There are many different types of scientists. One type of scientist is a social scientist. Social scientists study individuals or groups of people. Instead of working with chemicals and microscopes, environmental social scientists study the relationship of individuals or groups with their natural environment.

The social scientists in this study examined Web-based trip reports about people’s experiences in the wilderness. The scientists chose one report in particular to use as a case study. A case study is a way that scientists conduct research to examine a particular person, group, or event. In this research, the scientists wanted to look at a particular case
study because this case study contained many of the same themes as the other trip reports they examined. Therefore, the scientists could take the common themes they found across all the trip reports they examined and specifically discuss the themes based on the case study trip report.

In 1964, the United States Congress passed the Wilderness Act. This act established the U.S. National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). The NWPS now encompasses 109,511,966 acres (figure 1). While this may seem like a big number, the number accounts for only 5 percent of the entire United States. The State of Alaska actually contains a little more than one-half of the total wilderness area in the United States (figure 2).

Wilderness is defined as an “untrammeled” area. “Untrammeled” means that these lands are free from human control. No developments such as houses or restaurants are allowed in wilderness areas (figure 3). In addition, no motorized or mechanical equipment, such as bicycles, cars, or snowmobiles, are allowed in wilderness areas. The wildness of these wilderness areas provides many benefits to humans. Some examples of the benefits include ecosystem services, scientific values, geological values, educational values, aesthetic values, historical and
cultural values, and recreational values. For more information about each of these values, read the Wilderness Benefits Natural Inquirer.

Sharing experiences is an important way for people to think about experiences they have had and better understand how those experiences relate to their entire life. Sometimes people talk with others about their experiences, sometimes people write about their experiences, and sometimes people do both. When people write about their experiences, they may choose to write journal entries. Some people use paper and pencils to record their thoughts, while others may use a computer. Some people use a Web-based form of journaling commonly known as blogging. One specific form of a blog is a trip report.

The scientists in this study were interested in how people share their wilderness experiences and how this sharing affects a person’s relationship with wilderness. One way people share their experiences is through trip reports that they write and publish on the Internet. The trip reports contain information about which wilderness area the person (or people) went to and what they did during the time they were in the wilderness. The trip reports often include photos, videos, and maps. The scientists wanted to figure out what was the potential of the trip reports for providing useful information about an individual or group’s experience with wilderness areas.

The scientists studied trip reports from four wilderness areas in Colorado. The four areas were the Uncompahgre Wilderness, Indian Peaks Wilderness, Holy Cross Wilderness, and Flat Tops Wilderness (figure 4).

These areas were chosen for their diversity from each other. Indian Peaks is popular and many people go there (figure 5a and 5b).

Holy Cross is farther from populated areas and fewer people go there. Uncompahgre is the most remote wilderness area out of the four areas studied (figure 6). Flat Tops is much less rugged than the other wilderness areas. The scientists found and analyzed 322 trip reports between March 2009 and October 2010.

The scientists got together for 12 meetings during the process of reading and analyzing the reports to make sure that they were analyzing the reports the same way. These meetings also gave the scientists the opportunity to discuss common themes and ideas they were finding in the trip reports.

The scientists noted that the trip reports had similar formats. A title, location, activity date, and other details about the wilderness area, such as miles traveled and elevation gains, were included. Introductory statements about the trip, photos about important parts of the experience, and a reflection at the end of the trip report were other common features. The trip reports also contained an area in which others who read the trip report may leave comments for the author.

The scientists decided to use one trip report as a case study because they did not have enough space to provide all the information from the 322 trip reports they analyzed. The scientists also thought that this case study exemplified a lot of the common themes found in the other trip reports they examined.

The case study trip report that the scientist chose was from a 16-year-old boy from Salt Lake City, Utah (figure 7). He posted a trip report about his 3.5-day experience in the Uncompahgre Wilderness in August 2010. The boy used the screen name “Eamigo13” when writing his trip report. Therefore, to make the discussion simpler, the scientists used the name Amigo when discussing the boy.

The scientists found that Web-based trip reports are an increasingly common way for people to share their wilderness experiences. The scientists also found that Amigo’s experiences that he shared in his trip report provided a lot of information about individual and group experiences in the wilderness. For example, Amigo provided a background on how Uncompahgre Wilderness was chosen as their destination. Amigo wrote that he had seen photos of Uncompahgre Wilderness on a Web site. A couple of the photos of the Southern San Juan Mountain chain, particularly Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn peaks, intrigued him and made him want to visit the Uncompahgre Wilderness (figure 8a and 8b).

When Amigo’s dad asked Amigo to help plan a vacation for them, Amigo told his dad about Uncompahgre and showed
him the photos. Amigo’s dad agreed to the backpacking trip. They began to plan their trip. Amigo’s younger brother and another father-son duo planned to go with Amigo and his dad.

Amigo also provided information on the hiking routes they took and photos of different parts of the trip. Amigo described how he felt a deep connection to wilderness. The scientists found that Amigo wanted to do more than just look at photos of wilderness, Amigo wanted to experience it. In an entry written on August 11, 2010, Amigo wrote—

“I am currently sitting with my back leaning against a log with Wetterhorn soaring right above me and Coxcomb
looming to my left. I am finally in the Uncompahgre Wilderness on a trip that started at least a year ago when I came across some stunning pictures on summitpost.org. It’s not a pristine forested area, but a rugged mountain range with rolling alpine tundra. It is AWESOME!”

Amigo also recounted details such as waking up early in the morning, hiking the trail, losing the trail, altitude sickness, weather problems, and being tired. He also gave accounts of struggles they faced. For example, Amigo wrote—

“I can’t go to sleep so I might as well write some more. I’ll write a little compare/contrast of today and yesterday. Physically today was a lot harder. We did a lot more climbing, a lot more mileage, but for the most part we had higher spirits. Yesterday, Brian was grumpily trudging along behind us, complaining about altitude sickness, while today he was practically running for parts of the hike. I think DJ and Michael were better prepared mentally for what lay ahead today allowing them to go farther and faster. Personally, I felt a lot happier today, Yesterday night I felt really bad after trying too hard to persuade everyone to do Redcliff and by the end felt like I forced them to agree and felt bad for dragging them along on the trip. Today I approached things differently. I was more open to others’ ideas and less stubborn about doing things my way. My attitude made all the difference.”

Amigo’s trip report detailed a lot of information about Amigo’s experience with wilderness. The trip report provided Amigo with a way of relating his experience to others and making meaning for himself about his experience. In the example above, Amigo reflected on his interactions with the group. He was figuring out why people reacted the way they did and how his reaction and attitude could make a difference in the outcome of the situation. This type of reflection helped Amigo make meaning of his wilderness experience as well as his experience with others.

The scientists found that the Web-based trip reports are an increasingly common form of talking about wilderness experiences. The Web-based trip reports provided a lot of insight into individuals’ wilderness experiences and how they value wilderness. The trip reports also provided the scientists with insight into how people use the World Wide Web to discuss their experiences, share those experiences with others, and make meaning for themselves about their experiences.

Amigo’s trip report is just one of hundreds of trip reports in which people share what they experienced in a wilderness area and what it meant to them. The Web-based trip reports also enable individuals to communicate with others about their experiences and receive feedback. The trip reports have a section in which others reading the trip report can leave comments for the author. This form of relating wilderness experiences and discussing them is valuable for the person writing the blogs and also for the people reading the blogs. The scientists discovered that by reading the blogs themselves, they could learn a great deal about how people experience and value wilderness.