But I did it… Here is a quick clip of me zip lining into a pond at Knoll Farm in Vermont last month, while attending the Center for Whole Communities, a land based leadership program.
I had just held a small afternoon discussion session on social media outdoors around the pond, but the water was too nice to resist in spite of my apprehension of that zip line. “I don’t know if I have enough stregnth to hold my body up,” I said. My cohort responded, “You do!”
And they were right.
Watch …

It seems like these days we are all obsessed about having the latest and greatest in outdoor gear, and swear we just can’t “live without” [insert gadget here] on our outdoor adventures.
The folks at Eastern Mountain Sports thought it would be nifty to look back at the old tools of the trade through some research, and used their results to put together this neat-o infographic.
What camping innovation can’t you live without?

Check out this insightful set of interviews by Erica Licht, created as part of her thesis project at Vassar College in New York in 2010.
The project examined the relationship between African American women and the recreational wilderness, and more specifically how a recently surfaced movement headed by black women activists and scholars, has re-emphasized this relationship and propelled forward a vision for increased entry and accessibility.
Among those featured are Professor Carolyn Finney, Chelsea Griffie — and yours truly! Enjoy:
 

By Tracey Friley
Outdoor Afro Contributor and Founder of One Brown Girl Adventures

I made the switch some time ago without even realizing it. I guess I should have figured it out sooner, but it wasn’t until I went to Santa Barbara recently that I suddenly realized that I’m a glamper…and I like it. Let me explain.
Like most outdoorsy folks, I grew up going camping with family and friends. My dad rode a motorcycle with a bunch of his friends and one of the motorcycle families (John & Shirley) used to bring …

N'eka (30) enjoys a climb in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Vanessa G. (33) is the co-founder of GirlTrek, a non-profit that organizes walking campaigns for African – American women around the country for health, wellness, and outdoor engagement. I was simply thrilled to find her and her inspiring site, and I think Outdoor Afros will dig it too!

Vanessa wrote,  ”I was hiking with my husband in Red Rocks outside of Las Vegas in this photo. I’m actually relatively new to the outdoors. I had grown up in Seattle, WA and never even been to Mt. Rainer! I now …

I just received this in my inbox — I sure hope someone from the Outdoor Afro community can get involved!
BBC CASTING NEW OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SHOW:
BBC Worldwide Productions – the producers of Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear and What Not To Wear – is currently seeking fearless competitors for an original survival adventure series!
Are you a survival, endurance or outdoors expert, with a way above average tolerance for all things adventure? This new reality TV show takes mankind’s most intense instincts – survival, competition, adventure – and throws them all together to create the most exciting wilderness series …

By Outdoor Afro Contributor Danielle N. Lee
My first time skiing was an experience. I’m from the south, so frolicking in the cold or snow wasn’t a bog part of my childhood experience.  However, I love the outdoors and I love trying new things, so I joined a group of friends who introduced me to the basics of the slopes.
Preparing for my winter time Outdoor Afro adventure with Show Me Skiiers
It was an adventure!  I was far from great at it.  But I wasn’t deterred. So when I was invited to …

The First African-American Woman on Record to Reach North and South Poles!

Outdoor Afro fans learned about Barbara Hillary back in 2009, she not only survived lung cancer, but also took on a trek hardly imaginable to most to the North Pole on skis at age 75!
Here is our Talk Tuesday Blog Talk Radio interview with Hillary from July, 2009 where she humorously shared how it is possible and necessary to live up to ones potential:

Listen to internet radio with outdoorafro on Blog Talk Radio
Not willing to remain still, this month the venerable Hillary …

By Outdoor Afro Contributor, Alex Genadinik
Point Reyes National Seashore is too large to hike in its entirety unless you are a marathon hiker! The entire area spans thousands of acres and is large enough to be home to over 1,000 species of pants, birds and animals. If you are planning a hike in the area, you can start at the visitor center like most people, but if you want a real adventure, I suggest you choose a more unforgettable hike like the one to the northern-most point of …