This chapter begins by discussing liminality in the context of ritual and play. It then examines liminality as it unfolds on contemporary wilderness trails. Wilderness as it manifests in mythology is then outlined. From there, an examination of varying sojourns show divergent ways of approaching...

This chapter focuses on the six most popular alternative winter sport activities in Tyrol (Austria): backcountry skiing, ski touring on slopes (i.e. skiing up the hill on the fringe of groomed ski slopes), winter hiking, tobogganing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. More precisely, it wants to ...

Increasingly large numbers of visitors to Yosemite National Park were choosing to hike to the summit of Half Dome, the scenic symbol of the park and one of the most distinctive and charismatic mountains in the world. The last portion of the hike ascends the steep and exposed east face of the...

On peak summer days, thousands of hikers can be found along the extensive and diverse trail system in Acadia National Park. The collective use by so many visitors can take a toll on trail resources. Some visitors alter and build rock cairns; walk off-trail to avoid rocks, roots, and wet spots; and...

This chapter explores the tourism activity of hiking in mountain areas and makes the case that the use of stamp books may, perhaps, be an extension of the historic way in which families experienced natural areas in the past, particularly mountain regions. The chapter presents a case study of the...

This chapter discusses walking as a recreational activity in both the low mountain and the higher alpine regions of Germany. Demand, motivation and tourism trends are discussed as they relate to hiking tourism. This case study reveals that there is a diversity of demand for hiking which shifts with ...

This chapter presents two case studies involving hiking and camping within Iranian mountain areas, and looks at the constraints experienced during these outdoor activities. The literature on tourism and pro-environmental behaviour and the constraints on environmental behaviours form the basis for...

On peak summer days, thousands of hikers can be found along the extensive and diverse trail system in Acadia National Park. The collective use by so many visitors can take a toll on trail resources. Some visitors alter and build rock cairns; walk off-trail to avoid rocks, roots, and wet spots; and...

Denali National Park and Preserve offers visitors the premier opportunity in North America to see large concentrations of charismatic wildlife, including grizzly bears and wolves. The park is managed in ways that allow visitor access but guard against wildlife disturbance (Impacts to wildlife) and...

As the highest mountain in the "lower 48", Mt Whitney is a favorite destination for many hikers in the United States and beyond. However, this popularity has led to a number of management problems, including impacts associated with very large numbers of visitors on the trail and summit and improper ...