Diversity

Adventure Media Review, Climbing, Diversity, Expedition Denali, Life Out Loud, Photography / 06.06.2013

It’s a beautiful day in Alaska. A light breeze beneath a clear blue ski make for exquisite spring weather in the days leading up to Expedition Denali. At the branch office of the National Outdoor Leader School in Palmer the primary instructors and the media team gathered for the first of several mission briefs. The team arrives on Friday and in these remaining hours the meticulous planning of almost two years enters the final stages of a grand conclusion. This weekend the first majority African-American group of climbers...

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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, 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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Adventure Activism, Commentary, Diversity, Life Out Loud / 28.03.2013

At the turn of the last century a great American hero set an enduring standard of excellence that forged the basis of the modern National Park System. With a "take charge" style of leadership Colonel Charles Young commanded a regiment of U.S. Army soldiers in the construction of improved roads that made it possible for the growing number of wagons and automobiles to safely visit the newly designated national park of Sequoia and its stands of giant redwood trees, the largest in the world. As the first...

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