You’re more capable than you know - Whitney Washington in South Korea
Whitney at the 4 Rivers Trail gateway in Busan, South Korea.
Whitney Washington lives in Jacksonville, Florida. An adventure filmmaker, she enjoys long-distance, solo bicycle touring and, among other adventures, pedaled the Great American Rail Trail in the U.S. and the 4 Rivers Trail in South Korea. Whitney’s message: Rewrite the stories other people have given you about what you’re capable of. Tell your own story because you’re far more capable than they know.
My earlier interview with Whitney, Embracing the magic of life, was an opportunity to explore and share our respective cross-country bicycle adventures. I interviewed Whitney again as part of our preparation for a presentation at the International Trails Summit where we would be joined by Kelsey Long and Kristin Weiss, who also had unique stories about trail-based recreation.
When Whitney first started dreaming about adventures, she didn’t know if she’d be paddling, skateboarding, walking, or bicycling.
H: How did you discover trail-based recreation?
W: In Jacksonville, we don’t really have trails, so I wasn’t aware of what the possibilities were for adventures. In 2020, I was watching videos about the outdoors that featured long trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail. I’d been wanting to do a long-distance adventure like skateboarding across America or kayaking across America, but I didn’t know what route. Then, a friend emailed me information about the Great American Rail Trail, and I finally had a path to follow. At the time, I’d been focused on skateboarding, but biking the Great American Rail Trail seemed more practical.
I knew I could reach the start of the Great American Rail Trail in Washington, DC, using Amtrak and pedal my bicycle from there. The logistics were overwhelming, but I knew once I got myself to the trail I would be able to figure it out. The fact that the Great American Rail Trail existed, even though it wasn’t complete, made a cross-country adventure feel accessible to me.
My bicycle trip in Alaska was mostly a road route and not my favorite kind of experience with the traffic. I like the feel of trails and the experience of going in and out of towns with the countryside between. I’d seen a documentary about the 4 Rivers Trail in Korea, which looked like the kind of trail-based experience I wanted. In September 2024, I flew solo to Korea with my bike and gear to pedal the approximately 400 miles of dedicated trail separated from traffic.
H: What obstacles or challenges did you encounter to access outdoor recreation and trails?
W: Most gear isn’t built for bigger bodies. When I first started my cross-country ride in America, I had lots of breakdowns with my wheels and spokes. I’m still a novice, but I know more about the importance of good wheels and gear made from strong and lightweight materials. Breakdowns are less of an issue now.
It’s also challenging to find clothes that are a good size and fit for what I want to do.
The idea behind recapturing life is about breaking down narratives that were never really true. Our bodies are capable in all different states. Most people tell you if you’re fat you need to lose weight before you can do anything. There are people in all types of bodies, people in wheelchairs, who are doing things. The majority narrative is very restricting.
I like the outdoors, adventure, and exploration, and I want to find a way of being active that’s fun for me as I am. I know I will be slow, and I adjust for that. I wake up earlier so I can get to my camp or lodging before dark. It may take me longer than other people to get to the top of a 5km climb, but eventually I will make it. I’m up for the adventure, and I just get out there and figure it out.
While Whitney and I didn’t specifically discuss race as part of her experience in Korea, we discussed it in my earlier interview with her. She pays attention to her inner voice and lets it guide her. She also camps or lodges in designated or approved locations instead of stealth camping.
Whitney’s guidelines for staying safe:
Don’t ride at night
Don’t underestimate people
Be in a campsite or lodging before dark
H: Documenting and sharing your experiences seems to be a motivator for you and an important way you challenge the majority narrative. Could you speak to how your adventures and films encourage other people to find the outdoor experiences that light them up?
W: Growing up, I heard the word lazy a lot. Lazy is a lazy word. People are complex, and using a word like lazy to describe someone’s differences suggests that the person using it didn’t take the time to understand the other person. Lazy is one way we’ve been told to keep this small idea of ourselves, but it’s hurtful, limiting, and untrue. Our bodies are extraordinary. We see this with people who can ride long distances with recumbent trikes. We see this with people whose bodies are bigger and can climb mountains.
One of the things I love about social media is seeing all the different body types out there and what they’re capable of. This was an important part of my journey to discover what is true – even if it’s hard. Accomplishing a goal as you are is powerful; your body adjusts to what you ask it to do, and it gets stronger.
Korea has a culture of fatphobia, and I knew things weren’t going to be built for me. But just being there and on the bike helped change the way people saw me. The people were surprised I’d arrived on bike, and even some older men said they couldn’t do what I’d done. It’s important to share our stories because people will see what’s possible for them because someone like me is out there sharing my story.
H: What tips would you share about your experience in Korea?
W: The 4 Rivers Trail was exactly what I wanted in a trail-based experience and way more difficult than I imagined with 18% grades and long climbs. I had never experienced a grade as sharp as 18%, so reading about it didn’t prepare me for what it was. More people need to know that these inclines are extreme! They’re so steep it’s difficult to push a bike up them. After the fact, tackling these grades turned into a huge sense of accomplishment, and I learned my body is far more capable than even I give it credit for.
Korea by Bike was a great resource. They walk you through the different trails, and they have the bike passport program. They class the trails as beginner/intermediate/advanced and note the hills and mountain passes. Even though it’s a trail, be prepared for the inclines.
Nick K’s YouTube Channel documenting his Korean biking was a great source of inspiration and information for me.
I had the GPX file for Google Maps of the 4 Rivers Trail, but Google Maps doesn’t really work there. They have their own online maps, Naver Map and KakaoMap.
In Seoul, there were campgrounds in the city, but they’re only for car camping. It was hard to research camping and things like that in Korea until I sorted out the different apps (Camfit) , and that’s when I discovered they wouldn’t let me bike camp.
I could have cut the weight of what I was carrying. I packed extra food, cooking gear, and things for emergencies. If I’m not able to reach the town I think I’ll get to on a given day, I want to be prepared. But having all that extra gear on the bike made it heavy, which made my travel time longer and handling my bike more cumbersome.
Some Korean people will do the trail in 3-4 days, sometimes shorter. They don’t take much. Two panniers was typical. Some of them go light with just a change of clothes and wallet.
In hindsight, it would have made sense to leave some of my things in Seoul instead of taking everything with me.
Overall, the trip was a learning experience. Some of the blogs are based on certain aspects that don’t always fit everyone. I knew there would be times people didn’t want to talk to me, and I did get shooed away. I just tried to adjust for it. There were other times people helped. When you travel somewhere new, you often won’t know things until you experience it yourself.
Check out Whitney’s live streams of biking in Korea.
H: What are you thinking of for your next adventure?
W: I’m planning to return to Korea in Spring 2025. Part of completing the 4 Rivers Trail is getting your trail passport stamped and receiving a medal in Busan at the end. Unfortunately, when I completed the 4 Rivers Trail in 2024, there were no medals available. I really want a medal, so I have to go back for it. There are other trails in Korea that look fun. I plan to rent a bike in Jeju and pedal the trail there. I might also take a ferry to Japan. I’ve seen a trail there that I’d like to explore. There’s also more camping in Japan than Korea.
I’m looking forward to more trail riding experiences. Someone recently told me about a long-distance trail in Spain, and that sounds fun! In general, I want to have more outdoor experiences and see what is possible. The more I try things, the more accessible outdoor experiences become. Where I live, the roads don’t feel safe to ride on, so I have to drive to parks and other outdoor experiences. Eventually, I want to put myself in spaces where I can do more outdoor activities. That’s the goal!
Follow Whitney and learn more about her adventures:
Instagram @RecapturingLife_
YouTube @RecapturingLife
Patreon @RecapturingLife
TikTok @RecapturingLife
