“I was literally watching myself transform into this beautiful person—from stressed out and suffering from anxiety and seasonal depression … to smiling and glowing and hiking through the winters with 20- and 30-degree weather with a smile on my face. I attribute the beautiful person I am today to the outdoors. And I’ve seen the exact same thing for person after person who joins us.”
For the latest issue of Rails to Trails magazine, Debbie Njai, the founder of blackpeoplewhohike, told us how she fell in love with hiking and how wanting to share that life-changing experience with others inspired her work. If you haven’t already, check out the magazine to read more of her story: RailsToTrails.org/Magazine.
And learn more about the impact her St. Louis-based organization is having in Missouri and around the country, and about their events, by following @blackpeoplewhohike!
When Black People Who Hike founder Debbie Njai went on a hike with friends in 2020, she didn’t know the trek would change her life.
