Details:

Journal Title:
Weather, Climate, and Society
Personal Author:
Jenkins, Jeffrey S. ; Abatzoglou, John T. ; Peterson, Brian A.
Jenkins, Jeffrey S. ; Abatzoglou, John T. ; Peterson, Brian A. Less -
NOAA Program & Office:
OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research)
Description:
Wilderness visitation, particularly overnight use, is reactive to climate variability because backpackers face greater exposure to and dependence on environmental conditions. This study examines the effect that spring snowpack had on the timing and volume of permits issued for overnight use of the Yosemite Wilderness during peak and shoulder-season months (April–October) from 2002 to 2019. We categorize 1 April snowpack at Tuolumne Meadows into snow drought (<75%), high snowpack (>125%), and near-average snowpack (75%–125%). Results confirm wilderness-wide differences between snowpack categories, including change in spring overnight visitors (April–June: +20% snow drought and −28% high snowpack). Our findings confirm that snow drought allows for more access to high-elevation trailheads when seasonal roads are open earlier in spring (May–June: +74% Tioga Road and +81% Tuolumne Meadows). Mid- to high-elevation trailheads experience a sustained increase in use during high-snowpack years (June–October: +12% Yosemite Valley and Big Oak Flat; +15% Glacier Point Road and Wawona; +32% Hetch Hetchy) because a narrower seasonal access window leads to filled permit quotas in the high country and displaces use to lower-elevation trailheads. These findings have implications for wilderness stewards, including biophysical and experiential impacts on wilderness character from earlier and longer seasons, especially at higher elevation and in fragile alpine and subalpine areas, as snow drought in mountain-protected areas becomes more common. Recommendations to address greater early-season use and its attendant impacts include adaptively managing permits for different types of snowpack years, including potential changes in the number, timing, and destination of select trailhead quotas.
Keywords:
[+]
Atmospheric Science Global And Planetary Change Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Source:
Weather, Climate, and Society, 15(2), 365-379
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/wcas-d-22-0099.1
ISSN:
1948-8327;1948-8335;
Format:
PDF
Publisher:
American Meteorological Society
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
Grant no. NA20OAR4310478
Rights Information:
Other
Compliance:
Library
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:5483c8e21df05e5899bab3f49bb2e3f34e333b1f07e9e017ee44691554b1d398
Download URL:
https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/60525/noaa_60525_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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