Trans Mountain Guide Julianna Howatt Urges Inclusivity in Outdoors

UPDATE: Transgender mountain guide Julianna Howatt is making headlines as she advocates for inclusivity in the backcountry, revealing her personal journey as a guide for over 40 years. After decades of hiding her identity, Howatt is now committed to breaking down barriers for those who feel unwelcome in the outdoors.

In a powerful message shared at the Banff Film Festival on November 8, Howatt detailed her struggles as a transgender woman working in the male-dominated guiding industry of British Columbia and Alberta. “The mountains are unforgiving,” she said, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe space for all climbers, especially marginalized communities.

Throughout her career, Howatt battled fears that overshadowed her love for the mountains. She often felt more threatened by the prospect of being outed than by natural dangers like avalanches. “I compartmentalized it. I would push it away,” she admitted. It was only after a traumatic climbing accident that she embraced her true self, coming out publicly as a transgender woman.

Howatt’s story is showcased in the documentary Beauty in a Fall, where she reflects on the emotional toll of living in secrecy. As she returned to the terrains she guided for 24 years, she experienced alienation from former peers, noting, “It became really obvious that many of the guests would refuse to be guided by me.”

The guiding profession is heavily influenced by a culture of “mountain masculinity,” which often marginalizes those who do not fit this mold, according to Rachel Reimer, a social scientist studying the dynamics of safety in the mountains. She found that those who do not embody this stereotype face both environmental risks and social exclusion.

In response to these challenges, Howatt is now a mentor with the Open Mountains Project, an organization dedicated to fostering an inclusive mountain culture. “We all belong in the outdoors,” Reimer stated, reinforcing the message that the mountains are for everyone, regardless of identity.

Howatt’s mission is to empower transgender and non-binary youth to engage in outdoor sports. She believes that everyone should feel connected to nature, stating, “Whether it’s on rivers, rock, or snow, the mountains don’t care how you identify. It’s there for everyone.”

As Howatt continues her advocacy, she invites others to join her in transforming the backcountry into a welcoming space for all. Her journey resonates with many, inspiring a new generation of adventurers to explore the outdoors without fear.

Stay tuned for more updates on Howatt’s initiatives and upcoming projects aimed at inclusivity in the wilderness.