Part II of VI: Route Development Initiatives
If we look at the sheer small numbers of guidebook authors and the mechanisms to keep out women, and then even more mechanisms to keep Black women and queer people out of the sport (see my Hip Hop in Climbing article, specifically Part II), it’s unfortunately safe to say there are little to few or no route developer guidebook authors or co-authors of color in the US. And I specifically say in the US with a quick mention to crags in Jamaica with development by Kai Lightner1 and Negros Island in the Phillipinnes (yes it is Negros and not Negroes, but unfortunately both stem from the same meaning from colonization)2. Negros Island is a shining example of how development can happen by people of color on their home soil even3. I encourage you to go listen to Rock and Rice’s podcast on this topic4. For the sake of scope here, we will stick with US initiatives to inject diversity into route development.
The 2 main organized initiatives to expand demographics in route developing I am aware of are…
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