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The Appropriateness of Snowmobiling in National Parks: An Investigation of the Meanings of Snowmobiling Experiences in Yellowstone National Park

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Abstract

The debate over snowmobiling and other types of motorized recreation in US national parks signals the need for a better understanding of the meanings of these experiences. The fundamental issue facing many parks is whether snowmobiling is an appropriate activity. The matter of appropriateness is anchored in two questions: (1) Does snowmobiling in national parks cause unacceptable biophysical and social impacts? (2) Are snowmobiling experiences consistent with the fundamental purposes of national parks? This article particularly addresses the appropriateness issue and presents the findings of an interpretive study of the meanings of snowmobiling experiences in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Sixty-five semistructured interviews were conducted with winter visitors who used snowmobiles in the park during the winter season of 1999. Overall, the study findings reveal that visitors on snowmobiles view YNP as a place to experience its wildland attributes, such as natural scenery, geothermal features, and, especially, wildlife. Snowmobiling is perceived as a mode of transportation rather than the experience in and of itself. The results challenge the popular image of snowmobiles as thrill-craft and snowmobilers as thrill-seekers. The study demonstrates that snowmobiling in YNP affords highly meaningful recreational experiences, grounded in appreciating the park’s unique natural features and attributes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the National Park Service, Pew Charitable Trusts, Yellowstone Park Foundation, and the College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, as well as the wisdom and assistance of Mike Patterson and Wayne Freimund. We also acknowledge the comments of the three reviewers, who have helped us strengthen this article.

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Correspondence to Mae A. Davenport.

Appendix

Appendix

Interview Guide I

Nature of the experience

  1. 1.

    Describe for me your visit today.

    1. P.

      What did you do?

    2. P.

      What did you see?

  1. 2.

    What events or experiences were particularly important to your visit?

  1. 3.

    Why do you choose to (activity) in the park overother ways of seeing the park?

Conditions

  1. 4.

    What was it like out there today?

  1. 5.

    If a friend was choosing between YNP or another place next weekend, what would you point out about Yellowstone that would help them to decide where to (activity)?

  1. 6.

    What sorts of things added to your experience in Yellowstone? How important are these?

    1. P.

      What makes these important?

  1. 7.

    What things detracted from your experience? (If no, what would you change?) How important are these?

    1. P.

      What makes these important?

  1. 8.

    Some people have mentioned the ...(use only those not yet discussed) ...what did you think about the ________?

    1. a.

      trails

    2. b.

      facilities, such as warming huts, bathrooms, and visitor centers

    3. c.

      other visitors

    4. d.

      what the NPS provides

    5. e.

      wildlife

Management Issues

  1. 9.

    Did you perceive any problems with the protection of the park? (Yes go to 10; No—go to 11)

  1. 10.

    What sacrifices, if any, would you be willing to make to help protect YNP?

  1. 11.

    It has been suggested that the NPS should take action in order to better protect the bison herd. Considering that you may be affected by these actions, what sacrifices would you be willing to make? (Bison aren’t affected: It has been suggested that groomed roads allow bison to leave the park, if this were proven...) Would you be willing to.... Why not?

    1. a.

      limit the size of your group?

    2. b.

      watch a compulsory 30 minute video?

    3. c.

      travel in the park during restricted times?

    4. d.

      travel in the park only in specific areas (what sections of roads)?

  1. 12.

    What do you think about the park’s regulations?

    1. P.

      Do you feel they are appropriate?

    2. P.

      Do you feel they are effective?

  1. 13.

    The purpose of this study is to help the NPS understand the visitor experience, is there anything else you think they should know about your visit?

Interview Guide II

  1. 1.

    What does the Yellowstone experience offer that you can’t get anywhere else?

  1. 2.

    Is the opportunity to ___________ (snowmobile, ski, snowshoe, or ride snowcoach) in Yellowstone important to your experience here?

    1. P.

      Why?

  1. 3.

    Is there anything that you would change about the Park or your experience here?

  1. 4.

    In order to protect those things that you mentioned were important to your visit, would you be willing to support some management actions:

    1. a.

      requiring visitors to watch a 30 minute video before entering the park?

    2. b.

      restricting the times visitors can be in the park in the winter?

    3. c.

      closing some sections of groomed roads to snow vehicle use?

    4. P.

      Why?

    5. P.

      How would these affect your visit here?

  1. 5.

    Visitors we surveyed last winter said that viewing wildlife was the most important aspect of their trip to YNP. Yet, when we asked them whether or not they would support a list of management actions in order to better protect the bison herd, most were unwilling to support any of the actions listed. Why do you think they felt this way?

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Davenport, M.A., Borrie, W.T. The Appropriateness of Snowmobiling in National Parks: An Investigation of the Meanings of Snowmobiling Experiences in Yellowstone National Park. Environmental Management 35, 151–160 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-0265-1

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