Home / Lifestyle / Transgender Mountain Guide Breaks Barriers, Empowers Outdoor Adventurers
Transgender Mountain Guide Breaks Barriers, Empowers Outdoor Adventurers
16 Nov
Summary
- Julianna Howatt, a veteran mountain guide, hid her identity as a transgender woman for decades
- She faced fears of being outed rather than avalanche dangers while working in the backcountry
- Now, Howatt is working to remove barriers and encourage adventure for marginalized groups
In November 2025, the story of Julianna Howatt, a veteran mountain guide in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, is being shared with the world. For most of her career, Howatt outwardly embodied the stereotypical image of a mountain guide - a muscular, masculine figure. However, she secretly identified as a transgender woman, fearing that being outed would jeopardize her career, friendships, and personal safety.
Howatt's fears of being exposed as transgender often overshadowed her concerns about the physical dangers of her profession, such as avalanches. She would compartmentalize her true identity, only allowing herself to express her femininity in private moments. It was not until after a traumatic climbing accident and her retirement from guiding that Howatt decided to come out as a transgender woman.
Now, Howatt is working to remove the barriers that prevent marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, from accessing and feeling safe in the great outdoors. She serves on the board of directors for the Open Mountains Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering inclusive mountain culture. Howatt's story, as documented in the film "Beauty in a Fall," aims to inspire and empower others to embrace their authentic selves and explore the wilderness without fear.
