Meet the First All-Black American Everest Expedition

Himalayan mountaineering isn’t exactly the most inclusive sport. It requires a pretty insane amount of money and resources to stage an expedition to the far reaches of world’s tallest mountain range. Typically, the coveted spots on expeditions to the top of the world have not been filled by Black Americans, but the Full Circle Everest Expedition aims to change that, with the goal of putting nine climbers on the summit next year. 

The team is being led by Himalayan veteran Phil Henderson, and is comprised of North Face-sponsored athletes Manoah Ainuu and Frederick Campbell; Eddie Taylor, supported by Scarpa; Demond “Dom” Mullins, a combat veteran of the Iraq War; Abby Dione, owner of Coral Cliffs Climbing Gym; James “KG” Kagambi, a NOLS instructor with many successful climbs of mountains in Africa and Europe; Thomas Moore, an entrepreneur based in Denver; and Rosemary Saal, a NOLS instructor who led the first all-Black American team to the summit of Africa’s Kilimanjaro in 2018.