Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex (BMWC) 2004 visitor preference and usage data along with characteristics and attitudes towards Fire Management

Research at the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex (BMWC) in Montana explored differences in recreation visitors’ attitudes towards the use of management-ignited prescribed fires in the wilderness. This data publication contains the results of both on-site and mail-back surveys during the summer and fall of 2004. Visitors to thirteen trailheads at the BMWC were asked to provide information on whether they used an outfitter, length of stay, mode of travel, education level, and previous experience level at the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. The 396 respondents to the on-site survey were then sent mail-back questionnaires asking questions regarding their stay and and visitor satisfaction with wilderness conditions encountered, both resource and social density conditions, and preference of various policies and fire management actions.The purpose of this study was to provide information on the characteristics of Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex uses, users, and user attitudes about the wilderness and its management. The objectives of this study were to: 1) Describe characteristics of the wilderness visit, including activities, methods of travel within the wilderness, timing of use, length of stay and camping practices; 2) Describe characteristics of visitors, including types of groups, party size, previous experience, residence, and socioeconomic descriptions; and, 3) Describe visitor attitudes, satisfaction with wilderness conditions encountered (both resource and social density conditions, and preference of various policies and management action).

Originally, this project began in 2003 with a full survey conducted in that year- however the summer of 2003 was not a typical year for the BMWC. Fires and fire fighting activity led to direct closures of popular recreation areas, destinations, and trailheads. Smoke, access limitations, and safety concerns undoubtedly discouraged visitation in areas directly affected as well as across the whole complex. A decision was made to repeat the survey in 2004 in hopes of better understanding the impacts of fires and fire closures. Data from 2004 allows comparison to previous studies in 1970 and 1982 and an understanding of how visitations was affected while the fires were burning in 2003.This data publication was originally published on 03/15/2017. On 11/05/2020 minor metadata updates were made.

在蒙大拿州的鲍勃·马歇尔荒野综合区（BMWC）进行的科研工作，探究了休闲游客对在荒野中使用管理引发的预定火灾的态度差异。本数据出版物包含了2004年夏季和秋季进行的现场调查和邮寄回执调查的结果。在BMWC的十三处徒步起点，游客被要求提供是否使用向导、停留时长、旅行方式、教育水平和在鲍勃·马歇尔荒野综合区的先前经验水平等信息。随后，对现场调查中的396名受访者进行了邮寄回执问卷调查，询问他们在荒野中的停留情况以及对所遭遇的荒野条件（包括资源和社交密度条件）的满意度，以及对各种政策和火灾管理行动的偏好。本研究旨在提供关于鲍勃·马歇尔荒野综合区使用特征、使用者及其对荒野及其管理的态度的信息。本研究的目标包括：1）描述荒野访问的特征，包括活动、荒野内的旅行方式、使用时间、停留时长和露营习惯；2）描述游客的特征，包括群体类型、团队规模、先前经验、居住地和社会经济描述；以及3）描述游客的态度，对遭遇的荒野条件（包括资源和社交密度条件，以及各种政策和管理的偏好）的满意度。

最初，该项目于2003年开始，当年进行了全面调查，然而2003年的夏季对BMWC来说并非典型年份。火灾和灭火活动导致了对热门休闲区域、目的地和徒步起点的直接关闭。烟雾、通行限制和安全顾虑无疑阻碍了直接受影响区域以及整个综合区的游客访问。因此决定在2004年重复进行调查，以期更好地理解火灾和关闭对游客的影响。2004年的数据允许与1970年和1982年的先前研究进行比较，并了解在2003年火灾燃烧期间游客访问受影响的程度。本数据出版物最初于2017年3月15日发布。2020年11月5日对元数据进行了少量更新。