African American attempt seven summits

[7summits]

Why are there so few African-Americans participating in great American outdoor sports like climbing?

According to Elliott Boston III, a stock broker and enthusiast of the great outdoors - who happens to be African-American - the answer can be found in a lack of exposure and a dearth of role models.

“In the media, minorities are always shown playing the traditional sports, but rarely participating in outdoor activities,” says Boston. “I decided that our expedition would focus on getting minorities interested and aware about the great American outdoors by making history with our Pioneer Climbing Expedition.”

Boston and his climbing partner, Stephen K. Shobe, are embarking on an effort to be the first African-Americans to climb the Seven Summits of the world. They completed phase one of their quest last month, with the ascent of 22,841-ft. Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in the Americas. The trek to the summit and return took 2-1/2 weeks. Next stop: Denali in Alaska, which is scheduled to begin in June. The two expect to complete the conquest of all seven summits by spring 2003.

(from expeditionnews.com