An essential ingredient in park and recreation planning is
knowledge of the user clientele. Opinion and behavioral
studies of park visitors are a priority need in recreation
research, they aid in defining resource quality and
contribute to improved park planning.
Names and addresses of 995 wilderness vacationers were
gathered from back country trail registers in Bowron Lake,
Garibaldi and Mount Robson Provincial Park. Anine-page
mail back questionnaire, calling for response to 92 items,
was returned by 80 percent of the sample. The questionnaire
gathered data on user and trip characteristics, user
assessment of benefits and motivations, and user reaction
to and evaluation of management policies and other visitors.
The first phase of the study attempts an empirical descriptive
analysis of the back country camper in three contrasting
wilderness parks. As the only such survey undertaken in
this regional context, a basic census is provide d from which
future trends can be detected. Findings reinforce and are
contrasted with other user studies. The second phase of the
study explores variables that influence, use. On the basis
of questionnaire response, users are classified by ten different dimensions, eight of which were important in explaining variation in response. The final concern of
the study seeks application so the findings to wilderness planning and management. It is concluded that (1) growth in demand for the recreational services of wilderness will continue; (2) present park use levels, in the visitors estimation, are approaching saturation; and (3) the
wilderness experience is taking on a new meaning as the parks
become more "democratized" and "humanized". / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UBC/oai:circle.library.ubc.ca:2429/41220 |
| Date | January 1971 |
| Creators | Thorsell, James Westvick |
| Publisher | University of British Columbia |
| Source Sets | University of British Columbia |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis/Dissertation |
| Rights | For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. |
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