Outdoor recreation in a Regional Park: types of hikers, ski tourers and snowshoers in the Hautes-Bauges (Savoie, France)

ABSTRACT

The objective of this paper is to analyse the modalities of practice for winter and summer activities (hiking, ski touring and snowshoeing) in the Massif of Bauges. Modalities of practice are defined from several variables such as level, frequency, and motivation. The methodology combined a quantitative method based on a survey with a qualitative method based on semi-structured interviews. From a general standpoint, the profiles of recreational users in the Massif of Bauges are compatible with the previous observations made of those visiting natural areas, and especially of those participating in adventure sports. They are mainly men over 40 years old, who are university graduates and belong to privileged social categories. Results highlight individuals’ different usages of the same activity. Also, it is possible to identify an age and gender effect in the structuring of the modalities of practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Recreational user profile
• outdoor sport
• mountain
• hiking
• ski touring

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Elsa Girardeau who participated in the summer data collection and analysis for her master thesis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 The RNCFS is co-managed by the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, the Parc Naturel Régional du Massif des Bauges and the Office National de la Forêt.

2 For example, two items for reasons of practice were: ‘I practice this activity to stay fit’; ‘I'm looking for risk taking’.

3 For example, we have eliminated low-frequency categories like ‘farmer’ and we have recoded the variable ‘level of practice’ by combining ‘beginners’ and ‘intermediate’ (for the winter season).

4 In the French classification of occupations ‘employees’ include low responsibility occupations such as clerical support workers or sales and services workers

5 According to the Chi-Square adjustment test (ddl = 6; n = 799; Chi-Square = 831.55; p < 0.05).

6 Including jobseekers.

7 According to the Chi-Square adjustment test (ddl = 4; n = 1019; Chi-Square = 1496.23; p < 0.05).

8 According to the Chi-Square adjustment test (ddl = 3; n = 957; Chi-Square = 112.18; p < 0.05).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Agence Nationale de la Recherche; LABEX ITEM.

Notes on contributors

Clémence Perrin-Malterre

Clémence Perrin-Malterre, is a lecturer at EDYTEM of Savoie Mont Blanc University since 2012. Her research, in the field of sport sociology, focus on outdoor sports and sport tourism. She studies (1) the environmental management of outdoor sports in protected areas; (2) the tourist diversification of low mountain; (3) the evolution of sport tourism offer. Since 2013, she develops interdisciplinary project with ecologists and geographers to study how outdoor recreation affect the mountain ecosystem, and more specifically the interrelationship between recreationists and mountain wildlife. In order to understand this, researchers develop an integrated analysis of (1) the use and perceptions of the environment by outdoor activities participants, (2) the shared spaces between humans and wildlife and (3) the management guidelines. Furthermore, the goal of theses research is to provide data and knowledge required by protected areas managers who are facing an increasing number of outdoor activities on their territory.

Laine Chanteloup

Laine Chanteloup is a tenure track professor in geography of mountain resources at the Institute of Geography and Sustainability in Lausanne University. Laine Chanteloup's research interests focus on how humans relate to their environment in mountain areas and in arctic regions. She is currently involved in a research project looking at the interactions between outdoor activities and wildlife in the Alps.

Léna Gruas

Léna Gruas is a Ph.D. student in sociology at the university of Savoie Mont Blanc. Her research interests include the environmental impact of sports and her current work investigates the human dimension of wildlife disturbance caused by mountain sports.