“That’s for White people.” A phrase that infuriated Gary Wilkerson, Jr. as a young, Black kid asking to do outdoorsy things, like camping. He wasn’t old enough to understand that it was a warning, passed down from generations of Black Americans who weren’t permitted to explore the outdoors for fear of being killed. To confront this inherited fear, Gary resolves to conquer the Pacific Crest Trail, a grueling 2,600 mile thru-hike from Mexico to Canada that takes six months to complete. With the guidance and support of his ride-or-die, Mary, Gary sets off on the adventure of a lifetime. But this treacherous journey is no easy feat – especially for a guy who’s never spent a night outside in his life. As he struggles to navigate the breathtaking wilderness and difficult terrain, we follow his profound path to self-discovery, forming unexpected bonds with fellow hikers and challenging the notion of what happens to Black people in the woods.
