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The Joy Trip Project

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...

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...

Life Out Loud, Stand Up Paddling, SUP The Mag.com / 02.06.2013

A long, cold winter brought a late start to the standup paddling season in Wisconsin. With ice on the lakes around Madison clear through the first week of April, warm spring days we’ve been hoping for took their own sweet time coming around. But the weather seemed to open up with perfect timing to welcome a special guest from the islands of Hawaii. Courtesy of the local shop, Paddleboard Specialists, and Sandwich Island Composites (SIC) pro board rider Jeremy Riggs brought a little Pacific Ocean sunshine to the Dairyland, as well...

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...

Adventure Film, Adventure Media Review, Film Festival, Interview, Mountain Film, mountainfilm / 24.05.2013

This time of year there is typically no place I would rather be than Telluride, Colorado. The MountainFilm festival now in progress will go on with me for the first time in 5 years. As much as I would love to be there to connect with old friends and watch some incredible movies I'm less than two weeks away from going on location to produce a book and film project of my own! I suppose it's good to step back and reflect on what I hope to bring...

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....