Forks-based author Syren Nagakyrie (recently featured in The Seattle Times), has a new upcoming publication entitled The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon: Outdoor Adventures Accessible by Car, Wheelchair, and Foot, First Edition—the first of a series of Falcon guidebooks designed to make the outdoors accessible to all. For the first time, disabled hikers will have a definitive guide to the best hiking spots in the Pacific Northwest, with dedicated breakdowns of trail accessibility using Christine Miserandino’s “Spoon Theory”, hike descriptions and tips, intricate trail mapping and measurements, and much more. The book, in paperback, will be out in September at a cost of $22.95.
The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon is the first book of its kind to consider the diverse needs of disabled people in the outdoors. This groundbreaking guidebook includes 46 outdoor adventures, including drive-up experiences, verified wheelchair-accessible trails, and foot trails suitable for disabled hikers. This guide removes one of the barriers to access – a lack of information – by utilizing a rating system and detailed trail information designed for the disability community. Each trail is personally assessed according to Syren’s skilled and detailed review and established accessibility guidelines.
Syren Nagakyrie is the founder of Disabled Hikers, an entirely Disabled-led nonprofit organization building disability community and justice in the outdoors. Syren writes trail guides, leads group hikes, and offers consultations throughout the Pacific Northwest and farther afield. Syren has worked with many parks and organizations to improve access and inclusion for disabled people. They were selected as a Rooted in Rights Storyteller for 2019, a competitive program sponsored by Rooted in Rights and Disability Rights Washington, and have been featured in many high-profile publications. Syren is a lifelong social activist and advocate.
As a freelance writer, Syren has been published in multiple anthologies, magazines, and blogs. Syren developed a love for nature in childhood but did not start exploring outdoor recreation until their mid-twenties; they faced exclusion and lack of accessibility in outdoor spaces, but Syren could not be held back from enjoying the wonders of nature. Through years of trial and error, Syren discovered what makes the outdoors accessible for them, and believes strongly in the importance of connection to place as an antidote to the isolation so many disabled people experience. Syren lives in Forks, Washington.
