Use characteristics, visitor preferences, and conflict between horse users and hikers in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area: 1990-1991 visitor survey data

The Charles C. Deam Wilderness area is located on the Hoosier National Forest in Indiana. There has been historic use of this area by both hikers and horse riders, however there was substantial concern about the interaction and conflict between these two groups in this wilderness area. Between the summers of 1990 and 1991 a mailback questionnaire was sent to people visiting the Charles C. Deam Wilderness are for recreational purposes to investigate visitor use characterstics and preferences about their wilderness experience. Data include visitor activity, visitor characteristics, interaction with other groups, opinions regarding management policies, current wilderness conditions, preferred wilderness conditions, items influencing visitor quality, as well as user perception of similarities and differences between hikers and horse users.The purpose of this research was to learn enough about horse users and hikers including their interactions, and perceptions of each other to recommend some potential management solutions for mitigating conflict. Potential management solutions include separation of uses physically, separating uses temporally, using persuasive communication to change inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors, using information to help visitors avoid conflicting situations, and using information to change expectations about interactions with other groups. The goal was to establish baseline information on who the visitors are, their use patterns, and perceptions of appropriate social conditions.

查尔斯·C·迪姆荒野保护区（Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area）坐落于印第安纳州的胡塞尔国家森林（Hoosier National Forest）。该区域历史上长期为徒步旅行者与骑马爱好者所使用，但二者在荒野内的活动互动与冲突问题曾引发广泛担忧。1990年至1991年夏季期间，研究团队向前往该保护区开展休闲活动的访客发放了邮寄回收问卷，以调查访客的活动特征与荒野体验偏好。本次数据集涵盖访客活动类型、群体属性特征、与其他活动群体的互动情况、对荒野管理政策的看法、当前荒野环境状况、理想荒野环境标准、影响访客游览体验质量的各类因素，以及徒步者与骑马使用者对彼此群体的异同认知。本研究旨在充分掌握骑马使用者与徒步旅行者的活动情况、彼此间的互动模式与群体认知，进而提出可缓解活动冲突的潜在管理方案。潜在管理方案包括：物理分隔不同活动群体、按时间划分专属活动时段、通过劝导性沟通纠正不当或不可接受的行为、向访客提供信息以规避冲突场景，以及通过信息调整游客对跨群体互动的预期。本次研究的核心目标是建立基线数据，以明确该区域的访客群体构成、活动规律，以及对合理社交环境的认知。