Travel

Meet the Man Who is Building a Path for People of Color to Enjoy the Great Outdoors

With "The Trail Posse," Seattle journalist, outdoorsman and activist Glenn Nelson wants to change the demographics of who enjoys the great outdoors

By Danny Sullivan April 3, 2018

1-Seattleite

This article originally appeared in the April 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.

This article appears in print in the April 2018 issueClick here to subscribe.

“The outdoors are a picture of whiteness,” says Glenn Nelson, an award-winning journalist and former sportswriter for The Seattle Times. An avid outdoorsman who has visited and hiked through many of the national parks, Nelson, a Japanese-American, is on a mission to confront data that says that wilderness areas and national park sites are both less attended and underrepresented by people of color.

He founded The Trail Posse, a nonprofit website, in 2015 to bring attention to these issues. One goal is to build a path for people of color to become more engaged with the outdoors and our national parks—and in doing so, build a greater stake within those populations for environmental issues. On the website—part news service, part blog—Nelson tackles subjects as basic as essential hiking gear and as weighty as the Pacific Northwest’s history of racial injustice. 

Nelson points out that people of color are more outdoorsy than official data often captures, because research is usually conducted without them in mind. More representative numbers result when people of color “do our own polling,” he says. One survey that he was involved with simply asked, “Do you participate in outdoor activities?” and received a 70 percent yes response from people of color.

With The Trail Posse, Nelson provides examples of outdoor experiences to people of color that are relatable—such as stories about African-American wilderness trekker J.R. Harris, and professional snowboarder Ryan Hudson, who was once homeless—and in doing so, hopes to inspire efforts to get them more involved in the outdoors and in helping combat climate change. “Places I went last year are changed, places are different,” he says. “It’s crystal clear to me that we’re running out of time, and every second we don’t do anything is working against us.”

For his part, The Trail Posse is the ideal outlet for Nelson’s passion on the subject. “I wish I had been writing about this my whole career.” 

Vital Stats

Common Ground
Both the Civil Rights Act and the Wilderness Act became law in 1964. Nelson sees this pivotal legislation as a union that links the pursuit of racial equality with the drive for a sustainable environment. 

Favorite Place
One of Nelson’s favorite natural places in Seattle is Union Bay Natural Area, hidden behind the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium on the shores of Lake Washington, where he and his daughter often go bird-watching. Farther afield, his favorite hike is the 5-mile Lakes Loop Trail near Paradise on Mount Rainier. Find your own favorite hike during Free National Parks Days, April 21–29. 

Follow Us

Ruby Beach Recognized as One of the World's Best  

Ruby Beach Recognized as One of the World’s Best  

Sparkling red and strewn with sea stacks, Washington's rugged shoreline stands out

Situated on the Olympic Peninsula, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Seattle, Ruby Beach is known for its towering sea stacks sculpted by centuries of wind and waves, and its thriving tide pools.

Whale Watching is Extremely Popular

Whale Watching is Extremely Popular

New study pinpoints visitors, dollars in Washington state

A study for the Pacific Whale Watch Association by Martin Associates finds that whale watching expeditions in Washington state create $119.1 million in economic value and support 1,125 jobs...

You Better Belize It

You Better Belize It

Fly nonstop from Seattle and enjoy the jungle, the sea, and everything else the country has to offer

With its colonial past as British Honduras, Belize is the only English-speaking country in the region. But the blend of European, Central American, Mexican, Spanish, and Caribbean influences doesn’t even begin to describe Belize’s unique potpourri of cultures. The landscape is dotted with numerous Mayan temples, both ready to visit and still under excavation. The

Direct, Connect, Reflect

Direct, Connect, Reflect

It’s easier than ever to reach these sun-splashed sensations from Seattle

Need to escape Seattle this winter? Need some inspiration to pack a carry-on and cash in those miles? Here are four nonstop flights for nonstop escape. In June, Alaska Airlines announced new nonstop service to Nassau, Bahamas, beginning Dec. 15. Board one of these flights at 9 a.m. and land just six hours later. Even…