Yosemite National Park Wilderness Study

OMB Control Number 1024-0224

Expiration Date: 10/31/2021

App Questionnaire

Introductory Text

NOTE TO REVIEW: Information in the “Introductory Text” section will be presented to respondents during the onboarding (i.e., app-introduction process).

Thank you for agreeing to participate in this important research study for Yosemite National Park.

Every year tens of thousands of campers have outstanding wilderness experiences in Yosemite National Park. To ensure that campers can continue to have outstanding experiences, the park periodically surveys visitors about their camping experiences.

This questionnaire asks about your group and your trip, your past wilderness experience, and your wilderness experiences on this trip. Your responses are vital to the sustained stewardship of Yosemite Wilderness.

It is important to note that your responses are confidential. While we ask you to provide your wilderness permit number, no personally identifying information from you permit will be included in this study’s analysis. Additionally, any references to your permit will be removed from the data prior to publication. If you have any questions about data privacy, please see [data privacy statement provided by third-party app-developer; Insert statement about IRB approval with appropriate University and approval information].

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 in Yosemite National Park (YOSE) in future initiatives related to the visitor use and resource management within the site. The data collected will be summarized to evaluate visitor uses and expectations during their visit at YOSE. 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. All contact information collected for the purpose of the follow-up survey will be destroyed at the end of the collection period and no personal identifiable records will be maintained or stored for any purposes. 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 Estimate Statement: We estimate that it will take about 17 minutes to complete this on-site questionnaire. You may send comments concerning the burden estimates or any aspect of this information collection to: Nathan Reigner, Pennsylvania State University, [email protected] (email); or Phadrea Ponds NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer at [email protected] (email).

Instructions & Key Terms

This survey is about your wilderness camping trip in Yosemite National Park. For the purposes of this survey, we are defining your trip based only on the nights that you spend camping in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park. You can see a map of this area here: [map link]. If your wilderness camping trip begins or ends outside of Yosemite National Park, please respond to this questionnaire only for the nights that you are camped in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park. [map link]

One survey should be completed by each permit group. A permit group is the party traveling together on a single wilderness permit.

Each night that you are camping, we will ask you questions about your decisions about where to camp. Each morning we will ask you questions about your camping experience. These questions will refer to two types of locations: your camping area and your campsite. Your camping area is the overnight destination where you camped (for example, a lake or set of lakes; a meadow, pass, or valley; a trail junction or river confluence, etc.). Your campsite is the specific spot within the camping area where you spent the night. Many campsites will likely exist within a camping area.

Group & Trip Characteristics

NOTE TO REVIEW: Respondents will be asked “Group & Trip Characteristics” questions after completing onboarding and prior to the beginning of their wilderness trip.

This section of the questionnaire asks about your permit group. Your permit group is the personal group (i.e., friends and family) with whom you are traveling on your wilderness permit during this trip in Yosemite National Park. We ask for information about your permit so we can understand how the characteristics of your trip and the quality of your wilderness experience are related to the numbers and types of wilderness permits issued in

Yosemite National Park. All permit data will be anonymized, with all personally identifying information removed.

1. How many people, including yourself, are in your permit group (i.e., the friends and family with whom you are camping in the wilderness)?: _________________ (number of people).

2. Which of the following management units or organizations issued your wilderness camping permit? (select one)
	Yosemite National Park
	Inyo National Forest
	Sierra National Forest
	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
	Stanislaus National Forest
	Eldorado National Forest
	Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
	Pacific Crest Trail Association (i.e., PCT long-distance permit)
	I have no permit
	Other (please specify): _______________________________

3. What is the ID number of your permit? _____________________________ (enter your permit ID, which may contain both numbers and letters)

4. Will you be using the services of a commercial guide or outfitter on this trip (excluding the services of the High Sierra Camps)? (select one)
	Yes
	No
5. Do you plan to start your wilderness camping trip inside Yosemite National Park? (select one)
	Yes, I plan to start my wilderness camping trip in Yosemite National Park.
	No, I plan to start my wilderness camping trip outside of Yosemite National Park. Go to Q7

6. Please select the place in Yosemite National Park where you plan to start your wilderness trip. (select one) [click here for a reference map]
	Picklist item 1 of possible start locations
	Picklist item 2 of possible start locations…
	Other, please specify: ____________________
Go to Q8

7. Please select the place where you plan to enter Yosemite National Park during your wilderness trip. (select one) [click here for a reference map]
	Picklist item 1 of possible entry locations
	Picklist item 2 of possible entry locations…
	Other, please specify: ____________________

8. What is the date of the first night you plan to camp in the wilderness in Yosemite National Park on this wilderness trip? (select one)
mm/dd/yy	Date of the first night you plan to wilderness camp in Yosemite National Park.
	Don’t know / Not sure

9. How many nights do you plan to camp in the wilderness in Yosemite National Park during your wilderness trip? ___________________ (number of nights)

10. Approximately how far, in miles, do you plan to travel in Yosemite National Park on this trip?
________	miles
OR
	Don’t know/not sure

11. Do you plan to end your wilderness camping trip in Yosemite National Park? (select one)
	Yes, I plan to end my wilderness camping trip in Yosemite National Park.
	No, I plan to end my wilderness camping trip outside of Yosemite National Park. Go to 13
12. Please select the place in Yosemite National Park where you plan to end your wilderness trip. (select one) [click here for a reference map]
	Picklist item 1 of possible end locations
	Picklist item 2 of possible end locations…
	Other, please specify: ____________________
Go to Q14
13. Please select the place where you plan to exit Yosemite National Park during your wilderness trip. (select one) [click here for a reference map]
	Picklist item 1 of possible exit locations
	Picklist item 2 of possible exit locations…
	Other, please specify: ____________________
14. How would you describe your planned route for this wilderness camping trip? (select one)
	My route is entirely within Yosemite National Park.
	My route is along the John Muir Trail (i.e., traveling mostly along the JMT).
	My route is part of a Pacific Crest Trail long-distance trip (i.e., traveling more than 500 miles along the PCT).
	Other, please specify: ____________________

15. Do you consider yourself to be the leader or organizer of your permit group? (select one)
	Yes
	No

16. People choose to take wilderness trips for many reasons. How important was each of the following in your decision to take this wilderness camping trip? (check one box for each item)
				Not at all important	Slightly important	Moderately important	Very important	Extremely important
Freedom								
Solitude								
To think about who I am								
Closeness to nature								
Wilderness								
Remoteness								
Sense that surroundings haven’t been impacted by people								
To be away from crowds of people								
Challenge (physical or mental)								
To be away from the modern world								
To meet other people like me								
To be with family or friends								
To have a story to share								
To develop personal, spiritual values								

17. Including this one, approximately how many wilderness or backcountry camping trips have you taken in Yosemite National Park? (select one)
	This is my first wilderness or backcountry camping trip in Yosemite.
	2 to 3 trips
	4 to 5 trips
	6 to 7 trips
	8 or more trips

18. Including this one, approximately how many wilderness or backcountry overnight camping trips have you taken in your lifetime? (select one)
	This is my first wilderness or backcountry camping trip anywhere.
	2 to 5 trips
	6 to 10 trips
	11 to 25 trips
	26 to 50 trips
	51 or more trips
19. How familiar are you with the purposes and characteristics of federally designated Wilderness areas? (select one)
	Not at all familiar
	Slightly familiar
	Somewhat familiar
	Very familiar

20. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about your use of federally designated Wilderness areas. (check one box for each item)
	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither	Agree	Strongly Agree
I find that a lot of my life is organized around wilderness use.					
I feel like wilderness is part of me.					
I get greater satisfaction out of visiting wilderness than other areas.					

Camping Night

NOTE TO REVIEW: Respondents will be asked “Camping Night” questions each evening of their wilderness trip. The app will display a notification prompt to complete “Camping Night” questions each evening at 18:00.

21. Have you selected your campsite for the night? (select one)
	Yes, I found my campsite for tonight. Go to 22
	No, I have not yet found my campsite for tonight. Go to 31
	No, I am not camping tonight. Go to 32

Each night that you are camping, we will ask you questions about your decisions about where to camp. Each morning we will ask you questions about your camping experience. These questions will refer to two types of locations: your camping area and your campsite. Your camping area is the overnight destination where you camped (for example, a lake or set of lakes; a meadow, pass, or valley; a trail junction or river confluence, etc.). Your campsite is the specific spot within the camping area where you spent the night. Many campsites will likely exist within a camping area.

22. When was the decision made to camp in this area tonight? (select one) Please note, this question asks about your decision to camp in this camping area, not your specific campsite.
	Upon arriving in the area.
	Sometime during the day today.
	On a previous day of this wilderness trip.
	Prior to the start of my wilderness trip.

23. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about the reasons why your permit group chose to camp in this area tonight. Please note, this question asks about your decision to camp in this camping area, not your specific campsite. (check one box for each item)
My group is camping in this area tonight because…	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither	Agree	Strongly Agree
it was part of our original trip plan.					
we could travel no further due to environmental conditions (e.g., weather, darkness, snow, flooded rivers, etc.).					
we could travel no further because of a physical reason (e.g., fatigue, illness, injury, etc.).					
we traveled further than expected today.					
there is a geographic feature (e.g., lake, mountain, river, etc.) that we want to camp near.					
staying in this area positions us to reach a destination we plan to visit later in our trip.					
we are trying to avoid crowds.					
we thought there would be empty places to camp.					
I or someone in my group has been to this area before.					
facilities like food storage lockers, potable water, or privies are available.					
some kind of emergency.					

24. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements about the reasons why your permit group selected its campsite for tonight. Please note, this question asks about your decision about where to locate your campsite, not the general camping area. (select one for each item)
We chose this campsite because…	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither	Agree	Strongly Agree
I or someone in my group already knew about it.					
it was easy to find.					
it has adequate level and clear ground to accommodate our group.					
it provides shelter from weather, insects, sun, or other environmental conditions.					
most desirable campsites in the area were occupied.					
there were few suitable campsites in this area.					
it has a good view or other scenic appeal.					
it is close enough to a drinking water source.					
it is close to water for recreation (e.g., swimming/bathing, fishing).					
it is adjacent to the trail.					
it is close to facilities like food storage lockers, potable water, or privies.					
it has campsite “furniture” like a fire ring, seating, cooking rock, etc.					
it is away from others (i.e., you will not see or hear other campers).					
the campsite and surrounding area are free from litter and human waste.					
it appears that other people have camped here before.					
it was the first good site we found in this area.					
it is close enough to others to feel safe.					
it is a low impact place to camp.					

25. Among the reasons you considered when selecting your campsite, what was the primary reason why your permit group chose the campsite that you did? Please note, this question asks about the decision about where to locate your campsite, not the general camping area.

______________________________________________ (enter text, 80-character limit).

Camping Morning

NOTE TO REVIEW: Respondents will be asked “Camping Morning” questions each morning of their wilderness trip. The app will display a notification prompt to complete “Camping Morning” questions each morning at 4:00.

26. How much of the following did you notice in and around your campsite last night? (select one for each item)
				None at all	A little	Some	A lot	Don’t know
Litter or trash								
Improperly disposed of human waste or toilet paper								
Campfire rings or evidence of campfires								
Campsite furniture like rocks or logs arranged for seats, tables, etc.								
Campers from other groups entering or walking near your campsite								
Human alteration of vegetation or soil								
Wildlife habituation (e.g., animals approaching your camp in search of food, being tolerant of humans nearby)								

27. Now we would like to know how the amount of each of the above items you noticed affected your wilderness camping experience. Please indicate how the amount of each of the following items in and around your campsite last night affected your wilderness experience? (select one for each item)
	Detracted greatly	Detracted somewhat	Had no effect	Added somewhat	Added greatly	Not applicable/ I don’t know
Litter or trash						
Improperly disposed of human waste or toilet paper						
Campfire rings or evidence of campfires						
Campsite furniture like rocks or logs arranged for seats, tables, etc.						
Campers from other groups entering or walking near your campsite						
Human alteration of vegetation or soil						
Wildlife habituation (e.g., animals approaching your camp in search of food; being tolerant of humans nearby)						

28. How many other camping groups were you able to see or hear from your campsite last night? (select one)
	No other groups
	1 other group
	2 to 3 other groups
	4 to 6 other groups
	7 to 10 other groups
	11 or more other groups

29. We would like to know how the number of other groups you could see or hear from your campsite last night affected your wilderness experience. Please indicate how the number of other groups you could see or hear from your campsite last night affected your wilderness experience? (select one)
	It added greatly to my wilderness experience
	It added to my wilderness experience
	It had no effect on my wilderness experience
	It detracted from my wilderness experience
	It detracted greatly from my wilderness experience

30. Thinking about your camping experience last night only, how satisfied or dissatisfied were you with your campsite? (select one)
	Very dissatisfied
	Somewhat dissatisfied
	Neutral
	Somewhat satisfied
	Very satisfied

31. Will you be camping in Yosemite National Park wilderness tonight? (select one)
	Yes, I will camp at least one more night in Yosemite Wilderness. Go to 21
	No, I am ending my wilderness camping trip today. Go to 32
	No, I will continue my wilderness camping trip but am leaving Yosemite National Park today. Go to Q33

End of Trip

NOTE TO REVIEW: Respondents will be asked “End of Trip” questions in the evening after responding with one of the two “no” options to question 31 (above). The app will display a notification prompt to complete “End of Trip” questions that evening at 18:00.

32. Please select the place in Yosemite National Park where you ended your wilderness trip today. (select one)
		Picklist item 1 Yosemite trip end locations
		Picklist item 2 Yosemite trip end locations…
		Other, please specify: ____________________
Go to Q34
33. Please select the place where you exited Yosemite National Park today. (select one)
	Picklist item 1 Yosemite trip exit locations
	Picklist item 2 Yosemite trip exit locations…
	Other, please specify: ____________________

34. Did your permit group end your trip or exit the wilderness in Yosemite National Park earlier than, later than, or on the same day as originally planned?
Yes, we ended our trip or exited earlier than originally planned.	No, we ended our trip or exited on the same day as originally planned.	Yes, we ended our trip or exited later than originally planned.
		
Go to Q35	Go to Q37	Go to Q36

35. We would like to know why your permit group ended your wilderness camping trip or exited Yosemite National Park earlier than planned. How important was each of the following factors in your permit group ending your wilderness camping trip or exiting Yosemite Wilderness earlier than originally planned? (select one per item)
				Not at all important	Slightly important	Moderately important	Very important	Extremely important
We traveled faster than planned.				□	□	□	□	□
A group member became injured, ill, or physically exhausted.				□	□	□	□	□
To avoid environmental conditions like weather, flooded rivers, snow, or fire.				□	□	□	□	□
Our motivations for the trip changed.				□	□	□	□	□
External factors (e.g., at home, work, school, etc.) prompted us to end our trip.				□	□	□	□	□
Our original trip plan was too ambitious or difficult.				□	□	□	□	□
We got lost or disoriented.				□	□	□	□	□
We had a problem with equipment or supplies.				□	□	□	□	□
An emergency.				□	□	□	□	□

36. We would like to know why your permit group ended your wilderness camping trip or exited Yosemite National Park later than you planned. How important was each of the following factors in your permit group ending your wilderness camping trip or exiting Yosemite Wilderness later than originally planned? (select one for each item)
				Not at all important	Slightly important	Moderately important	Very important	Extremely important
We traveled slower than planned.				□	□	□	□	□
A group member became injured, ill, or physically exhausted.				□	□	□	□	□
Environmental condition like weather, flooded rivers, snow, or fire slowed my travel.				□	□	□	□	□
Our motivations for the trip changed.				□	□	□	□	□
External factors (e.g., at home, work, school, etc.) prompted us to extend our trip.				□	□	□	□	□
Our original trip plan was too ambitious or difficult.				□	□	□	□	□
We got lost or disoriented.				□	□	□	□	□
We had a problem with equipment or supplies.				□	□	□	□	□
An emergency.				□	□	□	□	□

37. We would like to know about how the time you spent wilderness camping in Yosemite National Park, as a whole, compared with your expectations. Thinking about your wilderness camping trip in Yosemite National Park as a whole, please indicate how your experience of each of the following items compared with your expectations. (select one for each item)
			I had no expectations	A lot less than expected	Less than expected	About as expected	More than expected	A lot more than expected
The number of other camping groups you could see or hear from your campsites.								
The number of campers from other groups entering or walking near your campsites.								
The amount of litter or trash in and around your campsites.								
The amount of improperly disposed of human waste or toilet paper in and around your campsites.								
The number of campfire rings or evidence of campfires in and around your campsites.								
The amount of camp furniture like rocks or logs arranged for seats, tables, etc. in and around your campsites.								
Human alterations to vegetation or soil in and around your campsites.								
Wildlife habituation (e.g., animals approaching you in search of food) in and around your campsites.								

38. Please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements about your participation in this wilderness camping study. (select one for each item)
			Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree	Don’t know
Participating in this study negatively impacted my wilderness experience.								
Participating in this study contributed to the stewardship of Yosemite National Park.								
I would participate in this study again if I had the chance.								

Concluding Text

Thank you for completing the Yosemite Wilderness Study questionnaire. Your responses are very much appreciated and will help to inform park Wilderness stewardship.

Your responses will upload the next time you connect to a cellular or wireless network.

After you connect and see a response upload confirmation you are free to uninstall the Outerspatial app if you wish.

Thank you again for your participation – you have helped Yosemite National Park.

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