percent of all hikers traveling from the north without a pack do 

 trespass. 



A disproportionate number of trespassers came from the north. 

 Many of these people were staying at the Appalachian Mountain 

 Club hut at Lakes of the Clouds which is only .3 miles to the north. 

 Additional day hikers came down from the sumit of Mt. Washington 

 about 1.7 miles away. These hikers represent a significant part of 

 the problem; they also allow us to target a very specific group and 

 one that is readily approachable. This knowledge enables us to 

 concentrate information and education programs on specific 

 populations or interest groups. 



Because of the serious decline of Robbins cinquefoil, the current 

 trespass figure of 755 hikers is excessive. We doubt that the plant 

 can survive this level of visitation. If the long term stability and 

 survival of Robbins cinquefoil is the objective, the number of 

 trespassers must be reduced substantially. This could be accom- 

 plished by actions such as: relocating the trail, posting a nature 

 interpreter nearby to direct people away from the critical habitat, 

 and by providing a transplant colony of the plant for those with an 

 interest in observing it. But even if foot traffic is lowered 

 dramatically, it will be necessary to closely monitor the cinquefoil 

 population. If the endangered Robbins cinquefoil colony continues 

 to decline, more restrictive measures will be required (Crow & Graber, 

 1981; Crow, in press). 



LITERATURE CITED 



Cook, R. S. 1980. Determination of Potentilla robbinsiana to an endangered species 

 with critical habitat. Federal Register 45(182): 61944-61947. 



Crow, G. E. in press. New England's Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants. 

 USFWS. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 



Crow, G. E.; Storks, I. M. 1980. Rare and endangered plants of New Hampshire: a 

 phytogeographic viewpoint. Rhodora 82:173-189. 



Crow, G. E.; Graber, R. E. 1980. Survey of hiker activity and mapping of critical 

 habitat of Potentilla robbinsiana. Unpublished report prepared for the White 

 Mountain National Forest and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of 

 Endangered Species. 



Graber, R. E. 1980. The life history and ecology of Potentilla robbinsiana. Rhodora 

 82:131-140. 



