title: Characterizing and comparing backcountry trail conditions in Mount Robson Provincial Park, Canada.
abstract: Two backcountry trails located within the Mount Robson Provincial Park boundaries in British Columbia, Canada, are compared for the type of ecological characteristics and the influence of topographical use level and management on trail degradation. Data on five trail impact variables were collected at 68 fixed line transects, and information on management features, use level, and water-related problems were based on a survey of 31 km of trails. Results show that the two trails are similar in several ecological characteristics. The Berg Lake Trail (BLT), considered to be highly used and intensively managed, had more significant ecological problems than did Mount Fitzwilliam Trail (FWT), considered to be less highly used and intensively managed. However, ecological impacts on the FWT appear to be statistically no less different than on the BLT. It is concluded that effective trail management can mitigate many ecological problems that result due to the natural topographic conditions and use levels.
authors.affiliation: University of Northern British Columbia, Canada. sknepal@tamu.edu
authors.forename: Sanjay K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Nepal
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Way
mesh_terms: D001955:British Columbia; D002170:Canada; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D011998:Recreation; D016138:Walking