Seven members of the all-black climber’s team of the Full Circle Everest Expedition reached the summit peak on May 12, 2022, roughly 60 years after the first U.S. citizen climbed Everest for the first time. The Full Circle Everest Expedition (counting eleven experienced climbers) set out to make history with a team consisting of people of color only, not only to reach their personal goals but to set a sign for inclusion and diversity in outdoor sports, highlighting the barriers that continue to exist for black communities in accessing the outdoors.
“I am deeply honored to report that seven members of the Full Circle Everest team reached the summit on May 12. While a few members, including myself, did not summit, all members of the climb and Sherpa teams have safely returned to Base Camp, where we will celebrate this historic moment!” wrote team leader Phil Henderson on Instagram. The project aims to inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, educators, leaders, and mountaineers of color to continue chasing their personal summits. The sponsor’s list of the projects reads like a who is who of the outdoor industry, including VF Foundation, The North Face, Scarpa, MSR, Thermarest, Mammut, Yeti, Smartwool, REI, Black Diamond, Osprey, Petzl, Garmin and several others.
