The “world’s first backpacking queen” Pattie Gonia. (Pattie Gonia/ Instagram)
Wyn Wiley is an eagle scout, hiker, rock climber and traveller. He is also Pattie Gonia, the self-described “world’s first backpacking queen”, who dances on mountains in six-inch heels and makes fabulous dresses out of outdoor gear.
Pattie’s first Instagram post was only a year ago and she has already amassed almost 200,000 followers, which she attributes to her unconventional brand of drag which is a far cry from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Wyn told Outside: “I think if I just walked onto the scene as Pattie as just a classic drag queen, I don’t think it would have as much engagement.”
Ultimately, Wyn wants Pattie to take on the macho stereotypes of outdoor adventure and show that nature is accessible to everyone, including the LGBT+ community.
He added: “I just got into rock climbing this year, and you can masculine your way up a wall, but there’s no beauty in it.
“The people I look up to at my rock climbing gym who are so graceful about it pull from all the feminine aspects — it’s like watching ballet happen on a wall.
“It takes a freakin’ boss-ass bitch to climb a mountain, no matter whoever you are. Girl, guy, no matter where you are on the spectrum, it’s awesome.”
Wyn told Sierra that he grew up closeted in Nebraska, and that being Pattie sometimes has helped him to embrace himself.
He said: “I always imagine I’m posting to a queer, closeted 14-year-old like I used to be — someone who needed someone to be honest, to share where they were at.
“Through Pattie, I’m learning to love and accept myself for myself — the feminine me and the masculine me.”
He said that just like outdoor pursuits, drag is for everyone and we’re all performing: “When I put on my straight-passing outfits and lower my voice to drive across Nebraska because I don’t want the looks, that’s drag.
“When we put on our $500 hiking outfits, that’s us dressing in outdoorsy drag.”
Pattie Gonia also helps her followers become aware of environmental issues, for example with her guide “How not to be a trashy queen this Halloween”.
Wyn recently started running LGBT+ hikes and clean-up projects in character as Pattie.
“We’re gonna do a whole Midwest tour in seemingly average spaces — neighbourhood and state parks.
“Because not everyone lives with access to privileged outdoor spaces, and not every adventure has to be about conquering, about epic views.”