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  1. Visitor satisfactions: backcountry and wilderness users in the White Mountain National Forest

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    Author(s): Chad P. Dawson; Rebecca Oreskes; Frederick Kacprzynski; Tom More
    Date: 2002
    Source: In: Todd, Sharon, comp., ed. 2002. Proceedings of the 2001 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-289. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 144-152.
    Publication Series: General Technical Report (GTR)
    Station: Northeastern Research Station
    PDF: View PDF  (689.71 KB)
    Note: This article is part of a larger document. View the larger document

    Description

    The opportunities and conditions sought by visitors in national forest backcountry and wilderness areas can affect the satisfaction they have with the experience. This study measured the recreation satisfaction ratings of hikers and backpackers during their trips to backcountry and wilderness areas in the White Mountain National Forest. Field interviews were conducted with 385 visitors to seven backcountry and wilderness areas during July 1, through September 4, 2000. An importance/satisfaction analysis compared satisfaction ratings with the important opportunities and conditions that were sought by visitors. Information about recreation resource management problems encountered by visitors was analyzed to provide comparisons with visitor satisfaction ratings. The study results indicate that: (1) hikers and backpackers rate similar opportunities and conditions as important across primitive and semi-primitive non-motorized Recreation Opportunity Spectrum areas; (2) hikers and backpackers achieve similar types and amounts of satisfaction across primitive and semi-primitive non-motorized Recreation Opportunity Spectrum areas; and (3) some differences in hiker and backpacker ratings of importance and satisfaction, plus problems perceived by users suggest the need for some additional indirect visitor management (e.g., information for visitors).

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    Citation

    Dawson, Chad P.; Oreskes, Rebecca; Kacprzynski, Frederick; More, Tom. 2002. Visitor satisfactions: backcountry and wilderness users in the White Mountain National Forest. In: Todd, Sharon, comp., ed. 2002. Proceedings of the 2001 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-289. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 144-152.

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