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Exploring Visitor Experiences Along the Going-To-The-Sun Corridor of Glacier National Park

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Exploring Visitor Experiences Along the Going-To-The-Sun Corridor of Glacier National Park University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2012 Exploring visitor experiences along the Going-to-the-Sun corridor of Glacier National Park Elena Nikolaeva The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Nikolaeva, Elena, "Exploring visitor experiences along the Going-to-the-Sun corridor of Glacier National Park" (2012). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 422. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/422 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Exploring Visitor Experiences within the Going-to-the-Sun Corridor of Glacier National Park By ELENA A. NIKOLAEVA B.S., Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 2001 Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management The University of Montana Missoula, MT May 2012 Approved by: Sandy Ross, Associate Dean of The Graduate School Graduate School Dr Wayne Freimund, Chair College of Forestry and Conservation, Department of Society and Conservation Dr Elizabeth Covelli College of Forestry and Conservation, Department of Society and Conservation Dr. Len Broberg Environmental Studies Program Abstract Nikolaeva, Elena A., M.S., Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management, May 2012 Exploring Visitor Experiences within the Going-to-the-Sun Corridor of Glacier National Park Committee Chair: Wayne A. Freimund Visitor use on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) corridor is one of the most critical issues that Glacier National Park faces. According to the park’s General Management Plan, it should be addressed to safeguard the quality of park resources and the visitor experiences. 80% of park visitors travel along at least some part of the road, which is the primary park experience and one of the most spectacular highlights of the park. The road was built in early 1930, and now brings almost 2 million visitors annually into the heart of Glacier NP. Increased number of cars on this narrow historic road caused traffic problems such as crowding at pullouts and traffic jams, as well as safety issues. The situation with traffic worsened also because of the road reconstruction which was aimed to rehabilitate the road and solve traffic problems in the long run. A new 10- year reconstruction project started in 2007; as a part of it a free shuttle service was introduced. It poses important questions about impacts on visitor behavior, visitor use, and visitor experiences in the park. Understanding existing patterns and trends in the current context is important. This exploratory research attempts to identify and describe the nature of actual and desired experiences from the perspective of visitors. It reveals the primary dimensions of the experiences, discusses the factors that influence them, and talks about connections, common patterns and trends. Data collection and analysis for this study were guided by the method of Grounded Theory. Fifty in-depth interviews with diverse Glacier NP visitors in various parts of the GTSR corridor were conducted. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a system of coding that identifies themes through which interviews can be organized, interpreted and presented. Through this process, three main categories of visitor experiences were identified: “Glacier as a Unique Setting”, “Motivations and Benefits”, and “Human Interactions”. They represent mainly social dimensions of visitor experiences and include some biophysical elements. Aspects that are associated with managerial dimensions are discussed separately with less depth within the forth category – “Managerial Issues”. The results of this study imply that there is a broad range of experiences occurring within this key corridor of Glacier NP. There is no single story and combination of the revealed dimensions; every visitor is different and his/her experience is unique. However, some common patterns exist, and several experience typologies are identified. Using tools such as the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum is recommended to embrace the diversity of experiences, while protecting the setting from changes in the conditions, and better preserving and improving different types of visitor experiences in Glacier NP. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank many people for their help and support through this project. My deep appreciation and special thanks go first and foremost to Dr. Wayne Freimund, who was very kind, generous, understanding and motivational from my very first day in Missoula; without his best quality guidance this study would not have been possible. It is difficult to convey the depth of my gratitude to him. Then, I would like to extend my thanks to my committee members, Elizabeth Covelli and Len Broberg, for their time, support, insight and encouragement through this research. I also wish to thank other professors whom I had classes with during these two years: Bill Borrie, Laurie Young, Steve McCool, Keith Bosak, Neil Moisey, Mike Patterson, Daisy Rooks, and Thomas Foor. They all were very professional and supportive, and each of the classes contributed to this research. My special thanks also go to Alan Watson for his ideas and thoughts regarding future research in Russian protected areas; and to Libby Khumalo for her friendship. I am no less grateful to Glacier National Park managers for assistance in data collection, and to all my interview participants for their time and willingness to share the experience. I am of course thankful to Fulbright Program for funding my stay in the United States. Finally, I would like to thank my “bullpen” friends for the enjoyable time we had together studying and exploring Montana. Two years at the Graduate School of the University of Montana has been a wonderful experience for me. iii Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction Background…………………………………………………………………………...1 Problem statement…………………………………………………………………….3 Thesis organization……………………………………………………………….......5 Chapter 2. Literature Review Studies about visitor experiences………………………………………………….....6 Protected Areas planning and management frameworks……………………………16 Studies about visitor use and visitor experiences in Glacier NP……………………21 Central research questions…….………………………………………………….....28 Chapter 3. Methodology Study area…………………………………………………………………………...29 Research approach…………………………………………………………………..33 Sampling frame……………………………………………………………………...35 Data collection……………………………………………………………………....38 Data analysis………………………………………………………………………...42 Chapter 4. Results – Dimensions of Visitor Experiences Overview…………………………………………………………………………….46 Glacier as a Unique Setting………………………………………………………….52 1. An emotional place…………………………………………………………..53 2. A novel environment…………………………………………………………56 3. A diverse setting……………………………………………………………...58 4. Beauty………………………………………………………………………...60 5. “Wild” and “pristine”…………………………………………………………67 iv 6. Glacier as a part of the national park system……………………………….......70 Summary of “Glacier as a Unique Place”…………………………………………71 Motivations/Benefits…………………………………………………………………...73 1. Escape…………………………………………………………………………..75 2. Learning………………………………………………………………………...77 3. Challenge……………………………………………………………………….79 4. Solitude…………………………………………………………………………82 5. Peace and quiet…………………………………………………………………82 6. Self-discovery and self-searching, rethinking life, renewal and revival………..83 7. Intimacy and involvement with nature………………………………………….84 8. Adventure……………………………………………………………………….85 9. Exercise and energy……………………………………………………………..86 10. Fun and entertainment, “multisport” vacation, variety of activities……………86 11. Inspiration………………………………………………………………………87 12. Humility………………………………………………………………………...87 Summary of Motivations / Benefits………………………………………………...88 Human Interactions……………………………………………………………………...90 1. Visitor density…………………………………………………………………..91 2. Visitor behavior……………………………………………………………......100 3. Internal group issues…………………………………………………………...105 4. Travelling alone………………………………………………………………..107 5. Detraction from the feeling of remoteness…………………………………….108 Summary of Human Interactions………………………………………………….109 Managerial Influences…………………………………………………………………111 1. Bear safety…………………………………………………………………….112 2. Road conditions……………………………………………………………….115 v 3. Shuttles………………………………………………………………………..115. 4. Trail conditions………………………………………………………………..116 5. Restrictions and regulations…………………………………………………...117 6. Information……………………………………………………………………118 7. Accommodation facilities and restaurants…………………………………….119 8. Cleanliness……………………………………………………………………..119 Summary of Managerial Issues……………………………………………………120 Chapter 5. Summary, Management Implications and Future Research What can we learn from that?.........................................................................................121 Implications for management…………………………………………………………..125 Limitations of the study and suggestion for future research…………………………....133 Appendix A. Interview participants……………………………………………………………137 Appendix B. Demographic characteristics of the sample………………………………………142 Appendix C.
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