Selection of the Signs 



Two signs were evaluated: the Forest Service sign cur- 

 rently in use, which served as a control, and an ex- 

 perimental sign developed especially for this study 

 (fig. 3). 



For the experimental sign, a high-visibility orange and 

 black design was developed in cooperation with a local 

 wilderness user group and the Missoula Equipment 

 Development Center. The sign selected depicts both 

 horse and hiker parties registering (fig. 3). This picture 

 appeals to all types of users and provides a nonverbal 

 message to parties actually registering. The main cap- 

 tion (the first third of the sign) reads: "One person from 

 each party please register here when entering this area." 

 The last part of the sign reads: 



"We need your help to: 

 - Plan trail & campsite maintenance 

 Measure use & effect 

 Plan management budgets." 



Station Locations 



Two locations for sign placement were tested: (1) the 

 current location at or close to the trailhead, and (2) a 

 site 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 4.8 km) up the trail. The actual 

 selection of the up-trail location depended on factors 

 such as the registration station's placement on the trail, 

 secondary conditions at the location, trail tread condi- 

 tions, and local attractions such as scenic vistas. 



Control Sign 



Figure 3.— Control and experimental signs. 



Field Procedures 



Three sign and location combinations were tested for 

 their potential to improve registration rates. They were 

 compared against the control, the original registration 

 station at its original location (OSOL). The three combi- 

 nations tested were the original registration station at a 

 new location 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 4.8 km) up the trail 

 (OSNL), the new registration sign located at the original 

 location (NSOL), and the new registration sign at the 

 new location 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 4.8 km) up the trail 

 (NSNL). 



The Holland Lake trail, Owl Creek trail, and Pyramid 

 Pass trail were selected as study sites. The trails 

 received some of the highest use (Lucas 1983), their loca- 

 tions minimized study travel costs, and users included a 

 high percentage of horsemen (fig. 2). Owl Creek attracts 

 a high proportio.n of outfitters who were excluded from 

 the study because they file trip plans with the Forest 

 Service and are generally not expected to register. 



In order to determine the success of any of the sign 

 and location combinations, it was decided that the mini- 

 mum useful compliance rates would be 60 percent for 

 private overnight hiker parties and 50 percent for over- 

 night horse parties. With such rates, and in conjunction 

 with knowledge of the different user groups' registration 

 rates, expanded data should be acceptably reliable. Any 

 combination that provided these compliance rates would 

 be viewed as successful. 



Experimental Sign 



5 



