Trekking While Asian: An AAPI Perspective

“哎呀, 你想要干什么? You want to do what?” said my mother, aghast, when I told her a few months ago about my plans to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. She and my dad then proceeded to tell me over the phone about how it was not safe for a woman to embark on such an expedition, especially now. Being Asian, especially since the existence of COVID-19, meant we were more vulnerable than ever. Being an Asian woman or elder – doubly so.

Despite the recent significant uptick in violence and racism against Asians in the United States, I’m not particularly worried about being shoved down a crevasse or assaulted with an ice axe by a bigot. My clumsy ass can fall down all by myself and I am also perfectly capable of bashing myself in the face with a blunt object, thank you very much. However, in part due to recent events, I started thinking more about Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation in the United States, especially in communities such as outdoor recreation, and how stereotypes and cultural expectations can largely influence the hobbies or passions we choose to pursue.

The Missouri Banana: A Tale as Old as Almost Thirty

As a young girl, I watched as adults regularly scorned or mocked my parents for their English-speaking skills (which foolishly instilled in me at a young age that being bilingual or multilingual was shameful, and also left me with the impression that being non-white meant we were somehow lesser than). I was picked on for the food I ate until I no longer wanted to eat the bento boxes my mom would pack for my school lunch (“is that dog?”), and struggled to find my place within the narrow confines of what I felt society would allow me to be. I was ashamed that I was different and wanted desperately not to stick out, but I also wanted to feel respected despite being Asian while American. This is not to generalize and say that all white people are assholes, but rather to point out that singular instances of cruelty (or kindness), however innocuous it may seem, can have a lasting impact.

Growing up in a Midwestern suburb, there was not a robust or thriving AAPI community and therefore there was not a large selection of people I felt I could look up to that also looked like me and had similar experiences to whom I could relate (the number of Asians outside my immediate family that I knew growing up are in the single digits). As a child, the question “who is your hero?” often stumped me, because any answer I could think of felt insincere. I couldn’t associate a word with it then, nor did I know exactly the source of this feeling of isolation, but I was searching for community and for representation.

The Myth of the Model Minority & Outdoor Recreation

Minorities in the United States often struggle at some point with their cultural identities. I think for children of immigrants (regardless of race or ethnicity) this is especially true. No matter how many times I was called a “banana” or a “Twinkie”, it never really felt accurate. I was, in fact, not white on the inside, but I also didn’t feel “Asian enough” either.

It wasn’t until I moved to Japan and met other AAPIs that I fully understood the importance (and fun!) of having a community of people who know what it’s like to grow up between cultures. I’ve largely found amongst western-born Asians (albeit anecdotally) that our experiences, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic class, are remarkably similar. Like our counterparts that remained in the East, most AAPI families also focused intensely on academics and on decidedly less adventurous extracurriculars. Socioeconomic status largely dictated the quality of the academics and extracurriculars, but did not significantly deviate from the script of “How to Be Successful While Asian / AAPI”.

For working-class AAPI families like mine, there was an extra layer of challenges and stereotypes that came with being poor. The injustices suffered by working-class immigrant parents, in addition to living up to the high-achieving Asian American “model minority” reputation, led to an unrelenting emphasis on academic success. This myth of the model minority implied that if we were studious, quiet, uncomplaining, and unfailingly obedient, then maybe we could achieve success. Childhoods filled with Kumon, music lessons, and STEM-related after-school activities meant we could attend prestigious universities and become doctors, lawyers, or scientists – roles in society that our parents hoped would mean we would be respected despite our lack of money or the color of our skin.

The unspoken lesson here was that, especially for working-class Asian families, our parents sacrificed their dignity so we could have a chance to earn ours. Consequentially, non-academic extracurriculars such as outdoor recreation (or really anything else generally regarded as fun) was discouraged or simply wasn’t emphasized at all, because not only was this not financially possible, but it was also contradictory to the western stereotype of the studious Asian and did not follow the traditional cultural model of how to be successful (and thus risked being perceived as disrespectful to our parents’/ancestors’ sacrifice).

O Brother, Doko Art Thou?

By the time I had decided I wanted to try backpacking, I was already living in Japan. To the surprise of no one, finding community and feeling represented there was not a particularly difficult task.

During my many hours of PCT research (Google-sleuthing, Instagram-creeping, forum-lurking), I noticed that I didn’t see anyone else that looked like me. It was, much like where I grew up, a sea of Caucasian faces (note: I am not implying this is bad. I simply mean that there are a lot of white people that like backpacking). A scroll through Halfway Anywhere’s PCT Surveys from 2013-2020 concluded that Asians represented roughly 1-3.7% of thru-hikers (granted, this only accounted for the people who took the survey – maybe there was a rogue or two out there who, like me, said “fuck stats, I always hated math anyway”).

I suspect that the combination of the self-eating cultural expectation within the AAPI community of unwavering academic pursuit, financial constraints / lack of access, and the stigma of the docile and decidedly not-outdoorsy Asian contributes heavily to the limited AAPI representation in outdoor recreational communities.

This wasn’t particularly worrisome or anything, but I was a little disappointed. With whom would I bond over similar cultural identities and experiences over a pot of Indomie? With whom could I discuss in great detail juicy K-drama plots and weeb out to anime and manga? Or bond over how our parents wrapped tv remotes in plastic, or how all Asian dads sneeze-shout, or how Asian moms always brought us cut-up fruit? Did anyone else on trail have parents that used the dishwasher as storage? Why do Americans wear shoes in the house? As excited as I was when I queued in the virtual line for a PCT permit, I knew that I would likely miss these little things.

To be clear – I’m still stoked to be hiking the PCT in April, and I’m very much looking forward to meeting other hikers regardless of race or ethnicity and sharing in the common experience of being grungy hiker trash and celebrating our differences. I want to walk with you, shove food in my face with you, complain about how our feet hurt, why the fuck is it so goddamn sunny, why won’t this stupid rain just stop, I swear to God if I get bit by one more fucking mosquito, fantasize about what the next trail town will be like with you.

But to my fellow AAPIs – you’re not alone! We may all be starting on different dates, different paces, different places, but know that somewhere on trail there’s another one of us disappointing our ancestors and challenging stereotypes, one literal footstep at a time.

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Comments 22

  • Morgan : Mar 19th

    This was an interesting read for sure. I am still trying to visualize the sneeze-shout.

    Reply
    • Alice Wu : Mar 20th

      Imagine sneezing but also yelling “ERHRHHHGHHH” or “AHHRRGGHHRHH” as you’re doing it. That’s what it sounds like, haha

      Reply
  • James : Mar 19th

    I’m a first generation Russian American. A lot of stuff in your article I can relate to. Parents being made fun of, different looking school lunches, personally knowing almost zero Russian peers, lacking a cultural identity, a stress on academics, and feeling ashamed of being multicultural. Growing up, few of my friends knew I was Russian and I would not talk about it, and avoided talking to my parents on the phone in Russian. Although I don’t look particularly Slavic, strangers do comment on my European appearance and general closed blunt demeanor. I have also been abroad, but I don’t fit in there either. I’m neither Russian, nor American.

    Reply
    • Alice Wu : Mar 20th

      You’re neither Russian, nor American – you’re Russian-American :)! It’s definitely difficult trying to figure out how to grow up in between cultures, especially as children because you don’t fully understand what’s going on. Growing up as children of immigrants adds an extra layer of complexity in trying to navigate your sense of self and figure out your identity, because you feel like you have to exist somewhere in the venn diagram of cultures. I hear ya!

      Reply
  • pearwood : Mar 19th

    Thank you, Alice, says this old white dude. Go for it!
    Blessings,
    Steve

    Reply
    • Alice Wu : Mar 20th

      Thank you, Steve! 🙂

      Reply
  • Russ1663 : Mar 20th

    Have a fun trip, hiking long distance is just like that feelings you look for, it’s hard fun work/play. I hope you post as you go so we can follow your adventure. I thank you for a glimpse into your background, I cannot imagine. This old white guy also wished you a safe wonderful adventure.

    Reply
    • Alice Wu : Mar 20th

      Thank you! I’m seriously looking forward to this next adventure!

      Reply
  • RALPH MCGREEVY : Mar 20th

    Hello Alice. You do a good job describing the dilemma of an Asian woman in the west, with non-traditional aspirations. Chinese people have, of course, always been notable walkers (the Long March is surely the greatest hike in history) but doing it for recreation is still generally considered odd, especially for a woman. However, you choose to do the PCT and have obviously considered it carefully, so godspeed. Looking forward to following your progress.

    Reply
    • Alice Wu : Mar 20th

      Thanks, Ralph! You’re right – my mom was definitely flabbergasted that I would even want to do this, and in part it was because of my gender haha. To be fair, it is a long distance to walk. Then again, she’s been puzzled by most of my major life decisions (but mostly supportive) because they aren’t “traditional”.

      Reply
      • Mikeycat : Mar 21st

        The daughter of my mom’s 2nd cousin ventured out and completed the AT back in 1994, at a time when there weren’t many women out on the trail. As a trailblazer, you can break the mold and lead by example to show others it can be done. The outdoors is for everyone. Good luck on your journey.

        Reply
  • JhonYermo : Mar 20th

    Well written, interesting, hard hitting. So glad I subscribed. Thank you

    Reply
    • Alice Wu : Mar 20th

      <3 Thank you!

      Reply
  • Lance A Goehring : Mar 20th

    Great writing and much needed perspective. Thanks for sharing, Alice!

    Reply
  • JustBob : Mar 20th

    Let nothing nor no one stand in your way of doing something or anything you want bad enough in your life…

    Reply
  • Thomas : Mar 20th

    Looking forward to this adventure, and your unique perspective on it. No, not your AARP (or whatever) prospective, but the prospective of a fellow person who enjoys being outside, exploring new things, and cusses like a sailor.

    Happy Trails Alice!

    Reply
    • Rachel : Mar 22nd

      Why feel the need to write AARP? She spells out in the title of her entry AAPI. It’s incredibly ironic how your post literally shows how people in her past felt the need to disrespect who she was as a person by belittling her culture.
      If anyone has difficulties believing how ignorant some people can be towards AAPI people look to Thomas’ post!! So I guess thanks for giving validity to her words.

      Reply
  • Julie : Mar 21st

    Wow. That is a wonderfully written article which is so very poignant in today’s world. Reading your article gave me insight and understanding…made me a better person. Thank you for sharing. I hope you enjoy writing so much that you write many, many articles as you progress along the PCT. This well written article could have been in Huffington Post or WSJ or the Times….

    Reply
  • dh : Mar 24th

    Thank you so much for sharing your insights and experiences. Really appreciate it. Great article.

    Reply
  • Josh Johnson : Mar 26th

    This was an awesome peek into your outlook going into a hike – so glad I read it! Hopefully you find a few people out there similar to me who may not be a fellow AAPI, but are always up for learning about others culture and experiences so you can share your story and broaden our horizons. I’m already wishing i was on trail meeting you and listening to stories about cut fruit, sneeze shouting, and other things that brought you to where you are today. Enjoy the trail(s) and best wishes!

    Reply
  • Kathy : May 11th

    Thank you so much for writing this, Alice! I am a Vietnamese American woman and so much of what you wrote really resonated with me. I am planning my AT thru-hike for 2022 and I have been looking specifically for articles written by other Asian American women about their experiences with outdoor recreation and thru-hiking. Unfortunately, they are few and far between. It was great to find this piece and to feel less alone! Looking forward to following you on your PCT journey!

    Reply
  • Glider : Jul 2nd

    Hi Alice,

    I assume you have a trail name by now. Don’t know if you’re checking replies while on trail, but I wanted to send you some support. I’m a 62 y/o Japanese American male. Been backpacking since the days of the aluminum exterior framed packs. I’ve thru hiked the JMT 4 times(I live in the bay area) with my last JMT trip in 2019 I did a yo-yo(sobo and nobo). I’m currently working on section hiking the PCT as I can only get away about 1 month a year to backpack. I don’t see many asians on the trail(except some people from Japan on the JMT more recently). Thanks for writing the article. I have shared your same experiences, even though I’m 3rd generation Japanese American. I’m yo-yoing(is that a word?) the Tahoe-Yosemite trail from Tuolumne to Tahoe and back this August, so we’ll miss each other on the trail. Next year will be Tahoe to Ashland and so on until I complete the PCT. Hope we get to meet on the trail some day. I’ll look out for your post once you’ve finished.
    Happy Trails! Glider.

    Reply

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