This is utter garbage and actually perpetuates racisim

I am with you on this one but it’s been gone for 20 years

Vermont: Why not both?

That explains everything. /s

I mean, I've seen racist POS harass black hikers before and/or make ignorant comments. It's not unheard of.

Carburs

No. I think I made it pretty clear that I don’t worry much about things I can’t fix and I try to not let them detract from my own experiences or enjoyment. I talked about being part of a community and how we don’t always like everyone in that community but we can still be kind to each other. I don’t go around tutting at everyone who does things that I don’t like.

I'm down here in northern Pennsylvania and your entire second paragraph is exactly why I like Vermont.

Long, cold dark winters beat hot, humid buggy summers with ticks, yellow jackets, poison ivy and mosquitoes any day.

Thank you for posting this! It’s an important message to get out there!

For those dismissing this, please recognize that representation matters. It’s not about if you have ever seen or heard about racism on a trail, it’s about making people feel like they are safe on our trails as well regardless of the demographic they fit into. Just because you have never seen anyone get harassed on the trail does not mean that it isn’t a legitimate fear that someone can have.

Also: it does not matter that VT is a mostly white state, people travel from all over the northeast (and the country) and yet the population of people taking part in outdoor sports here is still mostly white. VT lacking diversity does not tell the whole story of what is going on.

I'm a bit against moving to a state primarily for weed access, because I've seen what usually happens to those families time and time again out here in CO. They usually show up with no job and no plan, but end up just smoking weed all day until they are evicted. I've gone through 3 neighbors in 5 years that way. They always end up moving back to Texas (because illegal weed was cheaper anyway).

I'm not saying you are this way, but if I were you, I'd spend my time and money learning a real skill at a trade school, and find the best place to live based on that. I would never base major life decisions on where I could legally get fucked up, and neither should you.

Yeah, I really don’t think you’re making a strong case if your argument is built on an assumption like this. Little does the author know that I too feel this anxiety of not belonging on the trails because I’m not a regular hiker. Any time I go I have this “am I doing this right?” feeling. And anxiety brain likes to assume everyone around you is confident and judging you. But you can slap race onto this narrative and it gives the framing of having deeper social implications. The only real difference here (and it is a bit of privilege) is that when I have anxiety about this scenario, my race doesn’t come into play where if I were a POC, maybe I would attribute this feeling to my race.

The problem with looking everywhere for racial tensions is that you’ll see it everywhere. Even when the perception is incorrect. But if you questioned it at all, you’re a racist. Which is supposed to spook any well-meaning person from saying anything. No one wants to be called a racist, of course. But if we keep letting these narratives of the most subtle interpretations of racism flood the airwaves, it actually impedes the discussions of overt and nefarious racism happening in society. The population is just too fatigued from race talks to deal with it at that point.

I am on a Bramble kick at the moment. Good food, nice vibe, friendly staff... etc.

I currently live in Virginia and you can grow and smoke it but the only place you can buy it is in DC which is shady and not very good .

They are also trying their best to repeal it . Almost all northeastern states , west coast states , and Colorado are full legal.

In Maine they can’t even test you for it for a job anymore .

Show me any one of their comments in this comment thread that doesn't show them as a savior for others who can't help themselves? Just send the link or copy/paste it.

Oh, it's all of them.

No, it doesn't. Vermont is majority white, guess what the majority of people on the trails will be?

It's like walking on a trail and seeing a ton of squirrels and wondering why don't see more moose. There's a helluva more squirrels than moose.

You’re being incredibly negative. The other commenter says they care but they try to not focus on it and instead do something positive. You spin that as some savior complex thing. You are wrong here.

How would the author know what other people are feeling? That alone doesn't make sense.

Also, a sense of belonging? People are eating too much granola. Y'all walking in the woods, this isn't connecting and being one with nature. It's walking.

green mountain club is pretty mainstream, maybe read and discuss the valid or interesting points of the article?

I’m just gonna go ahead and say what we’re all thinking… Al’s French Fry’s. I enjoyed it as a college kid who wanted to eat as much as possible on a limited budget, as an adult for some guilty pleasure food, and now as a dad trying to teach the kiddo about the culinary masterpiece that is the corn dog. Wish the prices were what they used to be but can’t really complain. Also love the nostalgic 50’s diner feel with music and all.

While I want more people of every race to feel at home and welcomed in the outdoors, I don't think this article does a good job at describing the specific problem or articulating practical and meaningful steps towards that end. It reads like a grad school paper that tries to sound important by using the most intellectual-sounding language. If you want the average white guy/woman to read your article, don't title it "Decentering whiteness..." That's just the jargon of your own cultural/professional circle. This is an important topic that could be addressed much better than it has been here.

This is the problem with racism right here, you don't feel comfortable with people that aren't your race because you see people as their race, see them as people not the color of their skin. Who cares there's no black people hiking there's PEOPLE, I get wanting to be around people of your culture but I don't fly to europe and complain there's not enough Americans walking around to make me feel comfortable this is ridiculous. Noone is stopping anyone of any skin color from buying hiking gear and going out on public trails. Also you don't hike to see people you hike to see the outdoors, what is this nonsense article lmao.

I'm not being negative. You said you didn't care about others' actions on trails....then you said what you do prefer what people do....so you care.

You're just not acknowledging that and then went on a "how I help people" side quest that had nothing to do with the original point.

So you diverted the point to talk about how you're a good person....how is that not being self-righteous or having a savior complex?

I really appreciate the details you've provided. Are there any areas you recommend to look at in particular?

I’m not allowed to feel a sense of belonging when I’m outdoors?

Oh, I didn't actually read the article.