Data from a 1990 visitor survey in the Desolation Wilderness to determine visitor trends, and preferences for wilderness conditions and experience

Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Watson, Alan E.
Originator: Daigle, John J.
Publication_Date: 2017
Title:
Data from a 1990 visitor survey in the Desolation Wilderness to determine visitor trends, and preferences for wilderness conditions and experience
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0057
Description:
Abstract:
This package contains trend, characteristic, activity and preference data collected as part of a 1990 survey of visitors to the Desolation Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada of northern California. Permit and mailback surveys were used to provide the data from a systematic sample of visitors with the required use permit (permit holders) and a sample of party members (group members without the permit). A convenient sample of visitors who did not comply with the permit requirement (entered without permit) were asked to complete a short onsite survey which allowed for comparison to those who did obtain the permit.
Purpose:
The Wilderness Act (PL 88-577) directs that wilderness be managed to preserve natural conditions and to provide outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation. To meet those management goals, managers must adapt their programs to changes in the amount and type of use and resultant conditions. It is also important for managers to be aware of likely visitor response to proposed management actions and their preferences for conditions in wilderness. Unfortunately, very little is known about trends in the characteristics, activities and preferences of wilderness visitors. Some baseline data on wilderness visitors exist for other areas, but many geographic areas are not represented and surveys have been conducted at quite different times. The data reported here comes from a coordinated research effort to understand wilderness use and user trends better.

The study and datasets presented here allow for comparison between responses from visitors in 1990-1991 to visitors in 1972. Surveying for visitor preferences and use of the Desolation Wilderness gives researchers and managers the ability to ascertain changes in wilderness conditions, and better understand trends in visitor expectation and experience.
Supplemental_Information:
Original metadata date was 10/31/2017. On 07/11/2018 we added a reference to 1972 data now available from the Desolation Wilderness.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 199001
Ending_Date: 199012
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
The Desolation Wilderness is located in the Sierra Nevada of northern California, close to Lake Tahoe. Desolation has received heavy use for many decades. The Desolation is 63,475 acres; in 1986, use was estimated at 227,500 recreation visitor days (RVDs). This amounts to 3.6 RVDs/acre. Overnight use is limited by a mandatory permit system; day users must get permits but numbers are not restricted. Virtually all use is on foot. The terrain is extremely rocky and open; elevations are high; and sub-alpine lakes are numerous.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -120.295554
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -120.068655
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.030983
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.812424
Bounding_Altitudes:
Altitude_Minimum: 0
Altitude_Maximum: 9985
Altitude_Distance_Units: feet
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: boundaries
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme_Keyword: planningCadastre
Theme_Keyword: society
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Environment and People
Theme_Keyword: Recreation
Theme_Keyword: Social values, ethics
Theme_Keyword: Natural Resource Management & Use
Theme_Keyword: Wilderness
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: hikers
Theme_Keyword: visitors
Theme_Keyword: permit holders
Theme_Keyword: permit compliance
Theme_Keyword: visitor preferences
Theme_Keyword: wilderness
Theme_Keyword: resource use
Theme_Keyword: management
Theme_Keyword: management planning
Theme_Keyword: solitude
Theme_Keyword: trends
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Desolation Wilderness
Place_Keyword: California
Place_Keyword: Lake Tahoe
Place_Keyword: The Sierra Nevada
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Watson, Alan E.; Daigle, John J. 2017. Data from a 1990 visitor survey in the Desolation Wilderness to determine visitor trends, and preferences for wilderness conditions and experience. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0057
Data_Set_Credit:
This project was funded by the former USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, which later became a part of the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS). The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute (ALWRI), which includes RMRS was responsible for maintaining, archiving, and publishing these data.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Lucas, Robert C.
Publication_Date: 2018
Title:
Data from a 1972 visitor survey in the Desolation Wilderness to determine baseline visitor characteristics, and preferences for wilderness conditions and experience
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2018-0031
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Watson, Alan E.
Publication_Date: 1993
Title:
Characteristics of visitors without permits compared to those with permits at the Desolation Wilderness, California
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Note
Issue_Identification: INT-RN-414
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Other_Citation_Details:
7 p.
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/23894
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/int-rn-414
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Cole, David N.
Originator: Watson, Alan E.
Originator: Roggenbuck, Joseph W.
Publication_Date: 1995
Title:
Trends in Wilderness Visitors and Visits: Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Shining Rock, and Desolation Wilderness
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Paper
Issue_Identification: INT-RP-483
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Other_Citation_Details:
44 p.
Online_Linkage: http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/273.pdf
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Watson, Alan E.
Publication_Date: 2000
Title:
Wilderness use in the year 2000: societal changes that influence human relationships with wilderness
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: conference proceedings
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Proceedings
Issue_Identification: RMRS-P-15-VOL-4
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Other_Citation_Details:
In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; 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. Pages 53-60.
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/22003
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Watson, Alan E.
Originator: Cole, David N.
Originator: Roggenbuck, Joseph W.
Publication_Date: 1995
Title:
Trends in wilderness recreation use characteristics
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: conference proceedings
Series_Information:
Series_Name: International Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Trends Symposium, and the National Recreation Resources Planning Conference
Issue_Identification: 4th (1995)
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: St. Paul, MN
Publisher: University of Minnesota, College of Natural Resources and Minnesota Extension Service
Other_Citation_Details:
In: Thompson, Jerrilyn Lavarre; Lime, David W.; Gartner, Bill; Sames, Wayne M. (comps.). Proceedings of the fourth International Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Trends Symposium, and the 1995 National Recreation Resources Planning Conference, May 14-17, 1995 St. Paul, Minnesota. Pages 68-71.
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/23579
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Lucas, Robert C.
Publication_Date: 1980
Title:
Use patterns and visitor characteristics, attitudes, and preferences in nine wilderness and other roadless areas
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Paper
Issue_Identification: INT-RP-253
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Other_Citation_Details:
89 p.
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/47876
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/INT-RP-253
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Stankey, George H.
Publication_Date: 1980
Title:
A comparison of carrying capacity perceptions among visitors to two wildernesses
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Paper
Issue_Identification: INT-RP-242
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Other_Citation_Details:
34 p.
Online_Linkage: http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/62.pdf
Back to Top
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Optical character recognition has been performed on the surveys in the "\Supplements" folder, so they may contain transcription errors.

There are some inconsistencies throughout the data, such as values outside of the acceptable range, or date values that do not fit the format. These may be either the original response or the result of data entry error, unfortunately we have no way of knowing.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
According to the publications, there are two main points.

First, there are three data sets in this archive: 1) a systematic sample of overnight and dayuse permit holders to compare to the previous data collected in Desolation (i.e. data sets from 1972); 2) a volunteer sample of group members (non-permit holders) to compare to the permit holders and; 3) convenient sample of non-compliers with the permit system to compare to those who did have permits.

The second point, is that there is some discrepancy between the number of data observations in the data sets and the ‘usable’ data in the publications. This is due to a lack of explicit explanation regarding undeliverable surveys of both permit holders and party members.

"Desolation1990_Data.csv" and "Desolation1990_NCData.csv" have many very similar variables, however the response codes are different/in different orders, therefore please carefully use the separate variable descriptions for the two files.
Completeness_Report:
In most cases, a blank means there was no response for the variable, but in some cases a numeric value as been assigned to mean missing data. It is unclear if there is a difference in meaning between these numeric codes and blanks.

Unfortunately there are location codes used that we cannot define. Some of them may be coding errors or areas outside the wilderness. However, because the study was done so long ago we are not able to determine what they were. We left them as originally entered.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
In 1972, Desolation visitors were contacted by taking a systematic sample from permit receipts throughout an entire year (Lucas 1980, Stankey 1980, Lucas 2018). The current study (1990) was designed to allow comparison between responses in visitors in 1990 to visitors in 1972.

The permit system is still used at the Desolation Wilderness, allowing for a repeat of sample methodology. However, in order to better understand the general population of wilderness users, this sample was supplemented in two ways; an additional sample of party members, solicited from group leaders, and second, a sample of those who did not comply with the permit requirement, who were asked a short set of questions to determine the extent to which this group is different. This sample of non-compliers was stratified by users coming into Desolation from the West (The El Dorado National Forest) and those entering from the East (The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit).

Permit holders were selected for mail back surveys through a systematic selection interval of permit receipts from recent visits. Permit holders that led groups were solicited for a list of group members that were also sent mail back surveys. Non-compliers were given on-site surveys as they came through the West and East districts.

1. 579 permit holders (those who applied and were granted a permit) were sent surveys: 438 usable surveys were returned (at an 83.0% response rate).

2. 130 group members (those who were visitors, but were not the person who applied for and were granted a permit) were sent surveys (but some were sent back as undeliverable); 81 usable surveys were returned (67.5% response rate), surveys identical to the group leader survey. (Together this resulted in 519 usable responses to same surveys.)

3. 150 responses were taken from non-compliers as a convenience sample evenly split between east and west entrances to the wilderness; 123 were usable. While publications report a sample of 118 non-compliers, the dataset contains 123. The reason for this discrepancy is that five respondents did not indicate whether they were a day user or an overnight user. Since analysis focused on differences within day use and overnight, those five cases could not be used.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Watson, Alan E.
Publication_Date: 1993
Title:
Characteristics of visitors without permits compared to those with permits at the Desolation Wilderness, California
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Note
Issue_Identification: INT-RN-414
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station
Other_Citation_Details:
7 p.
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/23894
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/int-rn-414
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Cole, David N.
Originator: Watson, Alan E.
Originator: Roggenbuck, Joseph W.
Publication_Date: 1995
Title:
Trends in Wilderness Visitors and Visits: Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Shining Rock, and Desolation Wilderness
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Paper
Issue_Identification: INT-RP-483
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station
Other_Citation_Details:
44 p.
Online_Linkage: http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/273.pdf
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Lucas, Robert C.
Publication_Date: 1980
Title:
Use patterns and visitor characteristics, attitudes, and preferences in nine wilderness and other roadless areas
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Paper
Issue_Identification: INT-RP-253
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Other_Citation_Details:
89 p.
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/47876
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/INT-RP-253
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Stankey, George H.
Publication_Date: 1980
Title:
A comparison of carrying capacity perceptions among visitors to two wildernesses
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Paper
Issue_Identification: INT-RP-242
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ogden, UT
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Other_Citation_Details:
34 p.
Online_Linkage: http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/62.pdf
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Lucas, Robert C.
Publication_Date: 2018
Title:
Data from a 1972 visitor survey in the Desolation Wilderness to determine baseline visitor characteristics, and preferences for wilderness conditions and experience
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2018-0031
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
No process steps have been described for this data set
Process_Date: Unknown
Back to Top
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
\Data\Desolation1990_NCData.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing the compiled data from mailback surveys sent to visitors of Desolation Wilderness in 1990. Survey question numbers are in parentheses before the variable name (See \Supplements\Survey_Instrument_Mailback.pdf)

SEQ=auto-assigned unique id
QNUM=individual questionnaire number
DVDESO=Date of visit to Desolation Wilderness

(1) TYPETRAV=How did you travel in the wilderness on this visit? (1=hiked, carrying own equipment; 2=hiked, leading horses, mules, or burros; 3=hiked, leading llamas; 4=rode on horseback; 5=other (describe))
(1) OTHERTRV=description of other travel method

(2) FISHING-OTHERDES=What activities did you participate in and how important is each activity to you? (1=participated, but not a major reason for going on this trip; 2=this activity was a major reason for going on this trip; 3=entered both; blank=missing)
FISHING=fishing
HUNTING=hunting
HIKONTRL=hiking on trails
HIKOFTRL=hiking off trails
MTCLIMB=mountain climbing
NATURSTD=nature study
VIEWSCEN=viewing scenery
PHOTO=photography
SWIMMING=swimming
NUDSUNBA=nude sunbathing
CAMPING=camping
PICNICK=picnicking
DOGTIME=spending time with my dog
HORSERID=horseback riding
OTHER=other
OTHERDES=description of other

(3) MILETRAV=estimate the total number of miles you hiked/rode on horse in the Desolation wilderness on this trip

(4) OVERNITE=did your group stay overnight in the Desolation Wilderness on this visit? (1=no; 2=yes; blank=missing)
(4) HOURS=if no, how many hours were you in the Desolation?

If answered yes to OVERNIGHT:
(4) NIGHTS=total number of nights spent in Desolation Wilderness on this trip
(4) PLACES=how many different places did you camp on your trip?
(4) CAMPAREA=where do you prefer to camp when you camp in the vicinity of a lake? (1=within 25 feet of the lakeshore; 2=25 to 200 feet from the lakeshore; 3=200 feet to 1/4 mile from the lakeshore; 4=more than 1/4 mile from the lakeshore)
(4) PREFRDIS=why do you prefer this distance?
(4) VOL1-VOL5=Would you volunteer to camp further from the lakeshore than you normally prefer, if: (1=yes; 2=no; blank=not answered)
VOL1=it would mean that you would see fewer people?
VOL2=it would mean fewer people would walk through your camp?
VOL3=it would mean you would not see other people with camps set up on the lakeshore?
VOL4=it would mean less impact to vegetation and soil around the lakeshore?
VOL5=it would mean less pollution of lake waters?

(5) PREFCOOK=preferred method of cooking (1=woodfire; 2=stove)
(5) GASSTOVE=did you use a gas stove for cooking on this trip? (1=no; 2=yes)
(5) TIMEWOOD=how many times did you have a woodfire?
(5) WOODEVEN=how many of these wood fires were in the evening?
(5) EVENJOY=how many of these evening fires were to enjoy (not for cooking)

(6) SAWTOTAL-WALKMOST=First we would like to know the TOTAL (TOTL) number of each type of group you saw on the entire trip. Then, the LEAST (LEST) number you saw on any one day. Third, the MOST you saw in any one day.
SAW{TOTAL/LEAST/MOST}=number of groups
LG{TOTAL/LEAST/MOST}=number of large groups (more than 10 people)
DOG{TOTAL/LEAST/MOST}=number of groups with dogs
CAMP{TOTL/LEST/MOST}=the number of groups that camped within sight or sound of your campsite
WALK{TOTL/LEST/MOST}=the number of groups that walked through your campsite

(7) EXPCTSAW-EXPCWALK=How did the following compare with what you expected to see in the Desolation? (1=far fewer; 2=fewer; 3=about what I expected; 4=more; 5=far more; 6=had no expectation)
EXPCTSAW=number of people you saw
EXPCTLG=number of large groups (more than 10 people) you saw
EXPCTDOG=number of groups with dogs
EXPCCAMP=number of groups that camped within sight or sound of your campsite
EXPCWALK=number of groups who walked through your campsite

(8) MANYPEOP=how many people were in your group on this trip?
MANYFIVE=how many were under 5 years old?
MANYBTWN=how many were between 5 and 17 years old?
MANYFEML=how many were female?

(9) DOGSINW=did you bring a dog into the wilderness on this trip? (1=yes; 2=no)

(10) GROPDESC=how would you describe your group? (1=friends; 2=family (immediate family and relatives); 3=family and friends; 4=organized club or school group; 5=alone; 6=other)
(10) OTHRGROP=description of "other" group

(11) SYSTEMOK=do you believe the current overnight use rationing system… (1=is ok as it is; 2=should allow fewer people/permits; 3=should provide more permits/people; 4=don't know, no opinion)

(12) DATECHNG=should there be any change in the dates of the trailhead quota system? (1=yes; 2=no)
(12) CHANGE=how should it be changed?
(12) RESTRDAY=should there be a restriction on the number of users who enter the Desolation for only the day? (1=yes; 2=no)

(13) LVTRAIL=on this trip, did you purposely leave the trail to travel through places without trails? (1=no; 2=yes)
(13) MLSNOTRL=About how many miles did you travel away from the trail?
(13) REASON=What was your reason for traveling off trail?
(13) CAMPGEAR=If camped overnight, how many miles of those trail miles did you have your camping gear with you?

(14) TRKPRMAN-ACX14=first, tell us whether you felt the item was a problem, second whether or not you think it was a problem, has it gotten better or worse over the years you have been coming to the Desolation Wilderness
TRKPRMAN-WATERPOL=was it a problem? (1=not a problem; 2=a problem)
AX14-ACX14=has it gotten better or worse? (1=getting better; 2=getting worse; 3=I don't know)

(14a) TRLPRMAN=Trails poorly maintained
(14b) TRLPRMAR=Trails poorly marked
(14c) CSVEGDES=Destruction of vegetation at, on, or around campsite
(14d) LAKOFSCS=Lack of suitable campsites
(14e) NOPRIVCS=Not enough private campsites
(14f) LITTER=Litter
(14g) INADISPO=Inadequate disposal of human body waste
(14h) TMNYTRLS=Too many trails
(14i) LGRPSPPL=large groups of people
(14j) TMNYPPLA=Too many people in the area as a whole
(14k) OVRCAMPD=Too many places where other people had obviously camped before
(14l) TMNYREGS=Too many rules and regulations
(14m) REGNOPUB=area rules and regulations not adequately publicized
(14n) NOUSEINF=Not enough info on where other users are likely to be
(14o) PTRQNTAD=The wilderness permit requirement is not well adjusted
(14p) ONGHTDIF=The process for obtaining overnight permits is too difficult
(14q) NOPRKING=Not enough parking space at wilderness entry points
(14r) FRTBLTUP=Fire rings are too built up
(14s) TMNYFRGS=Too many fire rings
(14t) OBDPRDIF=The process of obtaining day use permits is too difficult
(14u) DOGS=Dogs
(14v) GUNFIRE=Gunfire by non-hunters
(14w) PPLWWPNS=people carrying weapons
(14x) LOFLYPLN=Low-flying aircrafts
(14y) SONBOOMS=Sonic-booms
(14z) NOISYPPL=People making noise
(14aa) TMNYDPPL=Too many people in for just day-use
(14ab) FRGSASH=Firerings full of charcoal and ash
(14ac) WATERPOL=Lakes/streams appear polluted

(15) GRADE=How satisfied were you with this trip into Desolation? What grade would you give it? (1=A, very good; 2=B, good; 3=C, fair; 4=D, poor; 5=F, very poor)
(15) FEELDESC=What was there about this trip that made you feel this way?

(16) PREFPRTY=How many other parties would you like camped within sight or sound of your campsite?

(17) FINDPREF=If camping, how often were you able to find a preferred campsite? (1=always; 2=usually; 3=sometimes; 4=never; BLANK=missing; there are some 0 values and unfortunately we do not know if these are any different than a BLANK)

(18) FEELNUMB=How did you feel about the number of people you saw on this visit? (1=saw way too few; 2=too few; 3=about right; 4=too many; 5=way too many; 6=didn't matter; 7=don't remember)

(19) WEARTEAR-LITTERNG=How did you feel about the condition of the wilderness? (1=very good; 2=good; 3=fair; 4=poor; 5=very poor; 6=don't remember)
WEARTEAR=in terms of wear and tear
LITTERNG=in terms of littering
(19) OBPRCOND=If you felt there were poor conditions, where did you observe them?

(20) GRPSLLUN-NGTDGULA=For each characteristic below, make three judgments:
{LLUN/LLU}-{ULUN/ULU}=Is there a range of values that is completely unacceptable?
{PREF/PRE}=Is there a value that is preferred?
{LLAC/LLA}-{ULAC/ULA}=Is there a range of values that is acceptable?

(20a) GRPS{ZZZZ}=number of groups of people I see each day (0-50)
(20b) LGTRL{ZZZ}=# of large groups to see along the trail in a day (0-25)
(20c) GRPCS{ZZZ}= # of groups camped within sight or sound of my campsite (0-25)
(20d) NGWCS{ZZZ}=# of groups that walk through my campsite in a day (0-25)
(20e) NGTDG{ZZZ}=# of groups w/dogs I see along the trail in a day (0-50)

(21) HGSTRLS-CPSFFVIS=how desirable or undesirable do you think each of the following things is? (1=very undesirable; 2=undesirable; 3=neutral; 4=desirable; 5=very desirable; BLANK=missing)
(21a) HGSTRLS=High standard trails
(21b) LWSTTRLS=low standard trails
(21c) ARNOTRLS=leaving some areas with no trails
(21d) TREBLACT=a few trees blown down across the trail every 1 or 2 miles
(21e) BRDGCREK=Bridges over creeks where hikers would otherwise get feet wet.
(21f) BRDGRIVR=Bridges over rivers that are dangerous for hikers to wade
(21g) OUTHOUSE=outhouses
(21h) CEMFIRPL=Cemented rock fire places w/ metal grates
(21i) RKFIRING=small loose rock fire places (fire rings)
(21j) NATFFLIT=Natural forest fires that are started by lightning
(21k) NOFIRWOD=Prohibiting wood fires where dead wood is scarce
(21l) RESTNUMB=Restricting the number of visitors to an area that is being used beyond capacity
(21m) PRHBWDFR=Prohibiting all wood fires in the Desolation
(21n) NATFISH=Natural fishing (no stocking)
(21o) LMTSZGRP=Limit size of visitor groups in Desolation
(21o) SUGOSLMT=If found 21o desirable, suggest a limit for visitor groups
(21p) SNTRLHIS=Signs along the trail explaining natural features in early history
(21q) LOMPCTIN=Accurate info on how you can travel and camp in the wilderness to reduce impact
(21r) CHAINSAW=Use of chainsaws by administrators to clear trails of trees
(21s) CPAREAAS=Require Desolation visitors to camp each night in an area assigned to them
(21t) GRBGOUT=Packing unburnable garbage out of the wilderness
(21u) NOCPBYLK=Prohibiting camping within a certain distance of lakes and streams
(21u) SUGDESDS=If found 21u desirable, suggest distance from lakes/streams (units were not specified, but they appear to be feet for whole numbers and miles if equal to 'one' or a decimal)
(21v) DGLEASHD=Require dogs to be leashed at all times in Desolation
(21w) PHBFAXHT=Prohibiting firearms except for hunting in the Desolation
(21x) PRHBDOGS=Prohibit dogs in Desolation
(21y) LMTDAYUS=Limit amount of day users in Desolation
(21aa) NONEWFRS=Prohibiting people from building new fire rings
(21bb) NOPERPEN=Having substantial penalties for entering Desolation without a permit
(21cc) CREEPFIR=A small creeping fire intentionally set to simulate natural fire conditions
(21dd) SMOKEY=Seeing smoke from a small forest fire allowed to burn to benefit the ecosystem
(21ee) CPSFFVIS=Camping where a small forest fire is visible from your campsite

(22) METNOPTY-CPNRTENP=What percentage of full satisfaction you would experience for each of the situations described? (0-100%)
(22a) METNOPTY=Meeting no other parties of any kind in 3 days
(22b) METONEPT=Meeting 1 backpacking party in 3 days
(22c) METHREEP=Meeting 3 backpacking parties in 3 days
(22d) METSIXPT=Meeting 6 backpacking parties in 3 days
(22e) METNINPT=Meeting 9 backpacking parties in 3 days
(22f) METFIFTN=Meeting 15 backpacking parties in 3 days
(22g) METTHRTY=Meeting 30 backpacking parties in 3 days
(22h) METSXTY=Meeting 60 backpacking parties in 3 days
(22i) CPNRNOPT=Camping near no other parties
(22j) CPNRONEP=Camping near 1 other backpacking party
(22k) CPNRTWOP=Camping near 2 other parties
(22l) CPNRTHRE=Camping near 3 other parties
(22m) CPNRFIVE=Camping near 5 other parties
(22n) CPNRTENP=Camping near 10 other parties

(23) VISDTIME-WTRPFREQ=your previous wilderness use
(23a) VISDTIME=How many times have you visited Desolation before this trip?
(23b) FRSTVISD=How many years ago did you first visit the Desolation wilderness?
(23c) FRSTVISW=How many years ago did you first visit a wilderness area?
(23d) NUMOTHRW=How many other wilderness areas have you visited? (1=this is the only one; 2=1-2 other areas; 3=3-5 other areas; 4=over 5 other areas)
(23e) TIMVSPST=Including this visit, how many times did you visit a wilderness in the past 12 months?
(23e) MOLFPRYR=Is this number more or less than for previous years? (1= more; 2=less)
(23e) WHYMOLVS=Why is it more/less than previous years?
(23f) TOTDAWPY=How many total days did you spend in wilderness on all visits in the past 12 months?
(23f) TOTMOLPY=Is this more or less than in previous years? (1= more; 2=less)
(23f) WHYTOTML=Why is it more/less than previous years?

(24) WTRPFREQ=Since you first visited a wilderness area, about how often have you gone on wilderness trips? (1= >10 trips per year; 2=3-10 trips per year; 3=1-2 trips per year; 4= 1 trip every 2-3 years; 5= <1 trip every 2-3 years; 6=this was my first trip)

(25) LISTORGS=Do you belong to any organizations that are primarily concerned with conservation or outdoor recreation? (1=Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, local wilderness association, National Parks Association, etc. (Wilderness oriented organizations); 2=Other conservation organizations, American Forestry Association, National Wildlife Federation, Audubon; 3=youth organization; 4=backcountry horseman; 5=other rec. organization, Rod+Gun Club, etc.; 6=other; 7= combination of 1 and 2; 8=other combination)

(26) HOMEGRO=Where did you spend the most time growing up? (1=on a farm or ranch; 2=rural or small town (under 1,000 population); 3=town (1,000 - 5,000 population); 4=small city (5,000 - 50,000 population); 5=medium city (50,000 - 1 million population); 6=in a major city or metropolitan area (over one million people))

(27) HOMENOW=In what type of community do you now live? (1=on a farm or ranch; 2=rural or small town (under 1,000 population); 3=town (1,000 - 5,000 population); 4=small city (5,000 - 50,000 population); 5=medium city (50,000 - 1 million population); 6=in a major city or metropolitan area (over one million people))

(28) EDUCHIST=What is the highest level of education attained (in years)? (1=<8; 2=8; 3=9; 4=10; 5=11; 6=12; 7=13; 8=14; 9=15; 10=16; 11=>16)
(28) STUDSTIL=Are you still a student? (1=yes; 2=no)

(29) OCCUP=current employment status (1=employed outside the home; 2=unemployed; 3=retired; 4=full-time homemaker; 5=student; 6=temporarily laid off)
(29) FULLPART=Employed full or part time? (1=full time; 2=part time)
(29) STUDTIME=student full or part time? (1=full time; 2=part time)

(30) JOBTITLE=job title
(30) KINDWORK=Kind of work
(30) COMPYBUS=Kind of company or business

(31) HHINCOME=annual household income (1= <$5000; 2= $5000-9999; 3= $10000-14999; 4= $15000-19999; 5= $20000-24999; 6= $25000-34999; 7= $35000-49999; 8= $50000-74999; 9= $75000-100000; 10= >$100000)

(32) PAIDVACA=how many weeks of paid vacation do you receive each year?

(33) GENDER=gender (1=male; 2=female)

(34) AGE=age

(35) MEALTOFR-ALLEXPEN=estimate your share of the expenses for this wilderness trip
(35a) MEALTOFR=Meals purchased traveling to and from the wilderness
(35b) LODGTOFR=Lodging while traveling to and from wilderness
(35c) TRANTOFR=Transportation to and from the wilderness
(35d) ALLEXPEN=All other expenses

(36) HERITAGE=Indicate cultural or ethnic groups you most closely identify with (1=American Indian or Alaskan native; 2=Asian or Pacific Islander; 3=Black, not of Hispanic origin; 4=Hispanic; 5=White, not of Hispanic origin; 6=other)
(36) OTHRHER=cultural/ethnic group other description

The following rows (ENVSCEN-OTHWHY3) are derived from earlier free text responses

(15) ENVSCEN-REASOTH3=What was there about this trip that made you feel this way? (derived from FEELDESC) (1=yes; 2=some feeling but too broad or doesn't apply; BLANK= missing/no)
ENVSCEN=Environment- Scenery
GOODTRL=good trails & facilities
POORTRL=poor trail & facilities
SOLITUDE=solitude (peace)
CROWDING=crowding
GOODKILL=good fishing & hunting
POORKILL=poor fishing & hunting
GOODCAMP=good campsites
POORCAMP=poor campsites
GOODAGEN=good to see agency personnel
BADAGEN=bad to see agency personnel (confusion about agency rules, don't agree with agency rules)
FRNDFAM=to be with friends/family
REASOTH1=Easy access/access
REASOTH2=Weather/climate
REASOTH3=personal, physical, mental health

(23e) WHYTIME-OTHER3=Why have you spent more or less time in the wilderness in the past year? (derived from WHYMOLVS) (1=yes; 2 or blank=no/missing)
WHYTIME=More or less time
WHYMOVE=Moved closer or farther away
WHYFAML=Family reason
WHYSCHL=School
WHYGRP=Special interest, new hobby, or organized group
WHYMON=Money
WHYWORK=Work
OTHER1=Weather
OTHER2=personal
OTHER3=found other area nearby

(23f) TIMEWHY-OTHWHY3=Why have you spent more or less total days in the wilderness in the past year? (derived from WHYTOTML) (1=yes; 2 or blank=no/missing)
TIMEWHY=time/work takes up time
MOVEWHY=moved
FAMLWHY=Family reason
SCHLWHY=More or less time in school/ learned more about the backcountry
GRPWHY=Organized group (i.e., the respondent belonged to an organized group that either spent more or less total days in wilderness in the past year)
MONWHY=Money
WORKWHY=Used to or now work in the wilderness
OTHWHY1=Weather
OTHWHY2=Personal
OTHWHY3=other area nearby/ another place to go in Desolation
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
\Supplements\Survey_Instrument_Mailback.pdf, \Supplements\Desolation_1990_Study_Final_Report.pdf
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
\Data\Desolation1990_NCData.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing the compiled data from the supplemental onsite survey given to visitors of Desolation Wilderness in 1990 who were not abiding by the permit regulation in the wilderness. Survey question numbers are in parentheses before the variable name (See \Supplements\Survey_Instrument_NonComp_onsite.pdf).

SEQ=auto-assigned unique id
QNUM=individual questionnaire number
DVDESO=Date of visit to Desolation Wilderness in the format "mdd"

(1) FISHING-OTHERDES=What activities did you participate in and how important is each activity to you? (1=activity major reason for going on trip; 2=participated, but not a major reason for going on this trip; BLANK=missing)
FISHING=fishing
HUNTING=hunting
HIKONTRL=hiking on trails
HIKOFTRL=hiking off trails
MTCLIMB=mountain climbing
NATURSTD=nature study
VIEWSCEN=viewing scenery
PHOTO=photography
SWIMMING=swimming
NUDSUNBA=nude sunbathing
CAMPING=camping
PICNICK=picknicking
DOGTIME=spending time with my dog
HORSERID=horseback riding
OTHER=other
OTHERDES=description of other

(2) OVERNITE=did your group stay overnight in the Desolation Wilderness on this visit? (1= no; 2=yes)
(2) NIGHTS=total number of nights spent in Desolation Wilderness on this trip

(3) MANYPEOP=how many people were in your group on this trip?
(3) MANYFIVE=how many were under 5 years old?
(3) MANYBTWN=how many were between 5 and 17 years old?
(3) MANYFEML=how many were female?

(4) GROPDESC=how would you describe your group? (1=friends; 2=family; 3=family and friends; 4=organized club or school group; 5=alone; 6=other)
(4) OTHERGRP=description of "other" group

(5) GRADE=how satisfied were you, personally with this trip into Desolation Wilderness? What grade would you give it? (1=A, very good; 2=B, good; 3=C, fair; 4=D, poor; 5=F, very poor)
(5) FEELDESC=what was there about this trip that made you feel this way?

(6) FEELNUMB=how did you feel about the number of other people you saw in the Desolation Wilderness on this trip? (1=saw way too few; 2=too few; 3=about right; 4=too many; 5=way too many; 6=didn't matter; 7=don't remember)

(7) RESTNUMB-NOPERPEN=how desirable or undesirable do you think each of the following things is? (1=very undesirable; 2=undesirable; 3=neutral; 4=desirable; 5=very desirable; BLANK=missing)
RESTNUMB=restricting the number of visitors to an area if it is being used beyond capacity
LMTSZGRP=limiting the size of visitor groups in the Desolation
SUGOSLMT=if you find a group size limit desirable, suggest a limit
PHBFAXHT=prohibiting firearms, except for hunting
LMTDAYUS=limit the amount of people who just take day trips
NOPERPEN=having substantial penalties for entering the Desolation without a permit

(8a) VISDTIME=how many times have you visited the Desolation Wilderness before this trip?
(8b) FRSTVISD=how many years ago did you first visit the Desolation Wilderness?

(9) LISTORGS=what conservation or outdoor recreation organizations do you belong to? (1=Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, Local Wilderness Assoc., Natl Parks Assoc., (Wilderness oriented organizations); 2=Other conservation organizations; Am. Forestry Assoc., Natl Wildlife Fed., Audubon; 3=youth organization; 4=backcountry horseman; 5=other rec. organization, Rod+Gun Club, etc.; 6=other; 7= combination of 1 and 2; 8=other combination)

(10) EDUCHIST=What is the highest level of education attained (in years)? (1=<8; 2=8; 3=9; 4=10; 5=11; 6=12; 7=13; 8=14; 9=15; 10=16; 11=>16)
(10) STUDSTIL=are you still a student? (1=yes; 2=no)

(11) GENDER=gender (1=male; 2=female)

(12) AGE=age

(13) CITY=city
(13) COUNTY=county
(13) STATE=2-letter state abbreviation

USER=day or overnight user
COMP=Whether compliant with the permit system (2=no)
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
\Supplements\Survey_Instrument_NonComp_onsite.pdf, \Supplements\Desolation_1990_Study_Final_Report.pdf
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
\Data\Desolation1990_PermitData.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing the compiled data from Desolation Wilderness visitors permits in 1990. Form question numbers are in parentheses before the variable name (See \Supplements\Permit_Form.pdf).

SEQ=auto-assigned unique id
QNUM=questionnaire number

(3) CITY=city
(3) STATE=state
(4) ZIP=zip (NOTE: in excel, leading 0s are automatically removed unless imported as text)

(5) TOVISIT=Area visiting (see \Supplements\Trailheads_Map_and_Codes_Desolation.pdf)

(6) EDATETIM=enter date in the format "mdd"
(6) LDATETIM=leave date in the format "mdd"

(7) EPOINT=entry point (See \Supplements\Trailheads_Map_and_Codes_Desolation.pdf for information on these locations. Text descriptions are used where map codes do not apply. Unfortunately we don't have information on all of the locations, so they are not all defined.)
(8) LPOINT=exit point (See \Supplements\Trailheads_Map_and_Codes_Desolation.pdf for information on these locations. Text descriptions are used where map codes do not apply. Unfortunately we don't have information on all of the locations, so they are not all defined.)

(9) PTRAVEL=primary method of travel (1=hike; 2=horse; 3=other)

(10) GSIZE=group size

(11) PACKSAD=number of pack and saddle stock

(12) VEHICLE=number of vehicles and watercraft

(14) TRAVEL1-TRAVEL10=zones traversed (see \Supplements\Trailheads_Map_and_Codes_Desolation.pdf, text descriptions are used where map codes do not apply)

(14) NIGHTS1-NIGHTS10=campsites stayed at (see \Supplements\Trailheads_Map_and_Codes_Desolation.pdf)
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
\Supplements\Permit_Form.pdf, \Supplements\Trailheads_Map_and_Codes_Desolation.pdf, \Supplements\Desolation_1990_Study_Final_Report.pdf
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Here is a list of the supplemental files included in the data publication download.

\Supplements\Desolation_1990_Study_Final_Report.pdf: Adobe Acrobat PDF file containing an unpublished internal final report 'Desolation Wilderness: A visitor survey to determine trends in visits, visitors and preferences', which includes summary information/results from survey questions. Some of the analysis in this report was used in subsequent publications.

\Supplements\Permit_Form.pdf: Adobe Acrobat PDF/a file containing the form used by visitors when applying for a permit in the Desolation Wilderness. The data in "Desolation1990_PermitData.csv" was compiled from these forms.

\Supplements\Survey_Instrument_Mailback.pdf: Adobe Acrobat PDF/a file containing the original mailback survey instrument used to obtain the data in "Desolation1990_Data.csv".

\Supplements\Survey_Instrument_NonComp_onsite.pdf: Adobe Acrobat PDF/a file containing the original onsite survey used to obtain the data in "Desolation1990_NCData.csv".

\Supplements\Trailheads_Map_and_Codes_Desolation.pdf: Adobe Acrobat PDF/a file containing a map of the Desolation Wilderness and the codes for different areas and trailheads. These codes are used for some variables in "Desolation1990_PermitData.csv".
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Not applicable
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Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
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Address: 240 West Prospect Road
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Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of July 2018. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2017-0057
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Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20180711
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Alan Watson
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Contact_Position: Research Social Scientist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 790 East Beckwith Avenue
City: Missoula
State_or_Province: MT
Postal_Code: 59801
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 406-542-4197
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