Exploring preparation for backcountry travel in Bowron Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia

Outdoor recreation trips have long been conceptualized as relatively linear multiplephased experiences. Previous studies of recreational activities and visitor experiences in backcountry settings have largely focused on the onsite phase. This study, however, explored the nature and elements of preparation and its influence on the backcountry experiences and meanings, as recollected by participants. Secondarily, this project aimed to better understand the roles of technology in preparation. The study used semi-structured interviews with participants who had completed one or more canoe or kayak trips in Bowron Lake Provincial Park in British Columbia, a world-renowned backcountry canoe circuit. Findings indicate that preparation is an ongoing process comprised of multiple elements by which participants are involved throughout all phases of an outdoor experience. Preparation can help improve safety and satisfaction during backcountry experiences and has important implications for recreation and leisure programs and practices, parks and protected areas management, and outdoor education. Conceptually, the research suggests that preparation is not as linear or time-bound as the five-phase model would suggest. Rather, aspects are ongoing throughout and between trips, accrued with mentorship and training over the course of a career, and involve elements of tasks and efforts beyond simply ‘planning’ trip logistics.