Electronic pressure plate counters were installed from 22 June 

 to 13 September (83 days). The total count was 5,852 hikers. We 

 assumed that the percentage of trespassers would be the same as the 

 observed period — 10.02 percent, and estimated 586 trespassers 

 during this period. We then estimated traffic for the entire season, 

 which we determined as 1 May to 30 November (214 days). The 

 projection for the entire season was 7,535 hikers with 755 trespassers. 

 We believe this annual figure is conservative, but it is only an 

 estimate based in part on actual counts and our knowledge of hiker- 

 use patterns in the May to November period. 



The traffic averaged about 55 hikers per day in June, increased 

 moderately to 57 in July, and then leaped to 95 per day in August. 

 The count dropped rapidly after Labor Day with an average of 49 

 hikers per day during the first 2 weeks of September. The rate of 

 hiker trespass was highest (19.0%) during the 16 days we observed in 

 June (flowering occurred during this period). In July and August, 

 trespassing was 7.9 percent and 8.0 percent respectively. Only the 

 pressure plate counters were used in September, so we have no 

 measure of trespass during that time. 



Hiker traffic varied widely from hour to hour during a typical 

 day (Fig. 2). Our June observations showed that three travel peaks 

 occurred at 8 to 9 a.m., 2 to 3 p.m., and 7 to 8 p.m. No trespass was 

 noted before 10 a.m. or between 4 and 6 p.m. Travel dropped to a very 

 low level after the first surge in the morning and then climbed 

 steadily until early afternoon. Trespass, in both total numbers and 

 as a percentage of all hikers, peaked just before and after noon and 

 again in the evening at 7 to 8 p.m. These frequencies of trespass were 

 significant (p< 0.005). 



Approximately half of the .hikers were carrying large backpacks 

 with sleeping bags, mattresses, etc. (Fig. 3). The remainder were 

 divided almost equally between those carrying day packs or no 

 packs at all. The presence or abundance of a pack indicates 

 commitment by the hiker to travel. Those with a heavy pack were 

 often destination-oriented and reluctant to stop. Those with light or 

 no packs were traveling leisurely, even aimlessly, with no definite 

 objective or an easily reached goal. Some possible reasons for hikers 

 without a pack include: someone else is carrying their gear, they are 

 staying at the nearby Lakes of the Clouds hut, or they have walked 

 down from the Auto Road for a brief hike. Those without packs 

 trespassed 5 times more than those with a heavy backpack. Hikers 

 equipped only with a day pack trespassed 3 times more than those 

 with a heavy backpack. The frequency of trespass by the three hiker 

 pack classes differed significantly (p< 0.005). 



Direction of travel was related to frequency of trespass. Travelers 

 from the south were coming from the direction of Crawford Notch, 



