Mountaineers and the general public: A comparison of their evaluation of sounds in a recreational environment

How do mountaineers differ from the general public in their evaluations of nature‐, person‐, and technology‐related sounds which are commonly heard in forests, parks, wilderness, and similar areas where people seek peace, quiet, and relaxation? It is frequently assumed that the various special groups who use these environments differ from the general public. In this study it was found that although mountaineers considered nature‐related sounds to be more pleasant and both man‐ and technology‐related sounds more annoying than did other visitors, the rankings according to the degree of pleasantness or annoyance were extremely close.