MDC hosts noted hiking speaker and urban hike on June 2 in Kansas City

Kansas City, Mo. – Jennifer Pharr Davis in 2011 traversed the Appalachian Trail in 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes, setting a record for trail speed. Pharr Davis will have an easier walk when she helps lead an urban hike in Kansas City on Saturday, June 2. But the author, athlete, and speaker will first talk about hiking’s challenges and rewards in a free event 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave.

Missouri State Parks and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) are hosting the program in celebration of National Trails Day. No registration is required. Pharr Davis chronicled ideas and experiences about hiking in her book: The Pursuit of Endurance, Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience.

Resources for people interested in hiking in Missouri will be available at 10 a.m. in the Discovery Center lobby. Pharr Davis will speak at 10:30 a.m. about her experiences on the Appalachian Trail. A guided 1.5-mile hike will be offered from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The route will go through Discovery Center’s native plant garden, Kauffman Garden, Theis Park, and the grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

For more information, contact Kendra Varns Wallis at 816-759-7313, ext. 1164. For information about MDC’s Discovery Center, visit http://mdc.mo.gov.