Trip Response Modeling of Rock Climbers' Reactions to Proposed Regulations

Literature ReviewThere are currently over 500,000 active climbers in the United States (Williamson, 1999). The increased interest in the adventure sport of rock climbing has contributed to the ecological damage of public lands in the United States (Attarian & Pyke, 2000). Studies report the adverse effects of human impacts to soil, damage to vegetation, harassment to wildlife, the growing presence of litter, noise, bolting practices, damage to historic and cultural sites, and such practical concerns as legal liability, climbers lacking the appropriate technical skills, and the compositions of groups (Cavlovic, Barrens, Bohara, Jakus, & Shaw, 2002; Pyke, 2001; Schuster, Thompson & Hammitt, 2001; Vaske, & Donnelly, 1999; Camp & Knight, 1998; Farris, 1998; Archer, 1995). All conclude by stating an urgent need for managing agencies to better integrate the growth of climbing with the requirements of preserving and administering public lands.Often, public land managers are required to acquire users' reactions prior to implementing regulations. In this regard, hybrid methods of augmenting past trip data with intended trip data from recreation surveys show promise in estimating future demand as an input into regulatory decisions (Grijalva, Berrens, Bohara, & Shaw, 2002; Whitehead, Haab, & Huang, 2000). We apply the trip response method (hybrid model) to proposed regulatory changes (Loomis & Walsh, 1997). The trip response model supplements past trip counts from the travel cost method with individual responses about their intended trips in reaction to proposed regulations (Loomis & Walsh). First, respondents are asked the number of trips taken during the past 12-months to a park under existing conditions. Next, respondents are asked to indicate the number of trips they would take during the next 12-months to that park under either positive or negative altered conditions (Siderelis, Moore, & Lee, 2000).In theory, the true demand for a park should be reflected in both the respondent's past and intended trip responses on the survey questionnaire. Although studies have shown intended behavior questions to be both reliable and valid, their empirical consistency can be determined with hypothesis testing of the differences in past and intended trips (Loomis, 1993). Grijalva et al. (2002) conclude that climbers do not appear to overstate changes in trips when presented with hypothetical questions about climbing area restrictions by performing a validity test of scope, va studying the pre and post changes in rock climbing policies and rules at Hueco Tanks State Park, Texas. In fact, Grijalva et al. found intended trip behavior a valuable supplement to revealed preference data when regulatory proposals were outside the range of historical conditions. Cameron, Shaw, Ragland, Callaway, and Keefe (1996) when studying the varying effects of lake level on boating the Columbia River Basin combined the past and intended trip data for each survey respondent at different times (summer months, rest of year, annual) and found that the empirical models accommodated the natural heteroskedasticity that resulted in the data.Our motivation for reporting is to contribute to the recreation benefits literature for the adventure sport of rock climbing and to assess the credibility of the trip response method. The empirical application involves proposed regulations at Crowder's Mountain State Park, North Carolina. Crowder's Mountain is very popular with climbers because of its easy driving access and proximity to a large metropolitan area (Charlotte, North Carolina). Potential regulations address (a) the quality of rock climbing conditions, (b) variations in climbing routes to accommodate the different skill levels, (c) limiting the number and size of groups, (d) rationing rock climbing at certain areas that may involve either site modifications, restrictions or closures, and (e) requiring participation in climber education programs and service projects. …