THE LANDSCAPE ENCOUNTERED AND EXPERIENCED WHILE HIKING

An operational definition is developed for the landscape encountered a nd experienced while hiking a natural area. Participant photography an d experience sampling methods were combined and modified to enable sam pling and exploration of this landscape. At various times during a hik e, people were interrupted and instructed to photograph what they were looking at, to rate the scenic beauty of the view in question, and to report their current satisfactions and moods. Views were categorized by the type of object that was the focus of attention (trail, vegetati on, water, ephemeral, people, terrain) and by the distance of the obje ct from the viewer. Results suggest that attention was focused most fr equently on objects near the trail, within 15 meters; neither scenic n or ugly views attracted undue attention; ephemeral features were often the focus of attention and rated as scenic; the quality of the hiking experience (as represented by mood and satisfaction) was partially ex plained by the landscape views encountered; and more similarities than differences were found in what people viewed while hiking.