Longitudinal Variation in Rock Climbing Impacts in the Red River Gorge Area of the Daniel Boone National Forest

Abstract Most recreation ecology studies in the past 50 years have focused on vegetation and soil responses to recreation-related trampling on trails and recreation areas. However, few researchers have examined impact trends over time. By applying traditional impact survey methods to climbing areas over a six-year period, longitudinal data were collected at established recreation sites. Researchers used a radial transect technique to measure changes in areas of impacts at climbing sites in 2007 and 2013. Impact areas were determined by visually assessing vegetation cover, height, composition, and land topography. Overall there was no significant change for all eight climbing areas in a stratified random sample. Six sites showed no significant change in impact area, one showed a statically significant increase, and one showed a statistically significant decrease in impact area. This supports the idea that once an area is heavily impacted, the rate of additional impacts significantly slows, and this demonstrates a technique for assessing change over time.