Bayard H. (Bayard Henderson) Christy

Born in 1872 and associated with Sewickley, Pennsylvania, Bayard H. Christy wrote with real enthusiasm about outdoor life. His best-known book, Going Afoot: A Book on Walking (1920), turns walking into something richer than exercise alone, mixing useful guidance with an appreciation for fresh air, landscape, and attentive wandering.

Christy’s interests went well beyond walking. Records of his published work show that he also wrote about birds and natural history, with articles appearing in ornithological journals such as The Auk and The Wilson Bulletin. He was also connected with conservation-minded work, including editing The Book of Huron Mountain, a collection focused on the history and natural life of that region.

He died in 1943. What stands out across the sources is the range of his interests: walker, observer, nature writer, and contributor to early conservation and bird study. Even now, his writing feels companionable, especially for listeners who enjoy books that turn ordinary time outdoors into something thoughtful and memorable.