What is it about Blacks and Backpacking?

“I don't think I've ever seen a black person out on the trail. What do they have against backpacking? Even my black friends ask me "why do you want to do that" when I mention a backpacking trip.”

“Not sure, but I find black people particularly concerned with hygiene. Some of my black friends avoid backpacking for that reason - as they view it as a hobby that makes personal hygiene relatively difficult.”

“I have paddled the waters of Quetico Provincial Park with a African American team (son and father)”

“A friend from work (who is black) loves to backpack. In fact we are hitting the trail this weekend for 2 nights.”

“I saw one in Glacier but he was with Laura Bush. They all looked like fish out of water.”

“I know lots of people who have backpacked in the Blacks.”

“I know their must be some blacks who backpack, but they're very much underrepresented, you know? The question is why? Not, "well I have a black friend who does".”

“Interesting question x, but when I thru-hiked the AT, I only saw ONE black fellow doing any realy backpacking the WHOLE trip. (Not counting seeing the extremely rare Boy Scout weekender, or troubled teens groups out for a night.)

Great guy! Trail name of Atlanta Olympics, or something similar to that.

Actually this topic came up several times with the other thru-hikers.

This is a great question for Ginny, she's a thru-hikin' foo!”

“Why ask why?”

“Yo Ape!!

How's the drape??


Ape Drape”

“I reckon there ain't a lot of black people playin' hockey.......neither.


I mean, how many Arabs are into drag racing?”

“A black friend told me he would never backpack because he knew once we got away from civilization all the white folks would start making him carry everything.”

“
Mississippi Mud Flap

With white folks such as this, who would doubt the guy??”

“A good friend of mine Louis is an active backpacker. Here is a pic of a much fatter me, along with our friend Ashley and Louis. Just like all of you that I have met, he is a great person and fun to spend trail time with.

http://image55.webshots.com/55/6/24/3/427662403bUVSvq_fs.jpg”

“Bat I wasn't authorized to view that black feller, or so the page sed.

MarkO!!!!! That first'n be me, 'sept I'm a blonde, hehe.

Don't'em Ayrabs drag race camels? I heard that once't.

I argued in vain with my wife that it wasn't a mullet, 'til she showed me mullet pictures online.

I cain't deny, I have a mullet.”

“Bat I wasn't authorized to view that black feller, or so the page sed.

naked ape

Try this one then. The first one was maximized when I linked it.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/138941022/1427662403055326082bUVSvq”

“I have two friends, who are black, who I've convinced to go kayaking. They both had a great time.

It was like pulling teeth to get the first guy to go. Once the second guy heard how much fun we had, he asked to go. I've been twice, with each of them, on four separate day-trips.

I've gotten one who says he MIGHT go backpacking, but it's like pulling teeth to get this guy into the woods.

#1 comment I've heard from blacks: snakes
#2: bugs


I have tried to figure this one out for years. Most blacks I know just seem to feel more comfortable in an urban environment. Most I know do not swim well.

I'll keep trying. Maybe y'all can meet a couple of my black friends on a future trip.”

“THAT can't be a BACKPACKING trip! Why, there's no BLOWDOWN ANYWHERE!...LMAO”

“Culture might be a good answer. Do white people tend to do what other white people do? Do Asian people tend to do what other Asian people do? How about blacks?

That said, I started thinking, "How many of my white friends/family go backpacking?" I'd say about 1 or 2 out of every 20. That's 5-10%. How many of my black friends/family (I have a black brother-in-law) go backpacking? I probably have 10 black friends/family and 1 backpacks. Ten percent again. So in my experience, there doesn't seem to be a non-backpacking trend among blacks.”

“they don't like being deep in the woods with a bunch of white guys”

“I can't imagine why many black people wouldn't want to hike out into the middle of nowhere with mostly white folks around. Maybe they've heard stories?”

“Stop it Ewker.”

“I don't like being deep in the woods with a bunch of white guys either!”

“Yeah. You guys are freaks!”

“I don't like being deep in the woods with a black guy either. All you see is eyes and teeth”

“x3r0x has a point. Bateuxdriver - You gotta admit, that picture of you guys looks odd. You don't see that often.

Anyways, the answer is hygiene. Stop looking for the answer.

Most black people are obsessed (relatively speaking) with personal hygiene.”

“Sarge you said that pic looks "odd". I had to go look at the second link and see for myself. What an awesome shot, but dang if you ain't right! I agree with ya.

I know what ya mean BowlderMan, all my family, white rural NC thanks hiking with complete strangers from the "internet" is just plain freaking stupid! Certain death, torture, and mayhem.

A'course they met Bear......, which didn't help any LMAO!!!!!

YoBear!”

“Isn't this subject covered in a few other threads as well?”

“Yeah, treebait, but it just wouldn't be right if we didn't beat any topic to death on at least 3 or 4 threads, right?”

“does anybody have a link? - I couldn't find it elsewhere. Thanks.”

“I've met two black people out backpacking.”

“oh come on!!! You know I have black people all around me. First: None of them can swim, so they would have a problem crossing a deep creek.
1)They HATE snakes
2)They HATE Bugs
3)They can NOT swim [besides my kids]
4)They HATE hot weather
5)They HATE Snow.

[yes, in that order]
But the trues is: Black people do backpack:
”

“Might not the lack of swimming experience have something to do with how fragile their hair is?

Might also be a couple of other things?”

“No way Gem, 4 and 5 gotta be reversed, eh?”

“I don't think anybody is questioning if black people backpack. The question is why are they so underrepresented in backpacking.”

“I suspect it may be more of a cultural observation. Most of us hike because a family member or friend got us into it.I suspect over time that'll change though, as folks integrate more, like how more blacks are playing tennis and golfing compared to years ago(just and observation of mine).”

“they are just not good at it. Just like we can't dance, they can't backpack.”

“"oh come on!!! You know I have black people all around me. First: None of them can swim, so they would have a problem crossing a deep creek.
1)They HATE snakes
2)They HATE Bugs
3)They can NOT swim [besides my kids]
4)They HATE hot weather
5)They HATE Snow."

--Gemini


Are we talking about african-americans, or my last 10 non-TT girlfriends?”

“MarkO, Arabs do drag race. Everywhere they go, lol. You just have to be around enough of them to notice.

I've seen a few African Americans on the trail. Alot fewer hispanics and Arab Americans still. It's all about culture.”

“hey Gem I dance and backpack!”

“heeheeheee....I betcha you only THINK you can dance.

j/k you know I stereo type it a little tinny bit.

BUT hey...I sort used my father inlaw as an example...and so as my sister inlaw, my mother inlaw...and so on...”

“When my kids were swimming I saw a few black kids who did really well because they had more athletic ability than most of the other kids. If I were a High School swim coach I'd work out a deal with the basketball coaches to send me all the athletic kids who couldn't make their teams. If more black kids try competitive swimming the Americans will whip the Australians every time. But there aren't a lot of black kids hanging around swimming pools.

But the backpacking question is no different than why my wife doesn't backpack. The inconvenience outweighs the fun for her.”

“Let's face it. To backpack, you need to know it exists. Then you need to try it. Then you need to like it. Then you need to outfit yourself which takes money. Then you need to know where to go and have a way to get there.

Let's say you took a couple of black, or hispanic, or Arab teens out to backpack, and they liked it. How do you think they are going to continue if the main ingredients are not there for them to obtain? Like gear and transportation.”

“LMAO!”

“In 28 years of backcountry travel, I saw my first two black BPers this past year on seperate trips. Both times, we stopped and exchanged some trail talk, noting the usual, "Where ya headed? How long you out for?" type of talk. The first guy looked like he was at ease and was genuinely having a good time, decent equipment and all. The second guy had REI rental stuff and you could tell that the only reason he was out was his white girlfriend deathmarching him to the next camp. he looked a little like a fish out of water, but you could tell he was trying to enjoy the experience.
In BPing and paddling 32 states, so far, these were the only two I've ever seen. Hardly a diverse lifestyle in just what I have experienced in 28 years and an avg. of 40 nights a year out.
last edited: 3/17/06 6:30:53 PM”

“Why are short people underrepresented in the NBA? I know you have a few oddities like Spud Web and all, but on the whole most everybody is tall. Somebody explain this to me.”

“Duh!”