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David Cole - Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
Cooperators: Troy Hall - University of Idaho; Rudy Schuster - State University of New York, Syracuse; U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region
BACKGROUND
Wilderness use, particularly in urban-proximate wildernesses, is increasing, and a large part of this growth comes from day use. There is considerable controversy about appropriate management of popular wilderness trails and destinations areas. Much of the controversy stems from alternative interpretations of the language from the 1964 Wilderness Act that describes what wilderness should offer visitors: "outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation." There is growing debate regarding what causes more degradation of solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation: growing crowds of visitors, or Forest Service imposed use limits or restrictions, especially limits on day use. Tough, value-laden decisions must be made about appropriate management objectives (including indicators and standards) regarding experiential conditions in wilderness and about the management actions needed to keep conditions in compliance with standards.
Scientific information is needed as well, particularly regarding the nature of human experience in wilderness. An improved understanding of how visitor experience varies with density of recreation use and with length of stay (day vs. overnight use) would help planners and managers make informed decisions related to management of high use wilderness and of day users. This need for a better understanding of the visitor experience was the motivation for the following studies:
Wilderness Visitor Experiences in Oregon and Washington
- A series of nine research and administrative studies were conducted in Forest Service wilderness in Oregon and Washington, between 2002 and 2005, in collaboration with Troy Hall, University of Idaho. These studies collectively were designed to develop knowledge and data to inform decisions managers must make about:
- appropriate indicators of experiential (social) conditions in portions of wilderness that receive heavy-use and substantial day visitation,
- appropriate standards for experiential (social) conditions in these situations, and
- appropriate management actions to take in order to maintain appropriate social conditions.
For more information about studies and findings, please Click Here.
Visitor conflict in the Great Gulf Wilderness, New Hampshire
- conducted in 2005 by Rudy Schuster and students, State University of New York, Syracuse. Click here for more information on this project.
High use destinations in Oregon and Washington
- conducted by the Leopold Institute and Troy Hall. Click here to view abstract and order Leopold Institute publication # 308.
Differences between day and overnight visitors to wilderness
- Click here to view abstract and download Leopold Institute publication # 435
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