Rock Climbers' Attitudes Toward Management of Climbing and the Use of Bolts

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to verify that various segments of the rock climbing community have different attitudes toward resource management and to aid in the understanding of attitudinal differences that can affect rock-climbing management. Respondents were given an on-site questionnaire; 400 usable surveys were collected from 13 different locations in the United States. Respondents identified themselves according to the type of climbing they participated in (e.g., traditional climbing, sport climbing, and hybrid climbing). Factor analysis identified five usable factors: bolt placement/use, need for management, reservations about management, appropriateness of bolts, and climbers' self-perception. A repeated-measures analysis of variance identified significant differences among responses from traditional and sport climbers on four of the five scales used to measures attitudes. The variance among the climbing subgroups indicated that various climbing groups had significantly different attitudes toward management. All climbers surveyed had reservations about the management process. Results from the analysis indicated that climbers from all three groups (traditional, sport, and hybrid) felt that managers did not adequately understand the activity of climbing, climbers did not adequately understand the management process, climbing was not treated fairly in the management process in comparison to other activities, and climbing was micromanaged.

Rock Climbers in the New River Gorge: Attitudes toward Management Actions and Trust of Park Managers

“…Natural resource managers are tasked with ensuring compliance with regulations in order to protect the areas they manage. In order to encourage compliance with these regulations, managers must be trustworthy in the eyes of recreationists, and recreationists must have a positive attitude toward management and the actions that management carries out (Borrie & Harding, 2002;Monz, 2009;Schuster, Thompson, & Hammit, 2001). Additionally, managers must be sensitive toward recreationists' attitudes toward resource impacts, and take those attitudes into consideration when deciding which management actions to carry out (Schuster et al, 2001).…”

“…In order to encourage compliance with these regulations, managers must be trustworthy in the eyes of recreationists, and recreationists must have a positive attitude toward management and the actions that management carries out (Borrie & Harding, 2002;Monz, 2009;Schuster, Thompson, & Hammit, 2001). Additionally, managers must be sensitive toward recreationists' attitudes toward resource impacts, and take those attitudes into consideration when deciding which management actions to carry out (Schuster et al, 2001). By understanding the characteristics of the recreationists who use the area and their attitudes and opinions, managers can work to collaborate with dedicated users to manage the area in such a way as to protect the natural resource while still providing for the enjoyment of visitors (Borrie & Harding, 2001;Payton, Fulton, & Anderson, 2005).…”

“…By understanding the characteristics of the recreationists who use the area and their attitudes and opinions, managers can work to collaborate with dedicated users to manage the area in such a way as to protect the natural resource while still providing for the enjoyment of visitors (Borrie & Harding, 2001;Payton, Fulton, & Anderson, 2005). This literature review synthesizes a number of articles that demonstrate the need to further understand climbers' attitudes toward cliff resource management and their trust of park managers (Borrie & Harding, 2001;Monz, 2009;Schuster et al, 2001). These previous studies also discuss the benefits of segmenting users based on activity, ability, and other qualities to better understand their attitudes and trust levels (Borrie & Harding, 2001;Monz, 2009;Schuster et al 2001).…”

“…This literature review synthesizes a number of articles that demonstrate the need to further understand climbers' attitudes toward cliff resource management and their trust of park managers (Borrie & Harding, 2001;Monz, 2009;Schuster et al, 2001). These previous studies also discuss the benefits of segmenting users based on activity, ability, and other qualities to better understand their attitudes and trust levels (Borrie & Harding, 2001;Monz, 2009;Schuster et al 2001).…”

“…Who are primary users of the cliffs in NERI? Definition of Terms (Ansari, 2008;Borrie & Harding, 2002;Monz, 2009;Schuster et al, 2001 ,) Bolting: the act of placing fixed gear.…”