Master of Science

thesisHikers that experience acceptable ecological trail conditions are more likely to act as trail stewards, set proper trail etiquette examples, and use low-impact practices. However, managers and researchers do not thoroughly understand the relationships between ecological trail conditions, preferences for trail conditions, and experiential elements of long-distance hiking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate how ecological trail conditions influence particular experiential elements of long-distance hiking on the Appalachian Trail. The researcher used a mixed-methods approach involving semi structured interviews (n = 17), quantitative questionnaires (n = 336), ecological measurements of trail conditions (734 miles of trail), and modified Recreation Suitability Mapping (RSM) to quantify the relationships between five trail conditions (trail incision, muddiness, rugosity, trail width, and gradient) and four elements of the long-distance hiking experience (level of challenge, perceived impact to the musculoskeletal system, valuation of trail tread aesthetics, and the ability to maintain an ideal hiking pace). The researcher weighted and analyzed hikers' preferences for trail conditions using SPSS 22.0, and mapped the resulting data using ArcMap 10.2.2. Results suggest that valuation of trail tread aesthetics was the most important element of the long-distance hiking experience, and that muddiness had the most influence on valuation of trail tread aesthetics. The modified RSM techniques used in this study provided an efficient means to compare trail sections, and identify relationships between trail conditions and experiential elements. The methods and results have implications for trail managers regarding the effects of trail conditions on the hiking experience, enhancement of the hiking experience, and construction and utilization of informative maps