Oreo: Growing Up Black in Post-Racial America

Despite being raised to be a well-adjusted, confident, Black kid, I wanted to be White.

16 Black Women & Non-Binary Rock Climbers to Follow on Instagram

Want to diversify your Instagram feed? We can help! Check out our list of 16 Black Women & Non-Binary Climbers to Follow on Instagram!

How A Grassroots Community Raised Over $100,000 to Save A Queer Black Woman Owned Rock Climbing Gym

In less than 48 hrs, a fundraiser started by a Vancouver based climber raised over $100,000 to help save a queer Black woman owned climbing gym - the only one of its kind in the U.S. - after it faced permanent closure due to pandemic related financial hardship.

Help Save the Only Queer Black Woman Owned Rock Climbing Gym in the U.S.

Abby Dione became the first Black woman in the United States to own an indoor rock climbing gym when she purchased Coral Cliffs in 2011. Here’s why that matters.

8 Ways to Handle Race Based Stress

When I get up in the morning and face the world, I often feel as if I have to be strong and tough with a clap back forged in the depths of Black Twitter, or else I’ll break.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsJune 21, 2020race, racism, racial profiling, therapy, black women, guideComment

This Afro-Latinx Photographer Is Teaming Up with the National Park Service

Tsalani Lassiter is a black Peruvian photographer who has been capturing bears and other large animals on film for the past eight years.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsMay 17, 2020photography, Afro-Latinx, Latino, california, Colorism, Proflie, BlackComment

Skydiving - Sexy, Sex Positive or Just Sexist?

Sexy, sex positive or sexist - do you know the difference?

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsMarch 29, 2020black skydiver Comments

3 Hiking Tips from an African-American Naturalist

Conservation biologist Iris Hill has worked for Tyler Perry studio, transcribed audio for Whitney Houston and auditioned to become a back-up dancer for Beyoncé. Her life transformed when she decided to merge her passion for acting with her love of nature and outdoor education.

African American Climber Zenobia Sims Wants You to Face Your Fears in the Outdoors

She described herself as feeling much more self-aware and much more nervous on her second BASE jump. But then she thought about how she had almost died while driving to work one day in Arizona—a rollover accident that left her with eight pins and a plate in her leg—and she decided to take the leap

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsFebruary 9, 2020Fear, Climbing, climbing, WOC Climbers, African American, Military, BASE jumping, Moab, moab utan, Profile, Instagram, BlackComment

#VanLife - The Estradas Converted Their Sprinter 2500 4x4 - 144" into a Japanese Teahouse Inspired Home

…#vanlife to them is not about recreation. It’s about securing a financial future that includes land ownership and a custom built home—not an easy feat in one of the least affordable housing markets in the country.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsFebruary 2, 2020Sprinter, Roadtrip, Interracial, #VanLife, #Vanlife, Asian, LatinxComment

#VanLife: On The Road with BASE Jumper Ben Yue & His Ford Transit 250

Our second feature from our #VanLife series is BASE jumper and skydiver Ben Yue. Oh, he bartends too! And he’s a dog dad to a pup named Cornbread.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsJanuary 26, 2020interview, Asian American, Asian, BASE jumping, Injury, injured, #vanlife, #VanLifeComment

#VanLife - Climber Clara Soh Is Living Life in 72 Sq Ft

Summer may be over, but #VanLife definitely is not. To learn more about how you can diversify your feed, follow along with our #VanLife series. Our first feature is climber Clara Soh, who survived two accidents and 22 reconstructive surgeries before downsizing into 72 sq ft.

Top 10 Melanin Base Camp Articles of 2019

Ring in the New Year with our top ten articles of 2019.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsDecember 31, 2019Top ArticlesComment

Why I Don’t Write About Being Disabled in the Outdoors

I miss being an independent, active person even though I know these qualities are neither what define a human being nor what give meaning to a life.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsSeptember 26, 2019Disabled, Disability, Disabled Skydiver, African AmericanComment

Meet the First Black Woman to Be Featured on the Cover of a Climbing Guide

Sabrina has the distinction of being the first woman to be featured on the cover of a Canadian climbing guide, the first woman to complete a 5.13d grade ascent in Ontario and possibly the first black woman ever to land the cover of a climbing guidebook according to Ontario Rock Climbing.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsAugust 26, 2019Climbing, climbing, climbers, Black Climbers, Ontario, Immigrants, Immigrant, Sabrina ChapmanComment

Black Canadian Climber Sabrina Chapman on Why Womxn of Color Should Take Up Space in the Outdoors

Sabrina Chapman is a black Canadian climber on a mission to send her first 5.14a, and yet, she didn’t even start climbing until she was 26-years-old! Her story is proof that you can start late, take a non traditional path and still pursue your passion. Help us bring Sabrina’s story to the big screen!

Black People Skydive & So Should You—Here's How!

So, are you ready to take the plunge? It’s not as scary as it looks, and you don’t need to travel very far or break the bank. If you’re looking for an affordable, safe, tandem skydive near you, we can help. There are just a few things you should know…

The Melanin Base Camp Guide to Outdoor Allyship

Do you ever read about racism in the outdoors and think, ‘well, that can’t be right, nature doesn’t see color’? Or maybe you’ve listened to someone recount their experience of discrimination, while waiting impatiently for a chance to interject and explain how they were wrong, and that didn’t actually happen. If that describes you then you should probably read no further. For everyone else, check out our official Guide to Outdoor Allyship.

Muslimah Triathlete Jeri Villarreal on the Fear of Failure

Ramadan Mubarak! This Ramadan, we’re celebrating Muslimah athlete, Jeri Villarreal. After growing up on the sidelines, she started competing in triathlons in her late 30s. In the past four years she has completed over 22 triathlons.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsJune 4, 2019Muslimah, Triathlete, Ironmans, Fear, Failure, FamilyComment

Bam Mendiola Won't Take SHIFT Anymore

“We’re asking…at whose expense does their learning come from? The learning of gatekeepers in outdoor industry comes at the expense of women of color and queer folx.”

MELANIN BASE CAMP

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