Ken and Bob, I believe the specifics of when and why a person is truly exposed to the wilderness and wilderness activities is almost as important as any cultural or ethnic dynamic. Former military experience in the woods or mountains could very likely engender a lifelong passion for it (or perhaps extreme aversion in some cases, depending on your sergeant). Certainly, being regularly exposed to it as kids should build a comfort level and familiarity, if not an immediate passion. I think that for a lot of us, we come to it later in life after other youthful pursuits have either lost their shine or become impractical.
For me, I grew up a city boy in a family that had no inclination to the outdoors. I slept in a tent once before the age of 33, and that was a memorably miserable Boy Scout trip at about age 11. I had zero interest in the outdoors. I was a sprinter in high school and college, then took up weight-training, softball, and Tai Kwon-do in my mid-late twenties. In my early thirties I began to have recurring tendinitis in both shoulders. Despite several cortisone-steroid injections, it persisted and I had to stop my favorite activities. That, and the injections were no fun: "Hold on, doc - it hurts here in the front of my shoulder. Why the hell are you sneaking around behind me with that footlong needle? And why does this aide have a deathgrip on me?"
Coincidentally, about that time, I visited Palm Springs to attend a conference and made a daytrip to Joshua Tree NP. This was my first time in the real desert and I was sold immediately. I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life, Hawaii included - until I got into the Rockies, Sierra and Cascades. I put two and two together and realized I could get back to being enjoyably active, even with the tendinitis issues, by hiking, backpacking and mountain biking in this kind of environment. One thing led to another and trail/mountain activities have pretty much been my primary recreation for twenty years now.
I suspect my story is not unusual. In my mind, it's about exposure to places like Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Mt Rainier. I think people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or cultural background, feel a tug when presented with such natural beauty. The Tibetan and Nepalese people are some of the poorest and most persecuted on earth, yet they regard the Himalaya as blessed and divine. And, as I mentioned, one thing can lead to another. However, if you're never exposed to these wonderful places . . .
