<p>Interesting and educational thread! In our neck of the woods (no pun intended), we have noticed so few people of Asian decent in the great outdoors. This might not be remarkable except that our city is composed of about 50% folks of Asian decent, and where we live is surrounded by the great outdoors (thus hobbies like skiing, hiking, sailing, are very popular). </p>
<p>I’ve often wondered why. I just assumed it’s because most of our more recent immigrants are from places where outdoor activities were not so popular, or leisure time (for its own sake) may not be as common. They enjoy different food, clothing styles, occupational preferences and extra-curriculars for their kids, so I figured this just fit the same sort of thing. Now I wonder if there is something more interesting and meaningful to this difference.</p>
<p>Starbright- I am assuming you are not in the Northwest- we also have a great many Asian Americans here, but they are widely seen in the backcountry and in the campgrounds. Just take a gander around REI one weekend, it has a very diverse customer base.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised if, for instance, Japanese-Americans are another group that’s not in general traipsing around national parks</p>
<p>I hate to illustrate a cliche’ but who do you think is supporting all those camera chains?
[Alpine</a> Tranquility, Olympic National Park on Flickr - Photo Sharing!](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/asian-info/3854081547/]Alpine”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/asian-info/3854081547/)</p>
<p>Emeraldcity, I am but in Canada, so thats interesting. The slopes, the Islands, the ferries, the campgrounds, disproportionately caucasian (relative to the city itself). </p>
<p>Probably due to dissimilarites in our Asian populations (just goes to show how inaccurate we are when we lump everyone together with a label when they come from half the world and have different degrees of acculturation too!). </p>
<p>In our region, 41% are of Asian ancestry. Lots of different countries, but one predominant group are dual citizens of Hong Kong and Canada. Majority are first generation (48% of city was born outside of Canada), and the number of Asian immigrants from China doubled in the 1990s, in response to China’s takeover of HK.</p>
<p>Seattle in contrast is 17% Asian (11% in larger Everett-Seattle-Bellevue area), and I don’t know the predominant countries of origin, or how many are first generation. I’d imagine it makes a significant difference.</p>