Wilderness experience quality: Effects of use density depend on how experience is conceived

Abstract

Different conceptions of experience and experience quality can explain ambiguous relationships among use density, crowding, experience and experience quality. We employed multiple methods to quantify experiential dimensions at a popular lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA. Comparing weekdays to weekends, when use density is typically four times as high, we assessed the sensitivity of various experiential dimensions to variation in use density. Use density profoundly affected the setting attributes that people experienced. However, differences related to use density diminished when experience was conceived as on-site behavior, affective or cognitive experiential outcomes, or appraisals of the entire visit.

Parent Publication

• Wilderness visitor experiences: Progress in research and management; 2011 April 4-7; Missoula, MT

Citation

Cole, David N.; Hall, Troy E. 2012. Wilderness experience quality: Effects of use density depend on how experience is conceived. In: Cole, David N., comp. Wilderness visitor experiences: Progress in research and management; 2011 April 4-7; Missoula, MT. Proc. RMRS-P-66. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station p. 96-109.