Economic Impact Studies
Economic Impact Study from Vermont Huts Association and Vermont Trails.
Economic Impacts of Methow Trail Systems.
Country Studies
Country studies: comparing hut systems across nations
Over time, and with help from colleagues around the world, I hope to compile substantive overviews of how huts operate in 6-8 countries. The idea is to study countries with differing approaches to supporting long-distance human powered travel, to describe the unique features of each, to identify commonalities, and to consider how each nation’s approach grows out of and reflects its terrain, climate, history, recreational aims and culture.
Americans know almost nothing about huts. As a nation I expect we will not necessarily copy others, but we can certainly learn from other nations. Like other nations, we will create huts systems that reflect our culture, terrain and traditions. My aim is to help ensure that huts remain simple, affordable, environmentally sound ways of supporting people in the backcountry. My fear is that they will be sucked into the maw of America’s ruthless system of advanced capitalism and do more harm than good. .
My hope is that we use huts, as one small method among many others, for cultivating an ethos of biophilia among our citizens. The aim of this work is to help ensure that we will do this with awareness of what others have learned in their work with huts, not always our strong suit! In essence, to inform American thinking about the roles that huts might play locally in environmental stewardship by looking at how they operate globally.
So far I’ve completed a study of Ireland (which has no huts!), New Zealand, and USA, which will be published in the form of a book coming out October 2021. Next I plan to study huts in Iceland, and then in the European Alps, in Scandinavia, and then in Japan. Stay tuned and let me know if you want to collaborate on international studies of huts and related accommodations systems.
Country Study: Long Distance Walking in Ireland
In 2015/16 I visited Ireland three times and decided to learn about how long distance walking is supported there. I spent 5-6 weeks walking wonderful Waymarked Ways, talking with folks, and working on this project.
With advice from Irish colleagues Cormac MacDonnell of the National Trails Office, writer/walker Michael Fewer, and many others, I gradually shaped an approach:
writing an overview of walking in Ireland based in large part on three case studies,
writing a detailed case study and trip report for each of three Waymarked Ways, and
writing profiles of some interesting people I met.
[The second “Country Study” in the series will be on New Zealand, to be researched and written in 2018.]
ELEMENTS OF COUNTRY STUDY OF LONG DISTANCE WALKING IN IRELAND
A. EMBEDDED DOCUMENT: TABLE OF CONTENTS & OVERVIEW OF LONG DISTANCE WALKING IN IRELAND [Finished except for the section on economics, which awaits information from National Trails Office.]
B. LINKS TO THREE CASE STUDIES
Burren Way
Kerry Way
Wicklow Way
My aims in undertaking this study were to:
walk some of the great National Way-marked Ways in Ireland,
meet some of the folks who manage and use them,
learn as much as I could about they came to be and how they operate,
share what I learned on hut2hut.info, and through this work to
begin to learn what questions to ask,methods to use, and how long it will take to address my formidable learning curve in understanding in some depth how different nations support and organize Long Distance Walking.
My long term aim is to develop a comparative view of Long Distance Walking across a set of nations.
I am extremely grateful to many colleagues in Ireland for sharing their expertise and taking time to talk with me! The Irish are a famously hospitable folk, and walking their trails is a warm and sociable experience.
The primary audience for this work is American recreation planners curious about how LDW is conducted in other nations. I hope my work might also serve as a useful starting point for others interested in studying in greater depth how LDW works in Ireland. In just two generations and with limited resources, Ireland has developed a robust walking culture and network of trails, clubs, and organizations. I believe Americans should know more about this remarkable accomplishment. A secondary audience is American walkers looking for great trails with accommodations.
Alas these reports contain much more detail than will interest most of my readers, but I enjoyed learning so much from Irish colleagues and trust the work will be of interest to some folks in USA.
In just two generations and with comparatively limited resources, Ireland has developed a vibrant walking culture and a robust network of trails, trail communities, clubs, and organizations. I believe Americans — and others — can learn from this remarkable accomplishment.
And put Ireland on your list of really great places to walk!