| The fundamental challenge of wilderness stewardship is balancing social and ecological values while ensuring wilderness qualities are preserved. This thesis contributed to an improved understanding of wilderness visitors, and more specifically addressed the need for acquiring an improved understanding of visitor use in Willmore Wilderness Park, Alberta, Canada. A mixed-methods approach including: trail surveys, in-depth mail surveys, trail cameras, Global Positioning System (GPS) Tracksticks, and in-person/telephone interviews were utilized. Specifically, visitation levels to the main staging areas, visitor and trip characteristics, motivations, familiarity, risk perceptions, management preferences, and visitors' relationship to Willmore were examined. A total of 195 trail surveys were completed and an 89% (n = 85) response rate from the associated in-depth mail survey was achieved. A Trackstick distribution success rate of 77% (n = 24) was obtained and 17 parks users were interviewed. By understanding more about park users and what they prefer or desire in Willmore, this project will help to balance conservation with recreation objectives. |
