Density as an incomplete cause of crowding in backcountry settings

TLDR

The study reexamines the simple bivariate density‑crowding relationship in Yosemite National Park backcountry use. The authors aim to test an inclusive path model that incorporates personal and experiential motive factors. The model employs path analysis to evaluate how these motive factors influence crowding perceptions. The expanded path model shows that social density is not a significant predictor of crowding, while experience motives—especially quietude, nature involvement, and shared experience—strongly influence crowding perceptions, indicating that crowding in backcountry settings is driven by complex motivational and social factors rather than sheer numbers. Keywords: outdoor recreation, crowding, motives, social carrying capacity, backcountry, social density.

Abstract

Abstract The simple bivariate density‐crowding relationship is reexamined in a study of backcountry use in Yosemite National Park. It is found to be lacking in predictive ability. A more inclusive path model is tested that takes into account personal and experiential motive factors. The introduction of these factors reduces the effect of social density to a level that is not statistically significant. Social density is, in this sense, spurious, and crowding is likely to mean something more complex than a simple response to high levels of encounters. The most important influences on crowding perception that were included in the model are experience motives. In particular, quietude, nature involvement, and shared experience motives have the strongest relationship to crowding perceptions. The common‐sense notion that crowding in backcountry settings is a phenomenon largely dependent upon sheer numbers of people must be reassessed in favor of more complex formulations that incorporate normative, motivational, and social organizational aspects. Key words: outdoor recreationcrowdingmotivessocial carrying capacitybackcountrysocial density