Today’s guest blogger, Tanya Morgan Dixon, is a member of the support team for Expedition Denali, the first all African American team of climbers attempting to summit Denali (Mount McKinley) in June 2013. Morgan, as her colleagues call her, lives in New Jersey with her husband Keith and dog Charley. She leads a national nonprofit called GirlTrek which inspires and supports black women and girls to lead healthier, more fulfilled lives—simply by walking.

When I pressed “end” on the call, I knew this was a big freaking deal. The National Outdoor Leadership School was sponsoring an all African American mountaineering expedition up Denali (20,320'), the tallest peak in North America. They asked if I’d be interested in climbing.

NOLS invited me to train for the expedition because of my backcountry experience. After meeting the very experienced team of mountaineers, I knew that my best role on the team was to be a support member.

I’m excited to organize. Partner organizations will organize “solidarity walks” on the longest and most strenuous day on Denali—the summit day. The summit day will be a grueling 5-mile round trip up and back to High Camp. Five miles is roughly equal to 10,000 steps. 

The 10,000 Steps to Denali Challenge

Thus was born the "10,000 Steps to Denali" challenge. Our goal is to rally young people and their families to get outside in outdoor spaces near their homes, whether in urban wilderness or national parks, while the members of the Expedition Denali team are making their Denali summit attempt. This grassroots movement will target major cities including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Washington D.C. and Atlanta.

I am the co-director of a public health organization called GirlTrek. Our mission is to inspire inactive women and girls to “jumpstart” healthy lives by walking. We currently serve over 12,000 trekkers. GirlTrek and other awesome organizations such as Outdoor Afro will mobilize as many people as possible to walk 10,000 steps on the summit day. They can walk in their communities or find their own mountains to climb in local and national parks.

I am so honored to be a part of this historic climb. My 3 hopes for Expedition Denali:

1. On their toughest days, when the weather kicks up and muscles are spent, I hope that the team draws inspiration from all of the people, like Harriet Tubman, who paved the road to base camp.
   
2. I hope that kids are deeply inspired by this story. Not only because the climbers look like them, but also because their stories parallel ours—proof positive that anything is possible. Role models matter.
   
3. I hope that we inspire more diversity in the outdoors. Poet Baba Dioum said “In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." Attempting the summit is not enough. We are will be successful when we are able to raise awareness of the value of diversity in the outdoors—particularly as we face the monumental task of protecting our natural environment. I aim to have organizations, corporations, schools, supporters, parents and kids create a groundswell of support for this broader dialogue.

Lastly I hope that when I wear my Expedition Denali T-shirt, people mistake me for a mountaineer. I will neither deny nor confirm.

For more information on Expedition Denali, visit http://expeditiondenali.nols.edu/