Many of the writers creating the Public Lands Field Guide are women. Really accomplished women. They’re expert runners, climbers, backpackers, and more, and they’ve written hundreds of articles for Public Lands, explaining the right gear choices, relating outfitting tips and outdoor skills, plus highlighting public lands issues, places and pioneers. For Women’s History Month, they’re writing about some of the remarkable women who are advocating for inclusivity and stewardship in the outdoors—and making history today. Meet our distinguished contributors below, as well as the fellow trailblazing women they’ll be writing about over the next four weeks.  

Corey Buhay 

Her story: A self-professed nature nerd, Buhay is a Colorado-based freelance writer and editor. She was formerly an editor at Backpacker and is the co-author of Colorado Rockies: A Wildsam Field Guide. Buhay has hiked and climbed extensively throughout the American West. She’s also a member of the U.S. Ice Climbing team and has represented the U.S. at competitions in Russia, China, Korea, and Slovakia. In her spare time, Buhay works as a volunteer bat and prairie dog monitor for the city of Boulder, where she currently lives. 

Personal hero: Rose Marcario. “She represents that women can be strong both as leaders in the workplace and as voices for doing what's right,” says Buhay.  “I admired her work at Patagonia, where she pushed the company to new levels of environmental advocacy. Now, I admire her work helping steer other environmental startups to help build a sustainable future.”    

Women’s History Month: Buhay is reporting on two women. First, she’s writing about Sarah Brown, the assistant manager of experience at the Public Lands store in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. In this role, Brown is cultivating an inclusive environment, and bringing a hyperlocal approach to conservation projects. Buhay is also writing about Erica Nelson, a fly-fishing guide who is a champion for making the sport more welcoming to all. Nelson, who is Navajo, is dedicated to bringing fly fishing to Indigenous cultures, and breaking down barriers through her Awkward Angler podcast. 

Mary Reed

Her story: Based in Athens, Ohio, Reed is a freelance writer and photographer, and an avid rock climber and hiker. She is the author of Hiking Ohio, Hocking Hills Day Hikes, and Hiking West Virginia. Her work has appeared in Backpacker, Ohio Magazine, New River Gorge Guide, and other publications. While she loves big hikes, she vows to never again complete the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, a one-day, 35-mile ultramarathon hike held annually in Pittsburgh. 

Personal heroes: Rachel Carson. “She launched the modern environmental movement with her book, Silent Spring. I also admire pioneering rock climber Lynn Hill.” 

Women’s History Month: Reed is profiling Nicole Jackson, a Cleveland native and graduate of The Ohio State University making critical connections as an environmental educator. The founder of Black in National Parks Week wears many hats in her quest to expose the benefits of the outdoors to a younger generation, as co-organizer of Black Birders Week and serving as a member of the National Parks Conservation Association’s Next Generation Advisory Council.

Lisa Jhung

Her story: After a brief foray into college volleyball, Jhung turned to triathlon, running, and adventure races, traipsing through the wilderness around the world by foot, bike, kayak, ropes, sometimes horse, and once a camel. As an editor and freelance writer, she’s worked at Trail Runner Magazine, co-founded Adventure Sports Magazine, written for Backpacker, Outside, Runner’s World and other magazines. She’s also written two running books, Trailhead and Running That Doesn’t Suck. Jhung is based in Boulder, Colorado, where she loves running in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.  

Personal heroes: “I’ve been lucky to write about so many amazing, trailblazing women. I’m especially inspired by Betty Ried Soskin, the 100-year-old National Park Ranger who’s fought for equality for decades, and Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first women’s Olympic Marathon gold medalist.”  

Women’s History Month: Jhung is sitting down with Gina Lucrezi, who founded Trail Sisters in 2016 as an online journal to provide a platform for women’s voices within the sport of trail running. The accomplished ultra-distance runner hit a nerve and the organization has rapidly expanded its slate of tools—from merchandise to workshops, events, and even an outdoor grant program—becoming a resource hub for women’s empowerment on the trail.

Anna Callaghan 

Her story: A writer and filmmaker based in Boulder, Colorado, Callaghan writes everything from features to profiles to gear reviews for places like Outside, Alpinist, and GQ. In 2019 she co-directed Outside's first original documentary, Sacred Strides, about tribes coming together for the land through a prayer run to Bear’s Ears. Her films have screened at festivals like Telluride MountainFilm, Banff, Tribeca, and VIMFF. Callaghan is an ultrarunner, climber, and backcountry skier; some of her most memorable long days out were running the Leadville Trail 100 and climbing Ama Dablam in Nepal. 

Personal hero: Dawa Yangzum Sherpa. “She’s Nepal's first female IFMGA guide,” says Callaghan. “She has summited many of the world's tallest peaks, including Everest and K2.” 

Women’s History Month: Callaghan is reporting on Brittany Coleman, the founder of Tough Cutie, a woman-owned company making performance socks. Coleman was inspired to become an entrepreneur after witnessing the male-dominated product decisions in her corporate job. She launched Tough Cutie and committed to creating business that would benefit women all the way through the supply chain.

All articles are for general informational purposes.  Each individual’s needs, preferences, goals and abilities may vary.  Be sure to obtain all appropriate training, expert supervision and/or medical advice before engaging in strenuous or potentially hazardous activity.