Introducing Crystal Gail Welcome
Here at Boreal Bliss we have a tradition of featuring women on our blog for Women's History Month in March.
Bryana and I look forward to these features all year. We try to think of women we've met at retreats that stand out to us for outstanding work in their field.
For our second feature of 2025, we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Gail Welcome.
Crystal Gail Welcome
The day I interviewed Crystal, she had just come in from working on four storm drains she adopted with the children in her educational program. They adopted the storm drains in an effort to clean the river to support fishing.
Our paths have crossed with Crystal’s a few times, and we were thrilled to sit down with her and learn more of her inspiring story.
Some people set out on trails to find adventure. Others walk to find themselves. Crystal Gail Welcome has done both—while also paving the way for others to do the same.
A long-distance backpacker, writer, and advocate, Crystal’s journey began not with a grand plan but with a single, unexpected moment—an encounter with a tree. After battling years of surgeries and setbacks from a rare brain disease called pseudotumor cerebri, she underwent a procedure to implant a neuromodulator, a device that regulates the spinal fluid in her brain. Shortly after her surgery, she ran a 5k. Just nine weeks later, she ran a half marathon, simply because she could. Soon after, a friend invited her on a short hike outside Atlanta. The heat and bugs made her question why people voluntarily spent time outdoors—until she came across a tree standing tall by a brook.
She recalls being awed by the tree, and having a moment of awakening.
“I’m so like this tree,” she thought. “I have roots and branches. All of life is like this tree.”
That moment set her on a new path—one that would lead to thousands of miles of hiking, a Master’s degree in Adventure Education and Adventure Therapy, a role as a public advocate for public lands and environmental justice, and a life dedicated to helping others find healing in nature.
Walking Through the Invisible
Crystal’s journey has never been a simple one. Living with invisible disabilities presents challenges that most people never see. In addition to her neurological implant, she manages Reactive Hypoglycemia with the help of her Can Do Canines diabetic alert dog. Despite hiking over 8,000 miles and summiting Mt. Whitney—the tallest mountain in the contiguous U.S.—she frequently encounters skepticism about her conditions. The struggles she faces may be invisible, but her perseverance is undeniable.
Looking at her now, one sees an athlete radiating optimism. However, she recalls a time when she could only walk one mile. Her Dad had her repeat the mantra, “I can. I must. I will.”
As a writer, public speaker, and advocate, Crystal has been featured in Brain and Life and Backpacker Magazine, using her platform to raise awareness about invisible disabilities. She challenges assumptions, educates others, and fosters a community where exploration and empowerment go hand in hand.
Advocating for Inclusion in the Outdoors
Crystal has experienced firsthand the barriers that exist for people of color, queer individuals, and those with disabilities in outdoor spaces. Whether it’s being the only Black hiker in a group asked to show a permit or being questioned about how she can afford her gear, she understands the unspoken message: “What are you doing here?” But she continues to answer with every mile she hikes.
Now living in rural Minnesota, Crystal is committed to making outdoor spaces more inclusive. After the murder of George Floyd, she decided to hike the Superior Hiking Trail. She hiked South to North, because she feels a deep connection to Harriet Tubman and the migration of Black Americans as they sought freedom in the North. Allies joined her on the hike, walking a few miles in solidarity on her 300 mile journey. After thru-hiking the Superior Hiking Trail, she drove to the George Floyd Memorial, leaving her trekking poles behind as a symbol of stability and support—two things she believes are essential not just on the trail but in society.
Crystal now works to help BIPOC people feel belonging and safety in nature. She leads others in nature and helps them work through issues like feeling safe in a tent and working through fears. She says anyone is welcome to reach out to her if they need a partner on their hike. She says that the best way to discover belonging in nature is to begin with a walk in the woods, and she always encourages others to hug a tree. She emphasizes finding something you are grateful for while on your walk or hike in nature.
She encourages others by reminding them “nature always has your back.”
A Legacy of Strength and Connection
From that first spontaneous half marathon to the vast wilderness of the Pacific Crest Trail and the rugged terrain of the Great Western Loop, Crystal has turned adversity into adventure. As an Invisible Disabilities ambassador, she continues to combat discrimination and educate others about what it means to live—and thrive—with an invisible disability.
Because whether seen or unseen, every story matters. And sometimes, all it takes is one tree to change everything.
I have a feeling that we will be seeing more of Crystal Gail Welcome. You can follow her inspiring journeys at @footprintsforchange on Instagram.
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