Outside Investigates Explorers Club Flap

For several months now I've posted regular articles about the ongoing internal struggles at the Explorers Club – a venerable institution that seems to be facing a leadership crisis at the moment. I won't rehash the entire story again here, but essentially there are several factions vying for control of the Club, with President Lorie Karnath, and her supporters in one corner and a host of detractors who claim she is running the organization for her own ends, in the other.

Earlier today, Outside magazine published a detailed account of the whole affair on their website. The article does a great job of looking at the issues and grievances from multiple perspectives, and offers what I feel is a balanced, objective look at the feud. Damon Tabor, the writer of the piece, spoke to multiple members of the Club, on both sides of the row, and has put together an article that covers the story thus far, about as well as you could expect.


Outside had access to Karnath herself, who gives her account of the current situation while repeatedly denying any wrong doing. She, and her supporters, say that she is acting in the best interest of the EC, while detractors say that she is alienating members and sponsors, while rewarding those who are loyal to her cause.

I can tell you that much of what is reported in the story is the same as I've heard before, and the author has even spoken to some of the same people that I have. Outside puts the entire power-struggle into perspective however, and gets "on the record" comments from more members. The result is an overall clearer image of what is happening inside the Club right now.

The next election for Explorers Club leadership is scheduled to take place in just a few weeks. On March 18th, members will have the opportunity to decide which direction the Club goes, and it should be interesting to see how it all plays out.