Strange, but True: Camping and Backpacking Decline in Popularity

06/08/2006

Two activities long identified with the Northwest summer appear to be going out of style. Tent camping and backpacking are classified as "heritage activities" in a recent study for the outdoor retail industry. Here's another sign. The Forest Service is preparing to close dozens of little-used campgrounds and trailheads. Correspondent Tom Banse reports from outside Bend, [Oregon] that the falloff in camping started well before gas hit three bucks a gallon.

A RETIRED COUPLE FROM LAS VEGAS IS DELIGHTED TO HAVE AN ENTIRE FOREST SERVICE CAMPGROUND TO THEMSELVES ON A LOVELY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. CHARLES RHODA IS UNSURE WHY THEY'RE THE ONLY GUESTS HERE NEAR LA PINE, OREGON, BUT WHEN PRESSED OFFERS A THEORY.

CHARLES: "I get a senior discount. But the average guy, paying $20 a night just for the privilege to park his RV on the lake on public property. It rubs people the wrong way. So I think that has discouraged a lot of people."

WIFE MARSHA RHODA LISTENS AS SHE CHOPS GARLIC TO ADD TO THE PIZZA SHE'S PREPARING IN THE COUPLE'S NEW R-V.

SOUND: [chop, chop in r-v kitchen]

SHE SPECULATES THAT OLDER GENERATIONS ARE HAVING SPOTTY LUCK PASSING THE CAMPING TRADITION ON.

MARSHA: "Our grandkids are very involved with the video games and they don't want to come out here with us."

A SPRINGFIELD, OREGON COUPLE SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL CAMPGROUND HOSTS. KENNETH AND MICHELLE HATHORN SAY THE PLACE FILLS UP ON HOLIDAY WEEKENDS, BUT THIS DAY'S LOW OCCUPANCY IS MORE TYPICAL.

KENNETH: "(The) younger generation isn't into the outdoors anymore."

MICHELLE: "I think the price of fuel is a lot of it. Most of the people we get are from Bend, La Pine, Redmond area, which is not very far away."

THIS TREND HAS BEEN DEVELOPING FOR A WHILE THOUGH. OVERNIGHT STAYS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS HAVE DROPPED MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OVER THE PAST DECADE. WASHINGTON AND IDAHO STATE PARKS AND THE NATIONAL FOREST CAMPGROUNDS IN THE NORTHWEST ARE RECORDING 3 TO 7 PERCENT FEWER STAYS. THE FOREST SERVICE TAKES THE FALLOFF SO SERIOUSLY, IT'S COMMISSIONED POLLS AND ORGANIZED THREE FOCUS GROUPS. CHUCK FRAYER AT THE REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN PORTLAND SAYS THE MOST COMMON EXPLANATION PEOPLE GIVE IS THEY HAVE MORE CHOICES AND LESS FREE TIME.

FRAYER: "They're trying to do a lot more with their precious weekends. Ten years, 15 years ago, it was: 'Ok, let's load up the kids, and let's go out, and we're going to spend three days out there.' And we're not seeing that today."

FRAYER AGREES HIGH GAS PRICES MAY KEEP EVEN MORE PEOPLE AT HOME NOW. HE'S STARTED A FOREST-BY-FOREST EVALUATION THAT COULD RESULT IN THE CLOSURE OF UP TO 10 PERCENT OF THE NORTHWEST'S CAMPGROUNDS AND REMOTE TRAILHEADS.

FRAYER: "We are looking at decommissioning sites that have very low occupancy levels -- like 1%, 2% ,3% occupancy -- and are very expensive for us to operate and maintain."

SEPARATELY, A NATIONAL TELEPHONE POLL PAID FOR BY THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY FOUND FEWER OF US STRAPPING ON A BACKPACK FOR A LONG DISTANCE HIKE. PARTICIPATION IS OFF BY A QUARTER SINCE 1998.

SOUND: [show 'n tell of lightweight sleeping bag]

THE CO-OWNER OF THE ALPINE EXPERIENCE OUTDOOR STORE IN OLYMPIA SHOWS OFF LIGHTER SLEEPING BAGS, ULTRA-LIGHT BACKPACKS, STOVES, COOKWARE, AND BOOTS. JOE HYER SAYS THE NEW LIGHTWEIGHT GEAR ON THE MARKET IS ONE WAY TO SUSTAIN ENTHUSIASM FOR THE OUTDOORS.

HYER: "Our baby boomers are getting up in their 50's now and the knees aren't like they used to be. They can't carry 50 or 60 pounds backpacking. So products to lighten up their loads are vital to maintaining them in the sport."

HYER SAYS IT'S NOT THE CASE THAT WE'RE ALL BECOMING COUCH POTATOES. HIS SALES SHOW OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ON THE UPSWING AS CAMPING AND BACKPACKING DECLINE. IF YOU'VE TAKEN UP CANOEING, KAYAKING, SNOWSHOEING, TRAIL RUNNING, OR ATV RIDING, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE A TRENDSETTER. PARTICIPATION IN THOSE PURSUITS IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. I'M TOM BANSE REPORTING.

© Copyright 2006, KUOW