Factors affecting dispersion of backcountry campsites

Lance Kirkpatrick Canon; Steven Adler; Raymond E. Leonard

Treesearch

Factors affecting dispersion of backcountry campsites

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Lance Kirkpatrick Canon, Steven Adler, Raymond E. Leonard

Year:

1979

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

Research Note NE-276. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6 p.

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Download (PDF 971 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/12622.pdf

Abstract

A study using observational and survey techniques found that no backcountry users fully complied with rules designed to promote campsite dispersion and to avoid recurrent use of particular sites. Users perceived hiking/camping in general, and movement away from established trails in particular, as involving an element of risk. They indicated that convenience was an important determinant of their site selections. Increased information about the rules did not decrease the use of previously used sites, but did increase the average distance of chosen campsites from established trails.

Citation

Canon, Lance Kirkpatrick; Adler, Steven; Leonard, Raymond E. 1979. Factors affecting dispersion of backcountry campsites. Research Note NE-276. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6 p.