{"id":22378,"date":"2017-11-14T20:21:23","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T04:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=22378"},"modified":"2019-05-10T13:53:03","modified_gmt":"2019-05-10T20:53:03","slug":"fastest-known-mom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/fastest-known-mom","title":{"rendered":"Fastest Known Mom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most parents can recount at least a few dirty diaper fiascos. However, it\u2019s a rare breed that can cop to handling a poop-filled nightmare during the darkest hours of a brisk September night in Alaska\u2019s Denali National Park. Jennifer Pharr Davis is one of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter how quick you are, no matter how good the baby\u2019s clothing layer system is, you feel like you\u2019re racing the clock when you\u2019re trying to change a dirty diaper and it\u2019s 10 degrees outside,\u201d she laughs.<\/p>\n

If anyone can speed-clean a soiled baby, it\u2019s probably Pharr Davis. After all, she wields two of the fastest hiking legs in the world, having knocked out records on Vermont\u2019s Long Trail, Australia\u2019s Bibbulmun Track and the iconic Appalachian Trail (AT), where she not only logged the unsupported women\u2019s Fastest Known Time (FKT) in 2008, but also pushed through illness and shin splints to shave well over a full day off of the overall FKT three years later\u2014the first woman to top the AT leaderboard.<\/p>\n

Of course, some people don\u2019t see the appeal of bombing along one of the most famous footpaths in the world, but Pharr Davis has a surprising response. \u201cPeople like to criticize the record pretty often, saying \u2018How could you enjoy it?\u2019 or \u2018How could you appreciate it?\u2019\u2014and I did,\u201d she explains. \u201cBut I also like to point out that I\u2019ve hiked more slow miles than almost anyone I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/h4>\n

Jennifer Pharr Davis hasn\u2019t always been fast, but she\u2019s always been ambitious. Dreams of completing the Appalachian Trail first materialized during her freshman year of college, and the novice hiker was so determined to bring them to fruition that she plowed through her coursework and graduated a semester early. She headed north from Georgia\u2019s Springer Mountain, the trail\u2019s southern terminus, in March 2005, a growth-filled journey documented in her memoir, “Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail.” The experience was transformational. \u201cI recognized right away that my life was different,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI learned the value of simplicity, and that is such an important lesson at age 21, because it changed what I wanted out of life. I no longer wanted stuff and things and status; instead I wanted experiences and adventures and relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pharr Davis was hooked. She carried those lessons across 13,000 miles (and counting) of the world\u2019s long trails, including thru-hikes along the Pacific Crest Trail<\/a>, Colorado Trail<\/a> and Tour du Mont Blanc<\/a>. While those experiences were deeply personal, her 2011 FKT launched Pharr Davis into the public sphere, earning her worldwide acclaim and the honor of being named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. From there, she built a motivational speaking career, providing inspirational presentations to universities and corporate entities like Google and L.L.Bean. Perhaps more importantly, the newfound fame offered an opportunity to double down on her biggest goal: help others connect with the healing power of the outdoors.<\/p>\n

“Well, I\u2019m not going to be a therapist, I\u2019m not going to be a minister, I\u2019m not going to be a social worker, but darn it, if I can get people into the woods, I think I can help them have a healthier lifestyle.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of the lasting effects of her first AT hike was that Pharr Davis felt a strong pull to help facilitate for others the same kind of transformative experience she encountered\u2014albeit without requiring them to travel 2,190 miles. \u201cI saw that the trail has this way to give people what they needed, whether it was a social connection, solitude, a spiritual experience, or just general life therapy,\u201d she explains. \u201cI thought, \u2018Well, I\u2019m not going to be a therapist, I\u2019m not going to be a minister, I\u2019m not going to be a social worker, but darn it, if I can get people into the woods, I think I can help them have a healthier lifestyle.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

To that end, Pharr Davis and husband Brew founded the Blue Ridge Hiking Company<\/a> in 2008, with a mission \u201cto make the wilderness accessible and enjoyable\u201d for all. In a similar vein, she\u2019s written a handful of guidebooks including the recent “Families on Foot: Urban Hikes to Backyard Treks and National Parks Adventures,” co-authored with Brew in partnership with the American Hiking Society, where Pharr Davis is an ambassador. Although it would have been easy to adopt an authoritative tone given her experience, she insisted on including a diverse array of voices throughout. \u201cI feel like it\u2019s really powerful to be able to see families from all across the U.S., of all ages, with all different backgrounds, demographics, and special considerations, and see how everyone\u2019s getting outdoors in different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Family is important to Pharr Davis. In fact, her AT record was meant as a final hurrah to pave the way for creating her own. \u201cI wanted one last big adventure, and I wanted to know the feeling of being light and fast and free before being pregnant for nine months,\u201d she says. \u201cI think I got my \u2018fast\u2019 out on the record.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, back to those \u201cslow miles.\u201d Pharr Davis notched over 500 of them in Europe while walking Iceland\u2019s Laugavegur Trail and Spain\u2019s GR11 in 2012, beginning while six months pregnant with daughter Charley. Less than a year later, she embarked on a book tour that allowed for saunters in every state, baby in tow. Now the entire family\u2014including one-year-old Gus\u2014is traveling along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST)<\/a>, a 1,175-mile path that spans their home state of North Carolina between Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Jockey\u2019s Ridge State Park in the Outer Banks.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Pharr Davis hiking along the Mountains to Sea Trail | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Pharr Davis<\/p><\/div>\n

Their focus is on advocating for the 40-year-old route through blog posts and speaking engagements. Pharr Davis has long dreamed of hiking her \u201chome trail,\u201d and the opportunity arrived when advocacy group Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail<\/a> offered its support to allow her entire family in on the adventure. The crew set out in mid-August and will finish later this month. [E<\/em>d. note: As of publication (Nov. 14, 2017), Pharr Davis and family were within 130 miles of the finish line.]<\/em>\u00a0The family starts together most mornings, Gus snuggled up in a carrier while Charley explores, sometimes nudged along with a few M&M’S or more often, by the promise of discovering intriguing flora and fauna along the way. The day progresses with diaper changes and snack breaks, and both parents tend to curious little minds and tired little feet before Brew eventually whisks Charley away to meet mom later down the trail. Hardly the stuff of speed records.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s a pace Pharr Davis prefers. \u201cThe cool thing about hiking or backpacking as a family is that it kind of solidifies you as your own little team,\u201d she explains. \u201cI think it really forms this cohesive bond that you don\u2019t feel at home when everyone\u2019s going in different directions.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/h4>\n

In the background, Gus grows loud and restless. Pharr Davis, however, is unfazed. This is the reality of parenthood, of life on trail with family\u2014and reality doesn\u2019t care whether or not you\u2019re an elite athlete.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s taking her children on a journey through North Carolina, writing about outdoor adventures, leading hikes, speaking to students, or advocating for conservation and trail protection, Jennifer Pharr Davis has found a purpose far beyond what any record book can provide.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiving people an emotional connection to the natural world is hugely important if we want to protect it going forward,\u201d she says. \u201cIf I get other people outdoors, I feel like I\u2019m doing what I was made to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jennifer Pharr Davis’s Tips for Getting Outdoors With Your Family<\/h4>\n

Start ’em young.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s easy to carry a baby down the trail and their needs are minimal: They need love and shelter and food and a clean diaper, and that\u2019s about it,\u201d says Pharr Davis. An early start can also help normalize the idea of spending time outdoors, so moving into longer hikes and overnights will feel natural to a child who\u2019s been outside their whole life.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Pharr Davis hikes with a sleeping Gus in tow | Photo courtesy of Pharr Davis<\/p><\/div>\n

Begin with what you know.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cRemember that by definition, a hike is a walk in a natural setting\u2014it doesn\u2019t have to be scaling a fourteener in winter in Colorado,\u201d explains Pharr Davis. Before setting off on grand adventures, visit your local parks and green spaces to dial in your family\u2019s comfort in the outdoors. Similarly, before committing to an overnight trip, consider a trial run in your backyard\u2014it\u2019s good to see how kids respond to sleeping in a tent while close to home.<\/p>\n

Look for community.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThere\u2019s a wealth of knowledge and experience that you can tap into to help you feel more comfortable and be more safe as you start getting outdoors as a family,\u201d says Pharr Davis. Look for local hiking clubs, Meetup groups, outfitters and gear shops that host workshops, clinics and other events to help build not just skills, but also connections.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let gear hold you back.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cSome people have a notion that it\u2019s a really expensive endeavor to get into hiking and backpacking, and that\u2019s really not the case,\u201d explains Pharr Davis. She recommends checking out the American Hiking Society\u2019s \u201c10 Essentials of Hiking\u201d list, then scanning your home to see what\u2019s already on hand. When moving toward longer hikes and overnight trips, consider borrowing or renting gear while determining whether or not these are activities your family will enjoy.<\/p>\n

Involve kids in trip planning.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cLet them dictate the adventure,\u201d suggests Pharr Davis. \u201cThe more they\u2019re included from the beginning to the end, the more ownership they have over the experience and the more fun they have with it, as well.\u201d Ask your kids for their input: Would they like to hike in the forest or at a lake? Are there any games or favorite toys they\u2019d like to bring along? Do they have a special snack they\u2019d like to eat along the way?<\/p>\n

\"\"

Jennifer’s kids, Gus (left) and Charlie (right), enjoying a break in the Appalachian Mountains along the Mountains to Sea Trail. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Pharr Davis<\/p><\/div>\n

Let go of expectations.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cMost people, when they go out into the woods or onto a trail, they sort of have a loose goal in mind,\u201d says Pharr Davis. \u201cI really think you\u2019ve got to let go of control when you go hiking and backpacking and camping with kids.\u201d Instead of fixating on a specific destination or certain mileage, accept that you\u2019ll need to remain flexible in order to minimize frustration and maximize fun\u2014even if that means only making it halfway to your intended target.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Most parents can recount at least a few dirty diaper fiascos. However, it\u2019s a rare breed that can cop to handling a poop-filled nightmare during the darkest hours of a brisk September night in Alaska\u2019s Denali National Park. Jennifer Pharr Davis is one of them. \u201cNo matter how quick you are, no matter how good […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":22383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[15,156,288,1379,726,707,1436,66],"internal-tag":[1678],"class_list":["post-22378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","tag-backpacking","tag-family","tag-featured","tag-fkt","tag-force-of-nature","tag-hiking","tag-jennifer-pharr-davis","tag-tips","internal-tag-pre-redirect-hiking"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/fastest-known-mom","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Fastest Known Mom","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/fastest-known-mom","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/fastest-known-mom"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/11\/pharr-hero.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/11\/pharr-hero.jpg?fit=1600%2C686"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["backpacking","family","featured","fkt","force of nature","hiking","jennifer pharr davis","tips"],"dateCreated":"2017-11-15T04:21:23Z","datePublished":"2017-11-15T04:21:23Z","dateModified":"2019-05-10T20:53:03Z"},"rendered":"