Deliberating the experiential qualities of wilderness: Similar meanings, but divergent standards

Abstract

Debate continues about how to best provide and protect outstanding opportunities for wilderness experiences (i.e., solitude, primitive recreation, and unconfined recreation), particularly in high-use destinations. This study explores what these experiences mean to wilderness stakeholders attending facilitated deliberations about the management of a high-use destination in the Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon. We found that similar meanings, but diverse standards, are attributed to these experiential qualities of wilderness. Opportunities for these experiences exist, but achieving any one experience is largely dependent on coping behaviors and making trade-offs between access and experience, as well as between these different experiences. Consequently, management of high-use destinations remains contentious.

Citation

Seekamp, Erin; Cole, David N. 2009. Deliberating the experiential qualities of wilderness: Similar meanings, but divergent standards. International Journal of Wilderness. 15(3): 23-28.