This queer athlete celebrated turning 20 by flying a Pride flag on the 2nd-highest mountain on Earth
told Outsports in a recent interview.The University of California Davis student started his odyssey in mid-June, when he joined a mountaineering expedition in Pakistan with the goal of reaching the base camp of K2.
With its elevation raising to 8,251 feet, it only trails Mount Everest in terms of stature. Along the way, Hyman noticed most of his fellow thrill-seekers were straight men.
That fact only made him flaunt his queer identity even more, despite being in Pakistan, which has a rash of anti-gay laws. Though few of Hyman’s team members had much experience with LGBTQ+ people, he says they were curious about his life and perspective. “I didn’t realize how open minded our generation is,” he said.
When Hyman reached the elevation of the base camp of K2 in early July, he was elated. “This two-week 100+ mile trek through scorching deserts, freezing glaciers, treacherous mountain terrain, cliff faces, and across roaring rivers pushed me to my mental and physical limits.
