ALUMNI IN ACTION After the Climb: A Conversation with Phil Henderson

By Isaiah Gordon Donor Relations & Stewardship Coordinator

Inthe winter of 2019, Philip Henderson and the Full Circle Everest Expedition team began planning. The first all-Black summit of the world’s highest mountain would be three years in the making, but long overdue.

Having the right climbers and team leader were essential to making this expedition possible. That team: eleven climbers led by Phil.

Phil’s history with NOLS includes instructing, managing equipment, and directing programs at both domestic and international campuses. Throughout his career in various organizations and positions, Phil has always been among the earliest voices advocating for greater representation in the outdoor industry.

Having volunteered various times for the Khumbu Climbing Center, Phil has experience trekking in Nepal and on Everest. In all 12 years of his experience in Nepal, Phil said, he encountered another Black person just once.

This expedition, Full Circle Everest, was an opportunity for more Black climbers to connect with the Nepali and Sherpa communities, and to increase their intercultural connection and exchange of knowledge.

This group of climbers brought an array of backgrounds, interests, and expertise to the expedition:

• Abby Dione has been the proud owner of Coral Cliffs Climbing Gym in Fort Lauderdale, Florida since 2011.

• James “KG” Kagambi began his guiding career in Kenya as a NOLS field instructor. He is NOLS' most senior instructor, recently reaching 900 field weeks!

• Manoah Ainuu was born in Compton, California to first-generation immigrants from Samoa and Ethiopia. Manoah’s childhood was surrounded by concrete and congested freeways.

• Fred Campbell has loved challenges and adventure since he was a child.

• Demond Mullins received his PhD in Sociology from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 2013.

• Rosemary Saal is an outdoor enthusiast, educator, and Seattle transplant currently living in Tucson, Arizona.

• Eddie Taylor, a Midwestern kid, dreamed of mountains. From an early love for snowboarding and trips out west, the seed was planted.

• Thomas Moore was born and raised in the small town of Cartersville, Georgia, and developed a passion for travel as a young man, touring through scores of countries, where he relished experiencing new cultures.

• Adina Scott is an adventurer, nerd (her term), and artist. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, she could usually be found digging in the dirt under the porch, playing music, reading a book, or hanging out in the plum tree, snacking.

• Evan Green—born in Queens, New York but raised in Texas—is an all-arounder when it comes to outdoors. He is an avid climber, cyclist, snowboarder, and backpacker based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On May 12, 2022, well over half of the team summited Everest. And now, thanks to the Full Circle Everest Expedition, more Black climbers can talk about Everest from firsthand experience.

On his return, Phil shared what it was like—not so much to climb, but to do so as the first group of Black climbers to summit.

In the field, Phil recalled that the group was appropriately treated with respect and as the experienced climbers they are. They felt supported by most people they interacted with, which is different from hiking or climbing in the U.S. In the States, Phil said, Black groups are often met with questions of their competence and made to feel as if they are out of place.

For Phil, getting back to the day-to-day was not so different from the aftermath of past expeditions, apart from engaging in more conversations about the historic expedition. While Phil and his team anticipated this expedition to be a big deal among the outdoor community, he’s still been surprised by the amount of attention it has received.

By sharing their experience on various platforms, from podcasts to major news networks, this expedition has brought the topic of representation to the forefront of many discussions about the outdoors.

So, what is his advice to someone who wants to engage with representation in the outdoors?

“I would direct them to themselves first. Ask yourself, do you care about the outdoors or just about representation in the outdoor space?” Phil responded. “This expedition connected generations of underrepresented communities who care for the outdoors.”

The expedition also increased the bonds between Black climbers and the Nepali and Sherpa communities, increasing knowledge of Sherpa culture. Students from Central Wyoming College, located in Riverton, Wyoming, just 25 miles from NOLS headquarters in Lander, were even afforded the opportunity to hike to Everest Base Camp, gaining experience and knowledge in the outdoor space. Leaders from Vanity Fair magazine and The North Face also joined this leg of the trek, experiencing firsthand the impact of Phil’s leadership in the outdoor industry.

If you’re wondering what’s next for Phil, rest assured that he’ll continue to do what he’s always done: inspire, encourage, and support people to become environmentally conscious and establish their own connection to nature.

Congratulations to the Full Circle Everest Team who were recipients of the American Alpine Club's 2023 Climb of the Year Award