“Jennifer Pharr Davis simply exceeded our expectations. Her story is compelling on its own merit, but Jennifer’s ability to connect with our audience of all ages, shapes, and backgrounds was both unique and appreciated. She is inspiring, insightful, engaging, and electrifying as a speaker. Her presence is commanding and yet she exudes a warmth and serenity which few people are able to effectively combine
Jennifer Pharr Davis
Hiker, Author, Speaker, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year
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Asheville, North Carolina, USA
Jennifer Pharr Davis
Biography
Jennifer Pharr Davis knows what it takes to keep going. As a hiker, she has covered more than 14,000 miles, exploring trails on sixcontinents and in all fifty states. Jennifer has hiked the Appalachian Trail three times. In 2011 she set the fastest known time (FKT) on the A.T., completing the 2,190 mile footpath in 46 days- an average of 47 miles a day- and besting marks established over decades by elite male ultra runners.
As a mother of two, Jennifer has yet to slow down. She backpacked 700 miles across the Pyrenees and Iceland during the second and third trimesters of her first pregnancy, hiked 1,100 miles across North Carolina while nursing her newborn son, and took her daughter on trails in all 50 states before she turned two.
Off-trail, Jennifer is a nationally recognized speaker, award-winning author, and the founder and owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Company. Jennifer lives in Asheville,North Carolina, with her husband Brew, their children Charlotte and Gus, and a pair ofpet goats named Coffee and Cream.
Jennifer Pharr Davis
Featured Keynote Programs
Called Again
Jen recounts stories and reads excerpts from her second trail memoir Called Again, which chronicles her 46-day, 47 mile per day, record-breaking hike on the Appalachian Trail. This is an unbelievable account of overcoming the odds and achieving a spectacular goal. Themes incorporated into this talk include perseverance, teamwork, humility, and the importance of believing in yourself.
Becoming Odyssa
Jen relays stories of lightning strikes, snow storms, and stalkers from her coming-of- age memoir Becoming Odyssa. This entertaining talk highlights the importance of spending time in nature and of disconnecting from the tablets, smart phones, and laptops that we so often depend on.
The Emotional Conservationist
Jen discusses scenes from the trail and encounters with hikers that shaped her into the “emotional conservationist” that she is today. “Emotional conservation” is Jen’s belief that the more people spend time in nature, the more they will come to appreciate it and advocate for it.
“I found things in the woods that I didn’t know I was looking for… and now I’ll never be the same.”
Jen shares vignettes from her first Appalachian Trail hike as a twenty-one year old and talks about how time spent in the woods helped her to ignore the superficial messages of mass media and modern ad campaigns that define women simply by their appearance. Without a mirror, the trail forced Jen to base her self-worth on interactions with others instead of physical appearance or what society told her she should be.
Jen then discusses her record-setting Appalachian Trail hike - how her determination, positive self- talk, and the support of those closest to her allowed her to ignore the naysayers, shatter a glass ceiling, and do something many thought was impossible. An inspiring story of “girl power” if ever there was one!
Jennifer Pharr Davis
Featured Books
Called Again
by Jennifer Pharr Davis
In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis became the overall record holder on the Appalachian Trail. By hiking 2,181 miles in 46 days - an average of 47 miles per day - she became the first female to ever set that mark. But this is not a book about records or numbers; this is a book about endurance and faith, and most of all love. The most amazing part of this story is not found at the finish, but is discovered through the many challenges, lessons and relationships that present themselves along the trail. This is Jennifer's story, in her own words, about how she started this journey with a love for hiking and more significantly a love for her husband Brew. Together, they were able to overcome rugged mountains and raging rivers, sleet storms and 100 degree heat, shin-splints and illnesses. They made new friends and tested old friendships; they shared together laughter, and tears - a lot of tears. But, through it all, they fell more in love with one another and with the wilderness. By completing this extraordinary amateur feat, Jennifer rose above the culture of multi-million dollar sports contracts that is marked by shortcuts and steroids. This is the story of a real person doing something remarkable. Jennifer Pharr Davis is a modern role-model for women - and men. She is an authentic hero.
Five-star Trails Asheville: 35 Spectacular Hikes in the Land of Sky
by Jennifer Pharr Davis
The definitive guide to hiking in Asheville.
Five-Star Trails: Asheville by accomplished hiker and writer Jennifer Pharr Davis covers 35 hikes in the greater Asheville region, from area nature preserves to treks along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Asheville resident has sought out her favorite hikes, as well as a cross section of adventures on foot that exhibit the variety of hikes found in the greater Asheville region. Hikes include treks along the famed Appalachian Trail to waterfalls of the Pisgah National Forest. Other walks take you to the rhododendron blooms atop Craggy Gardens. Solitude can be found on remote Hickey Fork. And then theres the granite domes and crashing cataracts of Dupont State Forest. Mix hiking and history at the Cradle of Forest or Mount Pisgah via Buck Springs Lodge. Soak in inspiring panoramas from Shining Rock Wilderness or Looking Glass Rock.
These fantastic hikes are laid out in an organized fashion by a professional hiker and speaker who exemplifies the heart and spirit of Asheville. Hikes range widely in elevation, distance, and difficulty, providing a variety of experiences for everyone. The guide provides in-depth trail descriptions, directions, and commentary on what to expect along the way. Each hike features an individual trail map, elevation profile, and at-a-glance information, helping readers quickly find the perfect trip.
Jennifer Pharr Davis
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