Trail Erosion Research Articles

大雪山国立公園の登山道の生態的インパクトに対する利用者の評価に関する基礎的研究

Little research has been done on visitors perceptions of ecological impacts caused by trampling on trails in mountainous areas. The objects of this study are to raise awareness by reviewing previous studies about perceptions of the ecological impacts on trails and to prepare materials to direct the management of trails based on a survey of visitors opinions. The study, conducted in Daisetsuzan National Park, focused on the ecological impacts on trails and visitors strategies of coping behavior with damaged sites. Self-administered mail-back questionnaires were used to elicit the visitors perceptions of the ecological impacts on trails. The questionnaires were supplemented by photographs depicting various kinds of damage. Most of the visitors indicated awareness of trail erosion, muddy conditions, and damage to vegetation. The majority of them recognized the need to deal with some of these conditions. The results of the study confirmed that not only the scenic but also ecological and functional aspects were included in visitors perceptions. Result showed that some users recognized their effects on the impacts at least, and had improved the coping behavior when they passed over a damaged site.

Manual for Measuring the Volume of Mountain Trail Erosion by Digital, Photogrammetry

Manual for Measuring the Volume of Mountain Trail Erosion by Digital, Photogrammetry

Hiking trail erosion in the Southern part of the Tanzawa mountains

Hiking trail erosion in the Southern part of the Tanzawa mountains

Effects of recreational use impacts on hiking experiences in natural areas

This study investigated the relationship between recreational use impacts and hiking experiences in natural areas. The effects of trail erosion, extension and widening, muddiness, tree and plant damage, fire rings, and litter were related to four dimensions of recreational experiences—solitude, remoteness, naturalness, and artifactualism. Recreational use impacts were found to have a negative effect on hiking experiences in natural areas. Litter, tree and plant damage, and fire rings had the greatest effect on hiking experience indicators; trail extension and widening and trail erosion had a moderate effect; and muddiness had a minimal effect on experience. Information generated through this study should assist in appropriate planning, design, and management of natural areas to maintain ecological integrity and to provide for quality hiking experiences.

Sustainable Mountain Biking: A Case Study from the Southwest of Western Australia

The environmental impacts of mountain biking and rider preferences in Southwest Western Australia were analysed to determine appropriate trail design and to ensure that this popular nature-based activity has minimal environmental impact while meeting rider requirements. Environmental impacts such as soil erosion and compaction, trail widening and changes in vegetation cover on a recreational trail and racing track were monitored for 12 months to determine the short- and long-term effects of riding during winter (rainy) and summer (dry) seasons. Rider preferences were determined through a survey of mountain bike riders in the region. The study found that trail erosion, soil compaction, trail widening and vegetation damage can occur but they can be avoided or minimised with appropriate trail siting, design and management. The study also found that rider preferences for downhills, steep slopes, curves and jumps along with water stations and trail markings need to be included in the siting and design of the trails. When multiple-use trails are considered, mountain bikers are willing to share the trail with other users except motorised vehicles.

Trail Impacts and Trail Impact Management Related to Visitation at Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Protected area visitation and ecotourism in Central and South America are largely dependent upon a relatively undisturbed quality of natural resources. However, visitation may impact vegetation, soil, water, and wildlife resources, and degrade visitor facilities such as recreation sites and trails. Findings are reported from trail impact research conducted at Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile. The frequency and magnitude of selected trail impacts and the relative effect of the amount of use, vegetation type, trail position, and trail grade are investigated. Findings differed from previous studies in that amount of use was significantly related to both trail width increases and trail erosion. Management actions to minimize trail impacts are offered.

Managing Recreational Trail Environments for Mountain Bike User Preferences.

/ The carrying capacity model is an effective tool for the management of a wildland recreation resource. Within the model are four primary subcapacities, namely, physical capacity, biological capacity, social capacity, and facility capacity; combined, they are essential to the appropriate management of wildland recreation resource environments. This study focuses on environmental factors of recreational environments that are primarily used by mountain bikers. Little research has been conducted on the social carrying capacity of mountain biking environments, relative to the amount of physical and biological capacity research that has been conducted. The objective of this study was to further resource management knowledge of the mountain bike user in order to better incorporate social carrying capacity into the management of bike use environments. An email survey was used to identify such issues as mountain biker preference of soil erosion management techniques and to measure the effect on experience of resultant factors of soil erosion and trail design. Other issues, such as environmental concern, biker perception of other users, and biker commitment, were also measured. A 58% response rate was achieved. Data gathered from bikers in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand (N = 406), highlight some important issues concerning the design and management of wildland recreation environments that are primarily used for mountain biking. For example, bikers were found to significantly prefer water bars above all other tested soil erosion management techniques; trail erosion factors, including the presence of rocks, roots, and gullies, all added to biking experiences on average; trail design factors, such as the presence of turns, bumps, jumps, and obstacles, all added to biking experiences in general. These findings were used to address questions that resource managers should consider when striving to effectively manage wildland recreation areas primarily used for mountain biking.

Measuring Trail Erosion with a 35 mm Camera

A simple photogrammetric system was designed to monitor trail degradation by generating digital terrain models (DTMs) of sample plots <4m2. A sloped path was photographed in stereo with a standard 35 mm camera from 2.4 m above the ground. A portable stereo camera platform provided the photogrammetric parameters to capture elevation data directly off the photographs with an accuracy of about 3 mm, without the aid of ground control. Volume estimates of simulated trail erosion, computed from the photo-based DTMs, were accurate to about one percent of the true volume.

Evaluation of trail erosion in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located in southwest Texas, is primarily a park for hiking and backpacking. Trails provide the only access to most scenic features and attractions. Permanently established erosion transects were studied to determine whether on-trail erosion was significantly greater than that occurring off-trail and to establish the factors which significantly contribute to the erosional/depositional process. Results after 3.5 years of study indicate that the net erosion and deposition of soil on the trails closely approximate those occurring naturally off the trail. Trail sites are relatively more unstable and experience greater soil movement (measured as absolute area change) than do off-trail sites. Differences in environmental site factors did not significantly affect the on-trail erosion process. Factors resulting from human impact (trail width and visitor use) were directly related to increased amounts of soil movement (absolute area change), but did not necessarily result in greater net erosion.

Trail erosion patterns in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

All the maintained trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park were surveyed for width, depth, and a variety of types of erosion. Trail erosion is related to a number of environmental variables, including vegetation type, elevation, trail slope, and section of the park. Open grass balds and spruce-fir forest are the most erosion-sensitive plant communities, and the xeric oak and pine types are the least sensitive. Trails in virgin or mature forest tend to be in poorer condition than those in successional areas. The most important physical factor is the slope of the trail.