4 ms·

How does this square with record-breaking attendance at every national park, record attendance at ski resorts and other outdoors venues, etc?

lispisok 3y ago
A minority of people got more into those activities but the US has a population of 330 million and the outdoorsy hotpots have little carrying capacity so now they are swarmed and overwhelmed.
buggythebug 3y ago
One time events are different than what used to be everyday, social events. Also, hiking and skiing are not exactly the most social activities.
ultrarunner 3y ago
As someone who spends a lot of time on trails, I can always tell when I'm getting within a half mile of a trailhead— I see another person or group of people. The best I can tell is that people want to connect with nature; they don't want to be outside. That's good enough motivation to plan a trip, especially to an easily selectable location. It's not quite enough to turn you into an outdoorsy kind of person, or transform "hiking" into more than just sort of walking around without aim.
- solardev 3y ago
  > The best I can tell is that people want to connect with nature; they don't want to be outside. What do you mean by this?
  - digdugdirk 3y ago
    The difference between a multi-day backpacking trip and a multi-day road trip that stops at 4 different national parks. Its very easy to be able to "see" beautiful places without "being" in them, if that makes sense.
    - solardev 3y ago
      Oh, I see. Sure, that makes sense. I think it can be an "escalator" of engagement though, and small exposures can build up to bigger adventures! I never visited a proper outdoor area until college (grew up in the city). My first time, I was so scared of the unfamiliar trees that I think I screamed when some vine grazed my skin, lol. A few years (and a few more day hikes) later, I went on my first overnight backpacking trip. Nearly froze to death because our guide didn't check the weather. Had to evac half the group out overnight through the pouring rain. Glad nobody died, but we got real close to frostbite territory. The next trip with the same group, we nearly got shot (pissed off some, uh, rural hunter types) and had to hide in sand dunes until the gunshots stopped... it's a wonder this guiding group stays in business, lol. Despite all that, backpacking became a lifelong love. I've introduced probably a dozen friends to backpacking, and they're all most impressed by the Jetboil :) These days me and my SO go on a few trips a summer, not quite as much as we were younger, but still. Ya gotta start somewhere! That's all I'm saying.
  - phil21 3y ago
    Being outside implies discomfort, or at least the potential for it. Many want to experience nature without being exposed to the harshness. Probably all of us to some degree. It's more or less the difference between a tourist and an expat.
    - xwdv 3y ago
      Oh if only there was a way to combine the natural wonder of hiking but with the speed and comfort of a vehicle…
      - solardev 3y ago
        They make off-road Segways, lol. Just don't be like this guy, who bought the company and then drove one off a cliff... https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39377851 https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39377851
tayo42 3y ago
i feel like 3/4 of the people at ski resorts are on green groomers for 2 runs then day drinking. i think its just a place to be. for both points, i think some of it is driven by social media too and it doesn't take a lot for those places to feel full. are outdoorsy people listening to bluetooth radios on trails? doubt it, probably some attention seeker looking for social media content
- reducesuffering 3y ago
  There's a lot of truth to this. Ski resorts will be slammed at 9am, rental lines out the wazoo, beginner runs flooded, food court swamped at 11-12, but the real solid runs at 1pm are free and clear. Seems like most people show up, do a couple green runs or lessons and leave before the day even ends.
  - bbradley406 3y ago
    Obviously this depends on the region and weather, but in my experience the best areas on the mountain are tracked out and bumpy by the afternoon. Once the sun really starts hitting the snow it can get lumpier and tougher compared to fresh stuff, and more frequent / larger ice patches appear on hard-packed runs. If you have a season pass it doesn't make sense to ski the worse conditions, since you can just go back another morning. There's also the desire to beat the traffic leaving the resort, which can be brutal in some places.
bee_rider 3y ago
Perhaps “indoorsyness” however they measure it is increasing, but not enough to cancel out population growth.
- hammock 3y ago
  "Population growth" tends to happen indoors rather than out..
  - bee_rider 3y ago
    I would expect a hammock to be neutral on that subject.
peruvian 3y ago
Same with restaurants and bars - everywhere is packed and needs a reservation now.

lispisok 3y ago

A minority of people got more into those activities but the US has a population of 330 million and the outdoorsy hotpots have little carrying capacity so now they are swarmed and overwhelmed.

buggythebug 3y ago

One time events are different than what used to be everyday, social events. Also, hiking and skiing are not exactly the most social activities.

ultrarunner 3y ago

As someone who spends a lot of time on trails, I can always tell when I'm getting within a half mile of a trailhead— I see another person or group of people. The best I can tell is that people want to connect with nature; they don't want to be outside. That's good enough motivation to plan a trip, especially to an easily selectable location. It's not quite enough to turn you into an outdoorsy kind of person, or transform "hiking" into more than just sort of walking around without aim.

solardev 3y ago
> The best I can tell is that people want to connect with nature; they don't want to be outside. What do you mean by this?
- digdugdirk 3y ago
  The difference between a multi-day backpacking trip and a multi-day road trip that stops at 4 different national parks. Its very easy to be able to "see" beautiful places without "being" in them, if that makes sense.
  - solardev 3y ago
    Oh, I see. Sure, that makes sense. I think it can be an "escalator" of engagement though, and small exposures can build up to bigger adventures! I never visited a proper outdoor area until college (grew up in the city). My first time, I was so scared of the unfamiliar trees that I think I screamed when some vine grazed my skin, lol. A few years (and a few more day hikes) later, I went on my first overnight backpacking trip. Nearly froze to death because our guide didn't check the weather. Had to evac half the group out overnight through the pouring rain. Glad nobody died, but we got real close to frostbite territory. The next trip with the same group, we nearly got shot (pissed off some, uh, rural hunter types) and had to hide in sand dunes until the gunshots stopped... it's a wonder this guiding group stays in business, lol. Despite all that, backpacking became a lifelong love. I've introduced probably a dozen friends to backpacking, and they're all most impressed by the Jetboil :) These days me and my SO go on a few trips a summer, not quite as much as we were younger, but still. Ya gotta start somewhere! That's all I'm saying.
- phil21 3y ago
  Being outside implies discomfort, or at least the potential for it. Many want to experience nature without being exposed to the harshness. Probably all of us to some degree. It's more or less the difference between a tourist and an expat.
  - xwdv 3y ago
    Oh if only there was a way to combine the natural wonder of hiking but with the speed and comfort of a vehicle…
    - solardev 3y ago
      They make off-road Segways, lol. Just don't be like this guy, who bought the company and then drove one off a cliff... https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39377851 https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39377851

tayo42 3y ago

i feel like 3/4 of the people at ski resorts are on green groomers for 2 runs then day drinking. i think its just a place to be. for both points, i think some of it is driven by social media too and it doesn't take a lot for those places to feel full. are outdoorsy people listening to bluetooth radios on trails? doubt it, probably some attention seeker looking for social media content

reducesuffering 3y ago
There's a lot of truth to this. Ski resorts will be slammed at 9am, rental lines out the wazoo, beginner runs flooded, food court swamped at 11-12, but the real solid runs at 1pm are free and clear. Seems like most people show up, do a couple green runs or lessons and leave before the day even ends.
- bbradley406 3y ago
  Obviously this depends on the region and weather, but in my experience the best areas on the mountain are tracked out and bumpy by the afternoon. Once the sun really starts hitting the snow it can get lumpier and tougher compared to fresh stuff, and more frequent / larger ice patches appear on hard-packed runs. If you have a season pass it doesn't make sense to ski the worse conditions, since you can just go back another morning. There's also the desire to beat the traffic leaving the resort, which can be brutal in some places.

bee_rider 3y ago

Perhaps “indoorsyness” however they measure it is increasing, but not enough to cancel out population growth.

hammock 3y ago
"Population growth" tends to happen indoors rather than out..
- bee_rider 3y ago
  I would expect a hammock to be neutral on that subject.

peruvian 3y ago

Same with restaurants and bars - everywhere is packed and needs a reservation now.