MELANIN BASE CAMP

Run clubs have been growing in popularity in recent years, and it’s easy to understand why. Running can be an individual sport, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a lonely one. Run clubs offer an opportunity to meet people, explore a new area, stay accountable, and find motivation when getting out the door isn’t always easy.

Lake Lanier in north Georgia is considered one of the most dangerous lakes in the U.S. Between 1994 and 2022, more than 200 people died on Lanier—including 13 in 2023. 

The soaring death toll, racial violence, and the flooding of the town of Oscarville to create the man-made lake contribute to the widespread belief that Lanier is haunted. 

But the truth about Lanier is hidden beneath the murky depths of myth, as history is clouded by lore. TV shows and books have been written about the more mysterious deaths at Lanier, as lovers of pop culture and the paranormal are captivated by the lake.

A few months ago, when my coach said I needed to climb slab in order to climb V14 roof, I thought he was nuts. Now that I’m three months into climbing slab, I can say with 100% certainty, he was right. I have seen huge gains in my ability to climb at all angles. Luckily for me, I love slab. But even if you don’t love slab, I HIGHLY recommend that climbers add 10 minutes of slab to their regular climbing routine. You won’t regret it.

As a self-proclaimed low-ball roof boulderer, this post may come as a surprise. I LOVE SLAB. If you are building a home wall, I recommend building a slab wall. I wasn’t always pro-home slab wall. I was actually very upset when my coach told me, I needed a slab wall. But so far, my coach hasn’t been wrong in his recommendations. So this roof climber embarked on her slab climbing journey.

Summer is here and prices couldn’t be higher! Recession indicators are everywhere, federal student loan repayments are back on and rent is rising in major cities across the U.S. But you don’t want to spend all your time at home either. Here are eight ways to get outside for free (or close enough) while making friends, building community and learning new hobbies. Let’s go!

But then life happened; friends moved away and group chats gradually went silent. Some of us outgrew friendships—or worse—found ourselves on opposite sides of important human rights issues. So here we are, in our thirties, feeling lonely and slightly embarrassed. What do we do now?

In a recent article, I wrote about the dangers of romanticizing the Pacific Northwest, and so many of you wanted to know if there were any better options. So if you’re still looking for the mountain town of your dreams, here are a few reasons why you should move to Anchorage, Alaska.

You’ve probably noticed these designs popping up in your city or neighborhood, making once-welcoming parks, benches, and sidewalks less inviting or downright hostile. Here are five things you should know about hostile architecture.

White American families responded to the desegregation of public pools and urban amusement parks in the exact same way—by collecting their children and going home, for good. White flight wasn’t just a “personal choice”, it was economic warfare.

When legally required to share public pools with Black children, many white families decided they’d rather not go at all. This summer, when you’re stuck at home with no way to cool off, remember that.