BeWild Speaker Series: Thru-Hiking Fabulously and Farther

Join us for an inspiring evening with renowned thru-hikers and Mountaineers Books authors Derick Lugo and Heather Anderson.

Celebrating the release of their newest books, A Fabulous Thru-Hike and Farther, Lugo and Anderson will have a lively conversation about their respective journeys through some of America’s most iconic long-distance trails.

Blending humor, grit, and reflection, the two authors will explore perseverance, identity, and resilience—and how long journeys, on and off the trail, shape who we are. The evening will conclude with an audience Q&A and a book signing.

Doors Open at 6:30PM

Program Starts at 7:00PM

The Bookstore will be open before and after.

Get your tickets now! Pre-event ticket sales will close at 12:00pm on March 5. Tickets can be purchased at the event for $20. 

DERICK LUGO is a native of New York City and a well-known advocate for the outdoors. An acclaimed storyteller and sought-after speaker, Lugo captivates audiences with his infectious enthusiasm, humor, and unwavering spirit. Lugo is the author of The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey, the host of the Unlikely Stories Podcast, and a contributor to many outdoor magazines and journals. He lives in Asheville, NC.

National Geographic Adventurer of the Year HEATHER ANDERSON is the only woman who has completed the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide National Scenic Trails each three times. In 2018, she became the first woman to hike a Calendar Year Triple Crown, all three long-distance trails in one year. Anderson also holds the female self-supported Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Pacific Crest Trail (2013) and on the Appalachian Trail (2015). She is an avid mountaineer and peakbagger working on several ascent lists in the US and abroad and has logged over 50,000 trail miles since 2003.