Factors influencing knowledge and self-reported application of Leave No Trace principles amongst rock climbers in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge

• DOI: 10.1080/14729679.2018.1553723
• Publication Date: 2018-12-07T10:15:04Z
• Authors: Ryan L. Sharp; James N. Maples; Katherine Gerlaugh
• Keywords: Outreach; Climbing; Recreational use; TRACE (psycholinguistics)

Leave No Trace (LNT) principles help reduce outdoor recreation users' impacts on the natural and social environment. Rock climbers climbing organizations have recently embraced LNT yet, there is a distinct dearth of research associated with practices rock climbers' adherence to in their self-reported behaviours. The purpose this applied study examine what extent know about how behaviours may or not be modified by knowledge. Using data collected via online survey climbers, we fiund that an increase knowledge correlates improvement are consistent principles. Our also presented unexpected result income shape backcountry. This information can provide insight for managers when addressing minimum impact techniques through outreach, interpretation education.