Endurance Hiker & Founder of Blue Ridge Hiking Company; First Woman to Hold the Overall Appalachian Trail Speed Record
Jennifer Pharr Davis Biography
Jennifer Pharr Davis is an adventurer, author, speaker, and entrepreneur known for her achievements in long-distance hiking. She has completed the Appalachian Trail three times and became the first woman to hold the overall record for the trail, completing the 2,190-mile route in 46 days with an average of 47 miles per day. Pharr Davis has hiked more than 14,000 miles of trails across six continents, establishing a reputation in the outdoor industry for endurance and expertise in backpacking and trail running.
Pharr founded Blue Ridge Hiking Company (BRHC) to help everyone, especially women, experience the joy and wonder of spending time in the woods. BRHC has grown from a one woman operation to a small business with a dozen guides, a shop in downtown Asheville, a bunkhouse in the Appalachian Trail hamlet of Hot Springs, and a small fleet of vehicles, and has been recognized as a key cog in Asheville's burgeoning tourist industry. More importantly, BRHC has helped thousands of people experience the transformative power of walking through and with nature.
Her first solo thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail presented significant challenges, including severe weather, safety concerns, and difficult encounters. These experiences influenced her perspective on the healing power of nature and the importance of outdoor access. At age 24, Pharr Davis founded Blue Ridge Hiking Company to help individuals, particularly women, experience the outdoors. She developed the company into a leading outfitter in the Southeast, guiding thousands of people through the region's trails. She received the Women-Up Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce for her work in building a mission-driven business.
As an author, Pharr Davis has written two memoirs, "Becoming Odyssa" and "Called Again," both published by Beaufort Books. She is also the author of "The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience" from Viking Press. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, Outside Magazine, Backpacker, Trail Runner, and Blue Ridge Outdoors. Her writing and speaking engagements focus on translating lessons from the trail into insights on leadership, resilience, and personal growth.
Pharr Davis was named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and featured in the IMAX film "Into America's Wild." She has appeared on CNN, NPR, and the CBS Early Show, and was recognized by Men's Journal as one of the 25 Most Adventurous Women of the Past 25 Years. She received the Governor of North Carolina's Laurel Wreath Award for Exceptional Athletic Achievement and served on the board of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
As a professional speaker, Pharr Davis has delivered presentations in all 50 states to a range of audiences, including corporations, universities, libraries, and trade associations. Her talks integrate stories from her hiking experiences with practical lessons for personal and professional development. Pharr Davis holds a Master in Public Affairs and has contributed to regional recovery efforts following natural disasters. Her work continues to influence the outdoor recreation, hiking, and adventure travel communities.
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Jennifer Pharr Davis Speaking Topics
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Record Setting Support: Moving Forward Together
A team is more than the sum of its parts, and the most productive ones are able to anticipate change, communicate clearly, and hold each other accountable with minimal tension. In this presentation, Jennifer talks about avoiding dysfunction, maximizing support, and transforming your group into the highest performing team possible, all things she successfully accomplished when she hiked 47 miles a day for a month and a half straight to blow up the record books, beat the boys, and set a new fastest known time on the legendary Appalachian Trail.
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The Trailblazer: Hard-earned Lessons from the Appalachian Trail and Beyond
Trailblazers forge new paths for other people to follow. Likewise, an effective leader will guide the organization by creating alignment, fostering communication, and embracing discomfort. Discover your strengths and hone your strategies to be a Trailblazer.
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Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jennifer Pharr Davis for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jennifer Pharr Davis, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jennifer Pharr Davis or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Jennifer Pharr Davis
Speaking fees for Jennifer Pharr Davis, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jennifer Pharr Davis are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jennifer Pharr Davis, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Jennifer Pharr Davis speak about?
Jennifer Pharr Davis is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Adventure, Adventure, Athlete, Author, Bestselling Authors, Christian, Christian, Christian Athletes, Creativity, Economy, Environment, Fitness, Hall of Fame, Health & Wellness, Journalist, Marketing, Non-Profit, Nutrition, Olympic Athlete, Social Media, Sports, Sports Motivation, TED, Women -
Where does Jennifer Pharr Davis travel from?
Jennifer Pharr Davis generally travels from Asheville, NC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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Jennifer Pharr Davis is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Record Setting Support: Moving Forward Together, The Trailblazer: Hard-earned Lessons from the Appalachian Trail and Beyond, Bend Don't Break: Self-Care in Extreme Environments, I Belong: Exceeding Everyone's Expectations- Including Your Own and The Next Step: Navigating A New Adventure. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jennifer Pharr Davis for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Jennifer Pharr Davis generally travels from Asheville, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Shannon Miller, Jim Morris, Tatyana McFadden, Vince Papale and Tamika Catchings. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jennifer Pharr Davis for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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