While a lot of us were stuck in the house, cautious of rising COVID-19 infections, or protesting in the global movement for Black lives, Patricia Cameron was marching in the great outdoors, signing “BLM” on trailhead stands. Cameron is the founder and CEO of Blackpackers, a Colorado-based nonprofit that provides gear, outdoor excursions and outdoor education for free or at a subsidized cost. Eight weeks ago, she embarked on a 485-mile hike from Denver to Durango on the Colorado Trail.
Cameron, a Southeast Colorado Springs resident and the primary caretaker of her son, wanted to choose a nearby trail for her seven-week hike, as well as one she knew she could safely trek. She broke up the distance by thru-hiking — taking a series of week-long trips between supply stops — which required her to carry a week’s worth of supplies at a time. At its heaviest, her bag weighed 30 pounds. Once, while hiking a pass coming out of Copper Mountain, she was caught in a thunderstorm and, to avoid lightning, she camped below timberline, losing 8 miles that day.
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