Item: POWDER, PERCEPTION, & THE PATRIARCHY: A GENDERED LOOK AT BACKCOUNTRY BEHAVIOR
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Title: POWDER, PERCEPTION, & THE PATRIARCHY: A GENDERED LOOK AT BACKCOUNTRY BEHAVIOR
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Sarah Petelinsek [ Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ] [ Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ]
- Kailey Mahoney [ Division of Public Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ]
- Nikki Champion [ Utah Avalanche Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ]
- Rowan Kelner [ Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ] [ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ]
- Olivia Pearson [ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ]
- Boomer Olsen [ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ]
- Peilu Zhang [ Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ]
- Patrick G. Hughes [ Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ] [ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: Gender may influence risk perception, decision-making, and participation in high-risk outdoor environments, yet gender differences among backcountry recreationists in the United States remain poorly characterized. We examined whether gender was associated with backcountry participation, avalanche education, and risk-taking behavior among Utah backcountry users. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of an anonymous online survey administered through the Utah Avalanche Center from January through February 2025. Participants completed demographic questions and validated measures of risk-taking, including the Risk Taking Inventory for High-Risk Sports (RTI), Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale (DOSPERT), and Gambler's Choice. Among 354 participants with complete demographic data, 263 (74%) identified as men and 91 (26%) identified as women. Women were significantly younger than men (p < 0.001). Women had lower mean RTI scores than men (1.46 ± 0.46 vs. 1.58 ± 0.52; p = 0.002) and lower DOSPERT scores (3.26 ± 0.58 vs. 3.52 ± 0.63; p < 0.001), while Gambler's Choice scores did not differ significantly (p = 0.16). Educational participation also differed: women reported higher Avalanche Level 1 completion than men (91.9% vs. 83.8%), although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.071), whereas men were more likely to report Backcountry 101 participation (34.8% vs. 12.5%; p = 0.041). Despite these differences, women and men reported similar levels of backcountry participation, including days per season, user type, and primary method of travel. These findings suggest that gender may be associated with differences in reported risk-taking and educational experiences without corresponding differences in overall backcountry engagement. Understanding these differences may help avalanche educators consider how users with different experiences and relationships with risk engage with backcountry education.
Object ID: ISSW2026_P3.42.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790099457
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Nikki Champion
Keywords: Gender; Backcountry recreation; Avalanche education; Risk-taking behavior; Risk perception; Decision-making
Page Number(s): 1777 - 1782
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