong. You can do this on your local hikes too. If you are in a group, don't get consumed—and branch out. 

I love talking to people on the trail to this day. I make an extra effort to make BIPOC feel welcomed by nodding my head, saying “hi,” or asking how their hike went if they look a bit nervous or out of place. I can spot newbies in a second because I was once there. If you are an experienced hiker and see a newbie, please make them feel welcome. You can simply ask, “How is your hike?” We belong out there.

I will never forget those who were immediately nice to me on the trail. It’s a rare treat and surreal feeling as a BIPOC hiker. Thanks to those who made me feel better and for helping me get past those first 1,000 miles. It gave me the courage to push everything else aside. It allowed me to hike almost 2,300 miles. 

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz


Finally, thanks to everyone who supported us and believed in us, the Trail Pirates: the hikers, trail angels, Hops, Ziplok, Rhino, and the group of 12 who welcomed our group to join their ascent of Forester Pass.
Thank you to my mom and dad for your love and support, even though you did not initially agree with my quitting my job to live on a trail. Most importantly, thank you to my partner, Stephen, who always believed in me and never left my side.

 

 

PCT Thru-Hiking Latina Diversity BIPOC Pacific Crest Trail Racism Implicit Bias — Heather Diaz
Heather Diaz is a first-generation hiker from the suburbs of Houston who now lives in San Jose. She helps even the most novice feel included, prepared and empowered in the outdoors. Learn more at hikeandlift.com and also follow Heather on Instagram. In 2021, she plans to finish the Sierra section she and her partner skipped. “We hope to see you on the trail!” - Heather
Trail talk

9 comments

Kyla

Kyla

Wow that seems like a total stretch and pretty narcissistic to imagine this whole scenario. First of all you don’t even look non-white and were with a white guy. Who would even think about what color or ethnicity you were? Most ppl would never think of it or maybe think you were Italian. I grew up in the deep south, have lived at hostels, worked and traveled all over the country and never once met an actual human being who wouldn’t be friends with someone based on being latin or whatever. Not once. And that was before this year when we all have to be beat over the head with how awful we are for being accidentally born one shade lighter than some other people. It never crossed my mind in my life before all this poor me attitude. Try being Jewish where you will be tortured on at least a weekly basis with actual, horrible,
jokes and being told you should die, etc since childhood. We don’t get to be either white or a minority either. Not that I’m complaining, if anyone were racist or makes a cruel joke I just walk away. Doesn’t sound like anything happened at all other than you two being awkward or off-putting somehow. Maybe they just knew each other before, or don’t like couples, or like to drink and you were in bed early, who knows. Instead of imagining racism that you admit you saw zero actual evidence of you should be happy to be able to hike. I don’t get to hike ever again as I was in an accident. Try not being able to climb stairs or keep up with friends walking around a mall,
or ever dancing again. Or maybe how much better you have it than people in other countries who really are in peril from racism / class structures or poverty and not picked last to cross a stream. Try some perspective instead of being little miss woe is me.

Felipe

Felipe

Fellow Latinx over here, so not new to prejudice. I would never go as far as you did in regards to drawing conclusions. You were rejected, that’s a fact. Why? Could it be racism? YES! Could it be any other reason on the planet? ABSOLUTELY! It’s super sad that you created an explosive article based on this assumption, then again maybe I’m just being naive.

Pika

Pika

HI, I’m also a female latina on trail. I’m hiking the PCT on sections at the moment and in the many years that I been hiking I have never even realize that been a latina or even been a female on trail makes me different. I’m just another hiker . I always meet great people and I have many friends that I have keep in touch through out the years and keep hiking together. I have also meet people that I do not want to hang out with or that have give me a weird vibe but I have never noticed a pattern on the race or color of their skin. Some personalities don’t match or even more hiking stiles maybe totally different. I really don’t think that the ethnicity is the problem. If you see your self different you can not expect other people seen you equal. Happy trails !!

kevin kerr

kevin kerr

I am Latino and I have never seen or experienced racism on the trail and I’ve been hiking since 1969. I have not and never would turn away any one in need . I have all ways said hi or conversed shortly with passer by, But I would not necessarily welcome someone to join my party just because they wanted to. I am not that trusting of others no matter their race.

Hiker

Hiker

So disappointed that you can visit a hiking blog blog any more without receiving a smack down about being a white racist. I’ve hike the AT, and considerable portions of the PCT snd the AZT. I couldn’t care less about someones race on trail. I don’t separate people I meet on trail into groups. I think that I’ve probably hike with most races and and have never seen the blantant discrimination that is so woke to blog about. Everything I learned about treating people equally I learned from my Dad. Never a issue. So sad that the white hiking comunity is being repeatedly attacked for racism. I don’t see it. I would of hiked with these folks in a heartbeat. On the AT I hike 1000 miles with a gay couple and we had a blast. Good friends to this day. The fact that the hiking blogs and groups like the PCTA have turned political and presents the hiking community as a racist group does nothing to promote our sport sick of it

Marie

Marie

Thank you for having the courage to write this! I didn’t realize it, but as a fellow Latina I have also encountered feeling out of place within the winter camping community. It’s much harder to pinpoint because the microagressions don’t feel intentional but cause harm all the same. I love you have turned your experience into something positive and inspirational.

Zachary Noodle McKenna

Zachary Noodle McKenna

It’s only day two for me on the PCT. But if I’m passing the Sierras and you make it out when I’m there I’ll gladly join and hike with you two. I’m solo now but even if I find a group you can still join. Please inform everyone when you finish. That section. I love reading hiking story’s

Linda Gryczan

Linda Gryczan

Thank you for telling this story. I’m a bike packer and understand and leap frogging nature of the journey. This is a good reminder that our outdoor community must become more inclusive and welcoming to ALL.

Ian

Ian

Thank-you for a great insightful article.
I’m not an experienced backpacker, more of a day hiker and most of our hikes are with my Scout Troop on the AT, so we wouldn’t normally invite anyone to join us, but I shall certainly try to be even more friendly and open to everyone we meet, to extend the outdoor comraderie.

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