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I Generallssues larity in motorized off-road vehicles also seems to be in response to techno- logical advancements that make it easier for less experienced persons to par- ticipate. Day hiking, photography, and nature study have shown moderate growth as Americans seek educationally oriented outdoor experiences. Horse- back riding and backpacking are growing at slower rates than many of the other land-based activities; they are expanding approximately at the rate of population growth. Among water-based activities, swimming in natural water bodies has con- tinued to rise in popularity and has tended to concentrate at a limited number of relatively small access points. Motorboating and waterskiing, however, cover large stretches of water, and with development of jet-boat technology, few water bodies are inaccessible. Participation in downhill skiing and the concurrent ski-resort develop- ment are growing at moderate rates. Although the actual area modified and developed for ski slopes is relatively small, they tend to be in high-elevation ecosystems and thus are concentrated within a relatively narrow band of habitat types. More significant to wildlife are the concomitant developments and modifications to the natural landscape resulting from the services and fa- cilities that complement downhill skiing. Avidity, or frequenry of participation, is measured in number of different days on which participation occurred. Biking, swimming, motorboating, off-road driving, day hiking, and developed-site camping have the highest avidity among the activities listed in Table 1.1. Greater frequencies of partici- pation combined with significant numbers of people participating translate into greater pressures on the resources and ecosystems where these activities occur. Several activities have only recently emerged as popular avocations, in- cluding trail (mountain) biking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, caving, orienteering, rafting and tubing, and jet skiing (Cordell et al. 1990). Although these activities are still relatively novel, 1% to 11% of the population 12 years and older participate. Participation often occurs in fragile environments, in- cluding alpine tundra, caves and on cliff faces. Several socioeconomic and resource management factors seem to have shaped recent trends in recreation not dependent on wildlife. Possible causes include an aging population, population growth and redistribution to warmer regions, immigration, increasing numbers of dual-income households, smaller percentages of two-parent households, greater educational attain- ment, and economic instability as indicated by more frequent recessions (Cordell et al. 1990). Other factors empirically shown to affect participation include reductions in social and physical barriers to participation, advances in