Passing

The weight of our exchanges with strangers on the trail

Barbara Jensen is an avid hiker (photo courtesy Barbara Jensen)

“Not only am I never recognized for the man I am, I'm then also disrespected as the woman I appear to be.”

— Barbara Jensen

When we pass people on the trail, we often exchange quick greetings — simple exchanges that recognize our fellow hikers and show that we are no threat.

But sometimes — whether intentionally or not — the words we share with strangers in the wilderness end up being hurtful, or invasive. Sometimes, these exchanges exacerbate frustrations and wounds created by a lifetime of discrimination.

On this episode, Barbara Jensen shares their experience as a gender-neutral hiker, and invites us to adopt a new trail etiquette.

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