Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve: 2002-2003 wilderness visitor experience data in the Alaska regional context

This data publication contains transcripts of interviews with visitors to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST), in Alaska, in 2002 (Phase I) and 2003 (Phase II). Interviews in the first phase included questions relating to visitor expectations and experiences, with specific attention paid to inter-visitor conflict (both before and during the fall hunting season). Phase II interviews were focused more on recreational use. Each interview was tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The qualitative interviews were conducted with groups (sometimes there was only a single person in a ‘group’, while other times there were multiple people). Also included are data from each interview that describe group size, residency, purpose of visit, and other basic visitor descriptive information.
The basic objective of the first phase was to develop an understanding of backcountry visitor expectations and experiences at WRST, with specific attention paid to perceived inter-visitor conflicts where they occur during the fall hunting season. Specific objectives were to: 1) assess visitors’ trip expectations and reasons for choosing to visit WRST; 2) understand the nature of visitors' actual experiences; 3) investigate the factors that influence the potential for inter-visitor conflict, and the nature of conflicts if and when they occur; 4) record visitors’ comments and concerns with respect to management of the WRST backcountry; and 5) establish a general familiarity with visitor use patterns, contact locations, and issues of concern in order to facilitate the development of future research. The basic objectives of the second phase of research were the same as the first phase, with focus on the part of the use season preceding the fall hunting season. One point of particular interest was how WRST fits into the range of possible National Park Service and wilderness opportunities in Alaska. 1) What do summer visitors expect to find when they visit WRST, and how do they contrast that with perceptions of other options in Alaska? 2) What are the dynamics of visitor experiences? 3) How do visitors describe WRST?