2021 HAFE Visitor Climbing Survey

OMB Control Number 1024-0224

Expiration Date: XX-XX-XXXX

National Capital Region Visitor Survey

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Climbing Study

2021

PAPERWORK REDUCTION and PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT: 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. We are authorized by the National Park Service Protection Interpretation and Research in System (54 USC §100702) to collect this information. The routine uses of this information will be for the benefit of NPS Managers and Planning staff at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (HAFE) in future initiatives related to the visitor use to understand rock climber perceptions of climbing management within the park. The data collected will be summarized to evaluate visitor uses and expectations during their visit at HAFE. Your responses to this collection are completely voluntary and will remain anonymous.  You can end the process at any time and will not be penalized in any way for choosing to do so. Your participation poses only minimal risks. Data collected will only be reported in aggregates and no individually identifiable responses will be reported.  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 (1024-0224).

BURDEN STATEMENT We estimate that it will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and return this short survey. You may send comments concerning the burden estimates or any aspect of this information collection to: Dr. Chris Zajchowski, Assistant Professor, [email protected] ; or Phadrea Ponds NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer at [email protected].

Hello Harpers Ferry Climbers,

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park contracted Old Dominion University and Kansas State University to perform scoping research to understand rock climber perceptions of climbing management within the park. Park management indicated members of the Access Fund, Mid Atlantic Climbers, American Mountain Guide Association, the Potomac Appalachian Trial Club, and regional rock climbing gyms to be important stakeholders of climbing resources in the park, which is why we are contacting you. The information gathered in this survey will be useful in making sure your voice is heard in the management of rock-climbing resources at Harpers Ferry.

This questionnaire should only be completed once per person, and by individuals 18 years of age and older. Your responses are completely anonymous and voluntary; there are no right or wrong answers. Do you have 10 minutes to share your insight regarding climbing management at Harpers Ferry? 

For more information regarding this study, please contact Dr. Chris Zajchowski ([email protected], 757-683-5078) or Dr. Eddie Hill ([email protected], 757-683-4881). 

Screening Question: Have you ever rock climbed in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park?

___Yes _No

-If yes, the participant will move on to complete the survey

-If no, the participant will be directed to the non-response questions and thanked for their time

SECTION 1: CLIMBING EXPERIENCE

Please tell us about your climbing experience.

1. How many years have you been a climber? _________

2. How many times a month do you climb outside? _________

3. How many times a year do you climb outside? _________

4. How many times a month do you climb indoors? _________

5. How many times a year do you climb indoors? _________

Please tell us about your climbing experience at Harpers Ferry.

6. How many years have you climbed at Harpers Ferry? _________

7. How many times a month do you climb at Harpers Ferry? _________

8. How many times a year do you climb at Harpers Ferry? _________

9. What areas of Harpers Ferry have you climbed? (select all that apply)

❑ ABC Ramps

❑ Confederate Walls

❑ The Gully

❑ The Pillar

❑ Sign Wall

❑ Train Tunnel Wall

❑ Union Wall

❑ Virginia Cliff

❑ New Dawn Boulders

❑ The Frontier

❑ Potomac Rope Wall

❑ Potomac Bouldering Wall

❑ Bug Valley

❑ The Corners

❑ Lower Buttress

❑ Skink Rocks

❑ Underground Railroad Overhang

❑ The Tiers

❑ Grassy Knoll Boulder

❑ Balcony Rock

❑ Balcony Jr.

❑ The Highlands

❑ Outlying Area

❑ Land of First Light

❑ Potomac Boulders

❑ Widespot Cliffs

❑ Split Rocks

❑ New Dawn Boulders

❑ West VA Pillar

❑ Roadside Crag

❑ Giggling Boulders

❑ Moonshine Boulder

❑ WV Wall

❑ River Wall

❑ Jefferson Rock

❑ Shenandoah Street

10. Rank your top five favorite climbing areas at Harpers Ferry. 1 being your favorite, 5 being your least favorite (mark only 5)

_____ ABC Ramps

_____ Confederate Walls

_____ The Gully

_____ The Pillar

_____ Sign Wall

_____ Train Tunnel Wall

_____ Union Wall

_____ Virginia Cliff

_____ New Dawn Boulders

_____ The Frontier

_____ Potomac Rope Wall

_____ Potomac Bouldering Wall

_____ Bug Valley

_____ The Corners

_____ Lower Buttress

_____ Skink Rocks

_____ Underground Railroad Overhang

_____ The Tiers

_____ Grassy Knoll Boulder

_____ Balcony Rock

_____ Balcony Jr.

_____ The Highlands

_____ Outlying Area

_____ Land of First Light

_____ Potomac Boulders

_____ Widespot Cliffs

_____ Split Rocks

_____ New Dawn Boulders

_____ West VA Pillar

_____ Roadside Crag

_____ Giggling Boulders

_____ Moonshine Boulder

_____ WV Wall

_____ River Wall

_____ Jefferson Rock

_____ Shenandoah Street

11. Climbing preference: (select all that apply)

❑ Bouldering ❑ Top Rope ❑ Sport

❑ Traditional ❑ Aid Climbing ❑ Solo

12. What is your typical climbing group size at Harpers Ferry?

1 (Solo)	2-3	4-5	More than 5
❑	❑	❑	❑

13. Where do you find out about climbing information for Harpers Ferry?

❑ Internet (e.g. Mountain Project)

❑ Guidebooks

❑ Friends

❑ Climbing Facilities

❑ Park Visitor Center

14. Do you register at the Harpers Ferry Visitor Center before starting your climb?

Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	Always
❑	❑	❑	❑	❑

15. How much money do you spend annually on climbing (gear, permits, gym membership, etc.)?

_________

SECTION 2: ROCK CLIMBING AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

16. Please indicate the extent to which you feel the statement reflects your opinion on the following topics, along the scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree.  

	Strongly disagree	Somewhat disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat Agree	Strongly Agree
Bolts should not be used at Harpers Ferry	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
When, where, and how a bolt is placed should be left up to the individual placing the bolt at Harpers Ferry	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
The impacts of bolts to the natural resource is minimal at Harpers Ferry	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
There should be limits on the amount of bolting at Harpers Ferry	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
There should be official regulations concerning where, when, and how bolts should be used at Harpers Ferry	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Other recreation groups are not offended by bolts at Harpers Ferry	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Fixed anchors are not necessary for climbing at Harpers Ferry	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Climbers need to be educated concerning their role in the management process at Harpers Ferry	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑

SECTION 3: ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE, FEELINGS AND ACTIONS

17. Please indicate the extent to which you feel the statement reflects your opinion on the following topics, along the scale from very inappropriate to very appropriate. 

	Very inappropriate	Inappropriate	Neutral	Appropriate	Very Appropriate
Leaving chalk marks when done climbing	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Traveling off designated trails to access climbs	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Dropping food on the ground to provide wildlife a food source	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Scheduling a visit during times of high use	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Moving rocks, trees, or shrubs at the base of a climb for better/easier access	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Placing gear on vegetation (grasses, trees, shrubs, moss, etc.)	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Keeping a single item like a rock, plant, stick, or feather as a souvenir	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Removing/cleaning lichen, moss, or plants from a climb to establish a new route	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑

18. How would you describe your current knowledge of “Leave No Trace” practices? 

❑ No knowledge	❑ Average	❑ Extensive
❑ Very limited	❑ Above average	❑ Expert

19. Please indicate the extent to which you feel the statement reflects your opinion on the following topics, along the scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree.  

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree
Sometimes it is too difficult to practice “Leave No Trace”	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Practicing “Leave No Trace” takes too much time	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Practicing “Leave No Trace” violates the rights of individuals to do as they please in the outdoors	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Practicing “Leave No Trace” does not reduce the environmental harm caused by recreation	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Practicing “Leave No Trace” effectively protects the environment for future generations to enjoy	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
Practicing “Leave No Trace” enhances my outdoor experience	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑
It is important that all Harpers Ferry visitors practice “Leave No Trace”	❑	❑	❑	❑	❑

SECTION 4: DEMOGRAPHICS

20. Do you live in the United States? (please fill the appropriate blank)

❑ Yes (what is your zip code? _________)

❑ No (what is your country of origin? _________)

21. What is your year of birth? _________

22. What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received?

❑ Less than high school degree

❑ High school graduate (high school diploma or equivalent including GED)

❑ Some college

❑ 2-year degree

❑ 4-year degree

❑ Graduate or professional degree

❑ Do not wish to answer

23. Which of these categories best indicates your race? Answer only for yourself. Please select one or more. (select all that apply)

❑ American Indian or Alaska Native

❑ Asian

❑ Black or African American

❑ Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

❑White

❑ Other (please specify) _______________

24. What is your gender? (select one)

❑ Male ❑ Female

25. Which category best represents your annual household income? Please mark only one.

❑ Less than $24,999	❑ $50,000 to $74,999	❑ $150,000 to $199,999
❑ $25,000 to $34,999	❑ $75,000 to $99,999	❑ $200,000 or more
❑ $35,000 to $49,999	❑ $100,000 to $149,999	❑ Do not wish to answer

26. Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?

❑ Never served in the military

❑ Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard

❑ Now on active duty

❑ On active duty in the past, but not now

27. Are you a current Access Fund member?

❑ Yes ❑ No

28. Are you a current Leave no Trace member?

❑ Yes ❑ No

29. Are you a current American Mountain Guides Association member?

❑ Yes ❑ No

30. Are you a current Professional Climbing Instructors Association member?

❑ Yes ❑ No

31. Are you a current Mid-Atlantic Climbers member?

❑ Yes ❑ No

32. Are you a current Potomac Appalachian Trail Club member?

❑ Yes ❑ No

______________________________________________________________________________

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING!

If you have questions, comments or would like an information from this study, please feel free to contact Dr. Chris Zajchowski ([email protected], 757-683-5078) or Dr. Eddie Hill ([email protected], 757-683-4881).

Would you be interested in being a part of an interest group about Harpers Ferry climbing?

❑ Yes

❑ No

Please provide your email if so: _______________________________________

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