Good morning. As we buckle in for a very strange Thanksgiving, I hope you’re able to be close to your families in a safe way, whether that means a drive-by parade or a lot of minutes logged on Facetime.
In the meantime, here are some reads to keep you busy.
What I’m reading
The Thanksgiving Myth Gets a Deeper Look This Year: For many Native Americans, the COVID-19 toll and the struggle over racial inequity make this high time to re-examine the holiday, and a cruel history. [Brett Anderson for The New York Times]
DOI Deconstructs Environmental Protections Until the Bitter End: In its final months, Trump's Department of the Interior shows its true colors by rushing through drilling leases in Alaska and rewriting major components of the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act. [Wes Siler for Outside']
Outdoor Afro Started as a Blog. Now It’s a Movement to Get More Black People Outside. Rue Mapp grew up in Oakland, the daughter of a Black cowboy from Texas who bought a small ranch in Lake County north of Santa Rosa. It was on numerous visits there that Mapp learned to hunt and fish and appreciate nature. Here she shares her views on the social justice moment that’s reshaping our thoughts about inclusion in the outdoors. [Brian Clark for the LA Times]
How ATVs Are Reviving a Forgotten Region of Appalachia: After centuries of coal mining, West Virginia looks to a new form of economic growth. [Eric Barton for Outside]
A Final Note from Our Editor: “We hope there will be more. For now, we are grateful we got to do it at all. Creating this magazine, which has stood as a compass for skiers; a cultural barometer; and a record of our sport; has been the time of our lives.” [Sierra Shafer for Powder]
In Praise of Ugly Trails: The next time you hit the trails, skip the summits. [Krista Karlson for Outside]
How COVID-19 Could Actually Be Good for Skiing: Resort executives are warning customers that skiing will be different this season. I'm here to tell you that "different" means better. [Marc Peruzzi for Outside]
Provide Equal Opportunity Race Distances for Women in Nordic Skiing: We believe that when schedules are written, and women consistently race shorter distances than men, it is a format based on long held traditions at the highest levels. Women race the same distances as men in virtually every other sport and are fully capable of racing the same distances in Nordic races. Tradition is not an excuse to continuously disregard inequity. [on Change.org]
The Love and Madness of Hot Springs in the West: Both the world-weary and stoked-on-life congregate at these wild outposts—all seeking the same euphoric joy, communality, and escapism. [Francis Sanzaro for Outside]
We’re hiring more!
We’re also hiring a:
Culture editor to lead our Culture section
Assistant video producer to edit, curate, and film
Marketing coordinator to work with our marketing team
And our editorial fellowship is set to reopen soon
