Why Are We Rich and White?

[Blake]

Ok, so not EVERY climber is rich and white, but doesn't it seem that the vast majority of folks you see in the mountains of the PNW are caucasian and probably in the top 50% of society in terms of income?

 

I'm not trying to say that we all live in mansions or drive that coveted Dodge Stratus, but there is a trend. Why do climbers and skiers disproportionately fit this demographic?

 

(Or if you don't think they do, maybe I am just not noticing everyone)

[DirtyHarry]

That's just NOT true. I dented my Cadillac Escalade last month driving over to the Methow to my third home, and I had to wait 2 WEEKS for my stocks to vest before I could get a new one. Also, my wife, Buffy, has said that I can only drink $100 / bottle Bordeaux on the weekends. I have to settle for $75 / bottle Sangiovese as table wine. . The horror!!

[foraker]

Apparently you've not met enough mountain climbers. Most of the one's I've met overseas are living off the dole as a means of financing their lifestyle. You might call the doctors and lawyers who shell out for a one-time guided trip up Everest climbers, but you might get an argument about that from some people.

[kix]

we are rich and white because god has chosen us.

[John Frieh]

I was born the...

 

Paging Michael Layton. Michael Layton will you please post.

[olyclimber]

Lets face it, climbing just is a white rich man's sport. Like golf.

[DirtyHarry]

Polo is my life.

[cj001f]

Apparently you've not met enough mountain climbers. Most of the one's I've met overseas are living off the dole as a means of financing their lifestyle.

The dirtbag demographic exists in the US too, I think perception increases it's visibility overseas. If there aren't rich climbers in Europe who pays to support all the guides?

[foraker]

This is true, but I'm just guessing that the number of great unwashed climbers is greater than the number of paying clients. YMMV

[Billygoat]

Because humans get fat and depressed if life is not a scary struggle. So, once you have shelter and food taken care of, then you are free/driven to spend thousands of dollars on gear and go out and get gripped.....plus many whites seem to have some weird gene combos

[olyclimber]

Nothing like a Nalgene full of Dom to cap a day of climbing.

[cj001f]

but I'm just guessing that the number of great unwashed climbers is greater than the number of paying clients. YMMV

All depends on how your definition of "climber"

http://www.outdoorindustry.org/pdf/2005_Participation_Study.pdf

[Billygoat]

And most of the great hordes of unwashed and impoverished climbers/skibums/mountaineers that I've come across in my ten years in Colorado and ten out here come from middle to upper class backgrounds. So.....

[Dru]

i know many white climbers but almost no rich ones

[DirtyHarry]

I'm White Rastafarian, yo.

[Rad]

Most climbers in the NW are white because most people in the NW are white.

[cj001f]

Most climbers in the NW are white because most people in the NW are white.

don't travel much, eh?

[Dr_Flash_Amazing]

Not to mention, most black folks have no interest in the outdoors whatsoever. And yes, this is from firsthand conversations, so you can stick your accusations of racism directly up your lily-white ass.

[Winter]

Most climbers in the NW are white because most people in the NW are white.

 

1/4 of people in Oregon do not identify as white.

 

 

1/4 of the people in Washington do not identify as white.

 

I see it as a class problem. You need money and time to get interested in the outdoors as much everyone around here wants to glorify the dirtbag lifestyle. Cycles of poverty, lack of education and access to resource have a disproportionate impact on people of color, which is why climbing is predominantly a white sport.

[kix]

is I wasn't rich and white, how would I justify the Jaguar?

[cj001f]

Not to mention, most black folks have no interest in the outdoors whatsoever.

Is their interest different from most other urbanites?

[archenemy]

I was born white.

[cj001f]

I was born white.

 

There goes the archenemy = Michael Jackson theory

[Ireneo_Funes]

Not to mention, most black folks have no interest in the outdoors whatsoever.

Is their interest different from most other urbanites?

 

Not sure that you can say that black folks = urbanites.

 

Here's a magazine called Black Outdoorsman that must be serving some audience: Black Outdoorsman

[Squid]

Not to mention, most black folks have no interest in the outdoors whatsoever. And yes, this is from firsthand conversations, so you can stick your accusations of racism directly up your lily-white ass.

 

You racist bastard.