Drag performer and environmental activist Pattie Gonia has launched her most ambitious fundraiser yet, hiking and biking 500 miles in full drag to raise $5 million (£3.8 milion) for 19 non-profits. The month-long trek runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with a planned finish on 29 November.
The challenge has drawn a wave of support from fans, many of whom marvelled at the idea of covering that distance in a wig and full makeup. Others, however, said her ongoing legal fight with outdoor brand Patagonia has left them wary of backing her.
Pattie Gonia, the drag persona of Wyn Wiley, was born in 2018 when Wiley first took a pair of high heels on a backpacking trip. Since then, she has used drag to champion environmental and LGBTQ+ causes.
The Route and the Charities
According to her fundraising page, Pattie Gonia will backpack and cycle the route over one month. Donations will be split evenly between the 19 groups through the Social Good Fund.
The beneficiaries include LGBTQ+ youth camp Brave Trails, outdoor access group Vámonos Outside and climate campaigners Climate Defiance. Los Angeles environmental group TreePeople, another beneficiary, thanked her in the comments: 'Extremely iconic behavior!! Thank you so much for supporting us, and best of luck on this amazing journey!!'
The new goal is five times bigger than her last. In December 2025, she hiked 100 miles in drag into San Francisco and raised more than $1.1 million (£826,000) for eight non-profits.
Fans Cheer Her On
Under her Instagram post, supporters greeted the announcement with excitement. 'Babes wake up, Pattie's back at it hiking in full drag,' one fan wrote, while another added: 'You're insane. I love you! Have fun!'
Others could not get over the logistics, with one fan delighted by her wig poking 'through the back of the helmet'. 'And to think I can't even get out of my sweatpants and into real pants for the grocery store,' one person joked.
On Reddit, the reaction was similarly warm at first. 'Omg she's doing this in heels. I can barely walk 10 feet in them. What a queen!!' one commenter wrote. Another said they would 'root for her success, and most specifically for the health of her joints.'
The Patagonia Dispute Resurfaces
Not everyone was cheering. Several commenters brought up Patagonia's trademark lawsuit, which the company filed against Wiley in January.
Patagonia argues that the Pattie Gonia name is a near-copy of its own and that the performer broke a 2022 agreement by selling branded apparel and applying to trademark the name. Pattie Gonia has said that agreement covered a single brand collaboration and was not a broad deal about her future. The company is suing for $1 (£0.75) plus legal fees, while Pattie Gonia has said the fees could run to more than $1 million (£751,000) and accused the brand of trying to erase her activism.
Some commenters said the dispute had changed how they see her. 'She lost me with that Patagonia bull. Lost all trust in her being an honest person,' one wrote. Another said they supported her activism but sided with Patagonia on the lawsuit.
For now, the trek is under way, with Pattie Gonia aiming to reach Los Angeles by 29 November while raising money towards her $5 million goal.
