2006 Outdoor Recreation Participation St udy

“Just some highlights...
Outdoor Industry Foundation's 2006 Outdoor Recreation Participation Study.
Snow campers and snowboarders are among those pushing the numbers of snowshoers up about 83 percent since 1998, the first year of the study. The five most popular general activities in terms of participants were cycling, fishing, hiking, camping and trail running, in that order. Our total outdoor outings, however, were down 11 percent, led by declines in cycling and fishing. "People are doing more activities, but less often,"

Commitment-heavy activities are waning. Participation in overnight backpacking has dropped 22.5 percent since 1998.”

“I am inclined that backpacking dropped 20% from 2005 to 2006.

I didn't see near as many people on the trail in GSMNP last year.”

“The more it drops the better!!”

“NOOOOOOO! Then the parks will shrivel up and get paved over. We have to keep enough people ineterested to keep our trails.”

“Good point - we need fake survey data that shows huge increases, but actual participation drops!”

“That sounds perfect!”

“Hey, I'm trained in Survey Methods. How can I help?”

“I like BowlderMan's idea, LOL!”

“Sign up for more trips on your favorite trails. There will likely be no check as to your doing the trip. Fro example, just before you drive home, sign up for a 20-30 day backpacking trip. If you're car camping, sign up for a backpacking experience(?).

Stuff those "ballot" boxes!”

“The woods are dark and skeery and filled with bears.

Stay away!”

“Good point - we need fake survey data that shows huge increases, but actual participation drops!”
BowlderMan
11:11:00 AM
3/08/07

So could you just sign like five groups of four into every trailhead register, just so long as you sign 'em all out when you leave? You know...looks like 20 people are there when in reality, it's just 1. Bigger numbers, less people. muahahahaha ;)”