JEFFERSON CITY - In celebration of National Trails Day, Missouri State Parks and the Missouri Department of Conservation will cohost a special presentation by National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Jennifer Pharr Davis.
She will be visiting Missouri soon, speaking 5-8 p.m. at the Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City. That event will begin with a hike.
On June 2, she will also offer a free program 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City. For a list of other appearances, visit jenniferpharrdavis.com.
Pharr Davis is an accomplished athlete, hiker, author and speaker who has covered more than 14,000 miles of long-distance trails on six different continents. In addition to being named adventurer of the year, she set the record for the Appalachian Trail's fastest known time.
She has written six books, as well as published articles in the New York Times, Outside, Backpacker,and Trail Runner magazines. She has also been featured in the Washington Post, National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation program and the CBS Early Show.
Pharr Davis' latest book is "The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience." In it, she reveals the secrets and habits behind endurance as she chronicles her accomplishments of leading athletes in the world of long-distance hiking, backpacking and trail running.
The Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center is at 4750 Troost Ave., Kansas City. For more information, call Kendra Varns Wallis at 816-759-7313, extension 1164.
For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.