Valuing the Loss of Rock Climbing Access in Wilderness Areas: A National-Level Random Utility Model

Authors

Therese A. Grijalva
Robert P. Berrens
Alok Bohara
Paul Mark Jakus, Utah State UniversityFollow
W. Douglass Shaw

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Land Economics

Volume

78

Issue

1

Publication Date

2002

First Page

103

Last Page

120

Abstract

Given potential growth in outdoor rock climbing and its concentration on public lands, the management of climbing access in wilderness areas is an issue of considerable national controversy in the United States. A proposed rule change by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) would prohibit the use of fixed climbing protection in wilderness areas-effectively eliminating safe access to many sites. Using a unique data set on rock climbing trips, a repeated-nested logit, random-utility model is used to analyze economic losses to climbers resulting from the USFS proposal. Results indicate that the USFS proposal may constitute a major regulatory change.

Recommended Citation

Grijalva, Therese A., Robert P. Berrens, Alok Bohara, Paul M. Jakus, and W. Douglass Shaw. 2002. “Valuing the Loss of Rock Climbing Access in Wilderness Areas: A National-Level Random Utility Model.” Land Economics, 78(1):103-120.