Spying on outdoor activities in the USA.

I am a spy. In case you haven't had that figured out, here are some evidence that Kelly's staying in the US on a highly debatable status:

1. Kelly came to the US for the wilderness and meeting wilderness friends. A Washington topographic map is the first thing she bought when she arrived at Seattle in 2010. While she was legitimately a student, she is now a semi-employed climbing bum seasonally adopted by friendly Americans of different regions.

                                              (Kelly and her Whidbey Island adoptive family)

2. Acknowledged at Hannah Litz.'s house party, Kelly has obtained her US citizenship by winning her first flip-cup ever in 2011. However since then she hasn't had much luck with the game-->a threat to maintaining her citizenship.

3. Kelly is officially and professionally adopted by Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition and has been spying on conservation and recreation projects in Washington. Two weeks ago she sneaked into REI headquarter to participate in a meeting with folks representing outdoor gear businesses, hunters and anglers, and recreation groups in Washington.

She discovered some interesting facts about the outdoors culture in the US that relates to her personal experience traveling and meeting outdoorsy folks across the country:

#1. What is the most physically active region in the US?

Hey Northwesterners don't be too proud! The Mountain region is the champ with a 61% outdoors participation/population rate. The NW is just above the national average of 50%, still behind the West North Central and East North Central regions with 54% and 52% respectively.

Most people I met who moved to the West Coast came for a job opportunity with high-tech or bio-medical company. It is definitely a hub for some of the country's most intelligent people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. It is generally a region that provides new opportunities and connections with the other side of the Pacific-Asia.

On the other hand, the mountain region attracts folks with outdoor opportunities. Young outdoor enthusiasts move to the region for an adventure lifestyle. The Rockies provide countless opportunities for hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, and skiing in different seasons of year; the Colorado River is world-known for canyoneering and white-water rafting.

#2. What are the most popular outdoor activities in the US (participation rate)?

1. Running, Jogging and Trail Running 18%
2. Freshwater, Saltwater and Fly Fishing 16%
3. Road Biking, Mountain Biking and BMX 15%
4. Car, Backyard and RV Camping 15%
5. Hiking 12%

As compared by states, I take a closer look at Washington(W), Utah(U), Colorado(C), and Montana(M):

Trails (hiking, backpacking, rock climbing): M-49%, U-43%, C-41%, W-39%
Wildlife Watching: M-48%, W-44%, C-33%, U-32%
Camping: M-46%, U-46%, W-36%,  C-28%
Bicycling: C-35%, M-33%, W-32%, U-25%
Fishing: M-27%, U-21%, W-16%, C-15%
Paddling: M-24%, U-15%, W-12%,  C-11%
Snow Sports: C-21%, M-19%, U-19%, W-12%
Hunting: M-22%, U-10%, W-4%, C-4%

Again while we think people use trails immensely in Washington, Washington is still behind Montana, Utah, and Colorado's in terms of participation rate in trail activities. It might be owning to the rain in winter. I also thought Washington would have more paddle sports because of the Puget Sound and the lakes, but I guess the Colorado River is providing better opportunities for that than the Sound.

Washington's lower participation rates in snow sports and hunting doesn't surprise me though. But not beating Colorado and Montana for biking does make me wonder why, as I've seen more bikers in Seattle more than places I've been in Colorado and Montana.

#3. Is outdoors a Caucasian activity?

78 percent of American outdoor participants identify themselves as Caucasian. However for young adults there's a growing Asian population participating in outdoor activities. Getting exercise and hanging out with friends and family is the top two reasons why Americans participate in outdoor activities. It is the same among all cultures I guess.

                                          (Mimi is my only Asian girl climber friend in the US)

However there is a difference for valuing fitness. Among my friends there are white Americans, Asian Americans, and Asians who participate in outdoor sports. White American boys and girls tend like to stay or get stronger, and would be flattered if somebody says they're strong. Quite oppositely, if someone says that I'm strong in Mandarin Chinese or in Taiwanese cultural context, there is a negative connotation cuz it is a complement for men, not women.

I have lots of female Taiwanese friends who love outdoor sports, but very few of them would appreciate it when people call them strong. Not even myself. Over years I realize when Americans say that, it is a compliment and to some extent it implies attractiveness. It takes me a while to explain to my Asian guy friends why Americans like girls to be strong.

          (One of my Taiwanese guy friends commented that I'm "too manly" in this picture.)

My ex-roommate Nai's Asian American. She and her boyfriend both embrace the value of fitness. It would sound extremely weird if I were to tell my Taiwanese guy friends that her boyfriend would ask her to lift weights to get her arms more muscular. Similarly, it would also sound weird to Americans that my ex would stop me from doing push-ups cuz he thought I'm already too strong, which is a bad thing for a girl.

The longer I stay in the US, the less tolerant I am to folks that criticize me for doing activities that make my shoulder, back, arms, or legs stronger and look like a dude. Though every once in a while, it is still a bit embarrassing imagining myself walking on a street in Asia. It's challenging and interesting to live in two cultures.

My brother took a picture for me when we hiked to a hot spring in Washington. He said: You look good, but  your arms are too big from the Asian's perspective. He also knows two cultures, and was telling me to be aware of judgment from my diverse facebook friends.

But I'm still doing whatever I want, and this is more encouraged in this country, and is perhaps why some of the most adventurous people are from this country because nobody would stop them from taking risks or getting physically exhausted or injured.

It makes a huge difference especially for girls like me. When my grandma tells me don't get too wild like a dude, or when my mom says don't go climbing every weekend, I know why I am in American, and will continue my spying mission of exploring the American West.