The Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP) Wilderness Rock Climbing Study is designed to describe the relationship, or transactions, between wilderness rock climbers and park resources.  The study is focused on determining the necessary criteria for future climbing management at JTNP.  It is based on the philosophy that combining detailed inventories of biological, cultural, and climbing resources with detailed wilderness visitor counts and profiles will yield a complete illustration of actual conditions.  This illustration will undoubtedly contrast with the ideological arguments of some wilderness and climbing advocates, but will provide balanced solutions based on the study’s findings.  The end result will be a streamlined wilderness climbing management plan that considers park resources and rock climber needs in both space and time. 
    Simulation software, based on a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform, combines data from three different sources: 1) climbing resource inventory, 2) wilderness visitor use monitoring, and 3) climber behavior profiles.  Simulation illustrates the actual extent of resource conflicts, and allows park managers to explore the cascading consequences of proposed management plans prior to field implementation.  Using this technique, both climbers and park managers are certain that the most effective climbing management plans are considered.
    To learn more about wilderness rock climbing simulation, click here.