Adventure Activism

Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Climbing, Diversity, Expedition Denali, Life Out Loud / 03.06.2013

Sunday mornings after yoga Shamane and I typically head to the grocery store. This week instead of a big shopping we went to Woodman’s on the Westside of Madison just to pick up a few odds and ends. My wife would be eating dinner alone with our two dogs over the next few weeks as I was heading for a month-long assignment in Alaska. As a freelance journalist I have been given the rare privilege of writing a book and documentary film script to chronicle the first all-African-American...

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Adventure Activism, Commentary, Diversity, Expedition Denali, Life Out Loud / 27.05.2013

On this Memorial Day I want to recognize the accomplishments of veteran Charles M. Crenchaw. In 1964 he became the first African-American to reach the summit of Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, the highest peak in North America. But in the years leading up to that historic climb during World War II Crenchaw served as a Master Sargent in the U.S. Army Air Corps. As flight engineer he was in charge of maintenance for a squadron of airplanes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. An experiment designed to...

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Adventure Activism, Commentary, Cool on Kickstarter, Diversity, Expedition Denali, Magazines, National Geographic / 10.05.2013

I've been told it shouldn't matter. But as one in a handful of black professionals in the outdoor recreation industry I can't help being wildly excited. In June the first team of African-American climbers will attempt to reach the summit of Alaska's Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America. Also known as Denali at 20,328 feet this mountain is literally the highest physical point anyone can achieve in the United States. And as metaphors go it is the ultimate realization of the dream Martin Luther King Jr....

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Adventure Activism, Climbing, Cool on Kickstarter, Expedition Denali, featured, Life Out Loud / 01.05.2013

[caption id="attachment_51648" align="alignright" width="225"] Charles Crenchaw (the Mountaineers Books)[/caption] One year after Jim Whittaker and his team became the first Americans to summit Mount Everest another historic climb was achieved in Alaska. In 1964 along with 14 other climbers Charles Crenchaw became the first African-American to reach the top of Mount McKinley, also known as Denali. Achieving a height of 20,328 feet above sea level Crenchaw had climbed higher than any black man in American history. And though we celebrate Whittaker today for his great accomplishment 50 years ago...

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Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Breaking News, Environmental Journalism, Environmental Protection, Film Review, Life Out Loud / 18.04.2013

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300"] photo by Pete McBride[/caption] Though many destinations around the world aspire to be number one, the Colorado River was named to the top of an inauspicious list. Named in a newly released report from the conservation group American Rivers along with many great tributaries across the nation this mighty waterway is the most endangered river in the United States. Sharing company with rivers from the Black Warrior in Alabama to the Kootenay the runs through British Columbia, Montana and Idaho each is under threat from...

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Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Commentary, Cool on Kickstarter, Diversity, Expedition Denali, Film preview / 10.04.2013

In June of 2013 the first team of African-American climbers will attempt to reach the highest peak in the continental United States. The project called Expedition Denali aims not only to demonstrate the long standing presence of black athletes on the adventure scene, but to inspire a new generation of young people to embrace the enduring legacy of minority participation in outdoor recreation and environmental conservation. The face of mountaineering is about to make a dramatic change. Though typically dominated by white men the sport of climbing is taking...

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