Silas Musick: “Nothing Fought My Numbness Like The Mountains”

To listen to Silas Musick speak now is to hear a confident, cheerful athlete and advocate, talk about his past as a mountain bike racer and his present as an avid hiker who completed all 58 of Colorado’s famous 14ers. But his path to this place was fraught with depression, a suicide attempt and years of therapy, as Musick—then a she—first grappled with coming out as gay, then ultimately transitioned genders.

Musick spoke to all of the Outside staff on Wednesday, International Day of Transgender Visibility, about his difficult road, which involved a lack of acceptance from his deeply religious family, and conversion therapy, but one that ultimately led him to happiness with his wife and kids. Musick’s story of finding his true self is truly inspiring, relatable to anyone who’s struggled with his or her identity or with depression and found solace in the mountains. We hope you’ll give it a listen.