Jake Esayian was blown away by the outdoor recreation opportunities just minutes from the University of Utah when he moved to Salt Lake City from San Diego for his undergrad.
But he kept running into a problem.
“You get this different level of almost competitiveness, that's innate to men,” he said on a morning hike on the trails above Salt Lake City. “There's always that aspect of, I don't want to be the guy slowing everybody down, right? I don't want to be the guy who's falling, who's crashing, who's breaking stuff and, you know, kind of ruining it for the group.”
That feeling matters. Outdoor recreation is a big part of life in Utah and a $9.75 billion share of its economy. But men and boys could be missing out on one of the biggest draws to living in the state.
Research has shown that men and boys are experiencing a deepening disconnect on things like mental health, finding community and overall belonging.
It’s something Erica Yaeger, director of overnight camping at the YMCA of Northern Utah, has seen before. Even her husband navigates that dynamic.
“He has that same experience of any running group or group that he tries to join has this, like, added level of expectation,” she said.
The competitiveness is backed up by science. While overall competitiveness across the sexes is similar, research suggests men are more competitive than women in areas such as sports.
It’s something Esayian kept coming up against when he searched for an outdoor community of his own.
“It was a lot more difficult to be able to find those clubs and jump into those clubs, especially as somebody who's just kind of solo,” he said. “As a relatively beginner-intermediate guy, to be able to go into these clubs where people are riding double black trails was pretty intimidating.”
Esayian is hardly alone. Despite the stereotype of Utah being a haven for outdoorsy types, Yaeger said it can actually be really hard for people — especially beginners — to get outdoors.
“There is almost an elitist mindset in some scenarios,” she said. “We are very heavy outdoor recreation space, we've got world-renowned climbers and skiers and all these really incredible groups and programs here. But getting that entry point and then really finding a home base can be tricky.”
That awkwardness can be even worse for men and boys.
For someone struggling to find a group to experience the outdoors with, Yaeger said the easiest place to start is looking online. There are countless Facebook groups to join and sport-specific apps where you can find like-minded friends at similar skill levels.
That digital approach is something Esayian knows well. He even founded his own app, Always Outdoors, while completing his Master of Business Creation this year at the U.
“What I saw over and over and over is that this was something that people loved, having this easy way where it was as seamless as possible to go and meet these people, meet other people.”
The app helps people connect with outdoor communities they might be struggling to find on their own. It sorts people by interest and ability and connects them with others or groups who match. He’s found that connections made in the outdoors transcend differences. It’s people coming together over a shared love for something bigger.
“The outdoors, in my opinion, everybody loves in one way or another,” he said. “Whether that's, you know, taking a road trip through Yellowstone, or getting out in your ultra marathon and everything in between. So finding your group is, I think, super important.”
For those looking for their kids, think about camps.
The YMCA has ones dedicated not just to exposing kids to things like horseback riding, archery and mountain biking, but building a community through those shared activities.
Esayian eventually did find a group to share his outdoor passions with. He just had to take a little risk first.
“Inevitably, in the beginning, it’s going to be uncomfortable, but don't quit. Don't stop. You got to continue, because it's absolutely worth it.”
At the end of the day, everyone was a beginner once.
