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Abstract
This research compared the differences found between manager-defined and visitor-defined social standards for wilderness encounters in Mount Rainier National Park. Social standards in recreation areas of public land are defined by what is acceptable to the public, in addition to the area’s management. Social standards for the encounter indicator in Mount Rainier’s General Management Plan are based on current use at the Park and research performed in other wilderness areas. It was hypothesized that these standards are not representative of user’s level of acceptability. This hypothesis was supported through analysis of responses given by visitors on a short survey, who indicated acceptable encounter levels below the manager-defined standards.
Parent Publication
Keywords
wilderness,
planning,
outdoor recreation,
social impacts,
attitudes,
encounters,
acceptability,
carrying capacity,
Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP),
Mount Rainier National Park,
Washington
Citation
Lah, Kristopher J. 2000. Developing social standards for wilderness encounters in Mount Rainier National Park: Manager-defined versus visitor-defined standards. In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; O’Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference—Volume 4: Wilderness visitors, experiences, and visitor management; 1999 May 23–27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-4. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 134-141
