Shenandoah National Park Old Rag Mountain Visitor Use Study

Paperwork Reduction and Privacy Act Statements: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires us to tell you why we are collecting this information, how we will use it, and whether or not you have to respond. This information will be used by the National Park Service as authorized by 54 USC 100702. We will use this information to understand travel patterns, as well as visitor crowding, displacement, and safety on Old Rag Mountain. Your responses are voluntary and anonymous. Your name and address will not be collected. At the completion of this collection any personal information will be destroyed and in no way be connected with the results of this survey. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

Burden Estimate: We estimate that it will take an average of 6 minutes to complete this route card survey. You may send comments concerning the burden estimates or any aspect of this information collection to the Social Science Program Chief, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO, 80525-5596; [email protected] (email).

Old Rag Route Survey – 2019 OMB #: xxxx-xxxx

Expires: xx/xx/xxxx

Survey ID _________________ Initials _____________________

Date _____________________ Group Size _________________

Trip Length: Day / Overnight

Origin: Nethers / Berry Hollow / Other:_______________________

Location	Time hh:mm:ss	Location	Time hh:mm:ss
a		h
b		I
c		j
d		k
e		l
f		m
g		n

NOTE: This table is completed by survey administrators stationed along the trail.

At the end of your hike on Old Rag, please open the route card and complete the questions on the inside pages.

1. Did you hike to the top of Old Rag today (check one)?

   Yes (SKIP TO QUESTION 3)

   No

2. Which of the following explains why you did not hike to the top of Old Rag today (check all that apply)?

   I was uncomfortable with the sharp drop-offs.

   The trail was too crowded.

   Others on the trail were behaving dangerously.

   The number of people on the trail made me feel unsafe.

   It was taking too long due to crowding on the trail.

   Other member(s) of my group wanted to turn around.

   I was too tired.

   I was too hot or too cold.

   I did not have enough water.

   I did not have enough time.

   There were no restroom facilities on the trail.

   I did not have proper footwear for the terrain.

   Bad weather (e.g., thunder/lightning, high winds, rain, snow).

   Snowy, icy, or wet/slick trail conditions.

   Other (please specify): ___________________________

3. Did you take any of the following actions in response to crowding on your Old Rag hike today (check all that apply)?

   I rushed my hike to try to “beat the crowd.”

   I walked off trail to bypass people.

   I used unmarked side trails to bypass people.

   I cut switchbacks to bypass people.

   I passed people on sections of trail with steep drop-offs.

   Other (please specify):________________________________

OR

   I did not take any actions in response to crowding.

After completing these questions, please return your completed route card to a survey administrator.

Thank you for participating in this important study!