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Prospects
for Solitude along the G.E.T.:
blisterfree's spring 2007
hike
Representative
for Eastbound Thru-hikers at or just before peak hiking
season
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Date
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Segment
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Encounters?* (x = yes, blank = no)
* an encounter simply means a person or motorized/mechanized
equipment was seen or heard that day
* survey does not include all signs of man or civilization,
only the above types of encounters
* does not include encounters during detours, such as to
towns away from official trail route
* does not include aircraft noise or sightings
light
blue shading = full-day solitude (no people, other than
own hiking party, or vehicles encountered along or near
corridor) (an "x" in column DD only)
medium blue shading = full day of complete sensory solitude
(no "x" in any column)
* For the purposes of this study,
a day that yields an "x" in columns AA, BB, or CC "disqualifies"
it for full-day solitude status
** Perceived Degree of Solitude scale (for entire day):
1 = solitude was interrupted frequently AND for extended
periods; 2 = frequently OR for an extended period; 3 = LESS
frequently AND NOT for an extended period; 4 = very infrequently
or encounters only of type DD; 5 = solitude was not interrupted
at all
***
Solitude Index (Average Perceived Degree of Solitude for
entire hike): Add results for each day of hike and divide
by the hike's total number of days
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AA
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BB
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CC
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DD
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Perceived
Degree of Solitude:
(Scale of 1 to 5)**
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visual
encounters with fellow trail users (other than steady companions)
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other
human visual encounters (people on or near route, not in
vehicles)
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visual
encounters with 1 or more vehicles along or near corridor
(at road crossings, etc)
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other
encounters with people or vehicles, either seen at distance
or heard; other sounds of man*
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4 March
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1
(Phoenix)
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x
(day hikers,
backpacker)
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x
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x
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2
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5 March
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1
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x
(day hiker,
equestrian party)
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3
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6
March
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1-2
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x
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4
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7
March
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2
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x
(equestrian party)
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x
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3
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8 March
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2
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x
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4
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9
March
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3
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x
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x
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4
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10
March
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3-4
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x
(day hikers)
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x
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x
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2
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11
March
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4
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5
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12
March
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4-6
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x
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x
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3
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13
March
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6-7
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x
(day hikers, backpackers)
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x
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x
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2
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14
March
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7-8
(Klondyke)
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x
(backpackers)
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x
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x
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x
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2
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15
March
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8
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x
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x
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3
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16
March
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8
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5
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17
March
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8
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5
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18
March
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8
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5
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19
March
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8-9
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5
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20
March
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9-10
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5
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21
March
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10
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5
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22
March
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10-11
(Safford)
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x
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x
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x
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2
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| 23
March |
(Safford)
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x
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x
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x
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1
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| 24
March |
(Safford)
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x
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x
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x
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1
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| 25
March |
11-12
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x
(cyclists)
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x
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x
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x
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1
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26
March
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12-13
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x
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4
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27
March
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13-14
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x
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4
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28
March
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14
(Clifton)
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x
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x
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x
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2
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| 29
March |
(Clifton)
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x
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x
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x
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1
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| 30
March |
15
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x
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x
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x
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2
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31
March
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15-16
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x
(kayakers)
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4
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1
Apil
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16-17
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5
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2
April
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17-18
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x
(ranchers on horseback)
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4
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3
April
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18-19
(Alma)
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x
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x
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2
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4
April
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19-20
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5
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5
April
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20-21
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5
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6
April
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21
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5
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7
April
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21-22
(Gila Hot Springs)
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x
(day hikers, backpackers)
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x
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x
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2
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8
April
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22
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x
(day hikers, backpackers)
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x
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x
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3
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9
April
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22-23
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5
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10
April
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23-24
(Black Range)
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5
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Total
Days:
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Total
Miles:
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Total
Encounter Days:
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***Solitude
Index:
1 least - 5 most
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38
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430
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10
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17
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17
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14
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Percentage
of Total Days:
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26%
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45%
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45%
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37%
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3.4
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Calculation of FULL-DAY SOLITUDE FACTOR:
1. Total # of Days with full-day solitude (an 'x' in column
DD only) + Total Days with full-day sensory solitude (no
x in any column) (see definitions at top of survey): 16
2. Total Days on journey: 38
3. Total Zero-mileage Days and/or full days off-trail
(e.g., in towns not on trail route): 3
4. Total Hiking Days (forward progress made on trail
route) (2. minus 3.): 35
5. Total Miles hiked: 430
6. Average Daily Mileage (5. divided by 4.): 12.3
7. Proportion of Total Hiking Days offering full-day solitude
(1. divided by 4.): 46%
8. FULL-DAY SOLITUDE FACTOR adjusted for average daily mileage
(6. x 7.): 5.7 (higher number = greater significance
of full-day solitude within the context of the entire hike)
(to be continued Fall 2007)
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