User Standards for Ecological Impacts at Wilderness Campsites

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Abstract
Managing impacts resulting from recreationists in wilderness settings requires evaluative information. This paper extends earlier work on social impacts by providing a conceptual and methodological framework for analyzing norms for ecological impacts. Three normative characteristics, range of tolerable conditions, norm intensity and norm crystallization, are identified and measured quantitatively, using data from the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. Results suggest that the model can be applied to a wilderness setting; users have opinions about ecological impacts and are willing to express them; norms or standards vary for different experiences offered by different locations; low to moderate impact may be more acceptable to users than no impact at all; and there is considerable agreement about impact standards.