Hiker perception of wilderness in Grand Canyon National Park: a study of social carrying capacity Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Towler, William L. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 04/10/2021 01:56:21 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/566421 HIKER PERCEPTION OF WILDERNESS IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK: A STUDY OF SOCIAL CARRYING CAPACITY by William Leonard Towler A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND URBAN PLANNING In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS WITH A MAJOR IN GEOGRAPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 7 7 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of re­ quirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judg­ ment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholar­ ship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: ^ — -— C - f f — c l 2 - 0 / 7 7 THOMAS F. SAARINEN Date Professor of Geography, Regional Development, and Urban Planning ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to several people who offered much assistance during the preparation of this thesis. The direction, constructive criticism, and editorial assistance of Dr. Thomas F. Saarinen were a constant aid through all phases of the research and writing. The very careful reading of the initial draft of the manuscript by Dr. Leland R. Pederson and Marshall A. Worden provided useful commentary which greatly improved the final version of the thesis. David Ochsner, resource manager at Grand Canyon National Park, offered many comments during the development of the research methodol­ ogy. Louise Hinchcliffe, librarian at the Park Service's excellent library, located many documents concerning the history of Grand Canyon trails and provided work space throughout the period of study. Finally, park rangers in the backcountry reservation office were very kind and helpful, making the process of data collection an enjoyable and re­ warding experience. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES..................................................vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS......................................... x ABSTRACT............................................... xi 1. INTRODUCTION............ .................................... 1 h Statement of Problems and Objectives ^r- Definitions ....................... Organization of the Thesis........ 2. STUDIES OF THE WILDERNESS USER: A FRAMEWORK................... 9 3. GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK: THE TRAILS AND TRAIL MANAGEMENT. 16 Trail Location and History................................. 19 The Bright Angel. .................................... 19 The Kaibab........................ 21 The Nankoweap......................................... 22 The Tanner...................... 23 The New Hance ......................................... 23 The Grandview....................................... 24 The Clear C r e e k ................................... 25 The Hermit.............................................. 25 The B o u c h e r ................................... 26 The Bass..................... ... ...................... 26 The Thunder R i v e r ..................................... 27 Trail Use and Management................................... 28 4. METHODOLOGY.................................................... 32 Questionnaire Development ................................. 32 Method of Administration and Selection of Sample........... 33 Limitations................................................ 36 Methods of Ana l y s i s ......... .............................. 37 iv V TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued Page 5. THE WILDERNESS HIKER IN GRAND CANYON........................... 39 Party Size and Length of Stay ............................. 39 Characteristics of the U s e r ............................... 40 Comparison of Characteristics with Previous Studies .... 49 Motivations ................................................ 50 Attitudes.................................................. 57 Use Level Preferences ................................. 58 Expected Behavior of Other Users....................... 66 Management Preferences................................. 68 6. THE BEARING OF CHARACTERISTICS AND MOTIVATIONS ON ATTITUDES ... 77 Social Characteristics..................................... 78 Sex and A g e ........................................... 78 Education, Occupation and Income....................... 79 Demographic Characteristics ............................... 82 Origin................................... 82 Size of Place of Residence............................. 85 State of Residence.................. 87 Hiking Experience and Commitment to the Wilderness Ethic. 87 Number of Previous Grand Canyon Hikes ................ 89 Annual Number of Hikes.................... 91 Membership in a Conservation Group or Outdoor Club. 93 Motivation.................................................. 93 7. MEETING SOCIAL CARRYING CAPACITY: MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR GRAND CANYON T R A I L S .......................................... 102 Limiting Use.................................................. 102 The Permit and Quota System ............................. 103 Group Size L i m i t s ........................................ 104 Zoning.................................................... 106 Established Sites and Trip Routes ........................ 108 Other Alternatives........................................ 110 Enforcement.............................................. 112 Outhouses.................................................... 113 Airplanes and Helicopters............ 115 River Trips .................................................. 117 Information and Education....................................118 8. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.......... .............................120 APPENDIX A: COMPLETE TEXT OF THE WILDERNESS ACT...............126 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued Page APPENDIX B: GRAND CANYON USER QUESTIONNAIRE. ..... ............. 135 APPENDIX C: RESPONSES TO INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS BY WILDERNESS TRAIL USERS.......................................... 141 REFERENCES CITED.................................................. 149 X LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Number of persons using each trail during the months of 1975 . 30 2. Number of hikers surveyed on each trail....................... 37 3. Party s i z e .................................................... 40 4. Length of t r i p ................................................ 41 5. Sex............................................................ 41 6. Age. ........................................................... 42 7. Education...................................................... 42 8. Occupation.................................................... 43 9. I n c o m e ........................................................ 44 10. Vacation time.................... 44 11. Place of residence............................................ 45 12. City of residence.............................................. 46 13. Place of residence as a youth................................. 46 14. Membership in outdoor club or conservation group : .......... 46 15. Annual number of hiking trips................................. 47 16. Number of previous Canyon hiking trips ....................... 48 17. Number of previous Canyon hiking trips on wilderness trails. 48 18. Previous experience on same trail............................. 48 19. Motivations.................................................... 51 20. Reasons for hiking in the Grand C a n y o n ....................... 55 21. Reasons for choosing the t r a i l ............................... 55 vii viii LIST OF TABLES— Continued Table Page 22. One should be able to hike in the Grand Canyon and see few, if any, p e o p l e ............................................ 59 23. When staying out overnight in the wilderness it is most enjoyable not to be near anyone e l s e ..................... 60 24. You should see at least one group of people a day in the wilderness to get the most enjoyment out of a trip .... 61 25. Group use in 1975. ............................................ 62 26. Do you think group size should be limited on Grand Canyon trails?.................................................... 64 27. Preferred maximum group si z e .................................. 64 28. If I found too many people on a certain Canyon trail, for the next trip I would choose one I expected to be less crowded.................................................... 66 29. The Park Service should maintain outhouses at the most used campsites, even on