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NFM, Volume 39: 13–23.
Original scientific paper

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Abstract

The first part of the paper explains the connection between visits to protected areas of nature and the circumstances to which visitors are exposed, regarding safety and physical strain, during their stay and sightseeing. It is stated that the use of park infrastructure, especially hiking trails, requires increased attention and physical engagement of visitors (especially due to length, longitudinal slope, altitude, etc.) in order to avoid undesirable consequences for visitors and for the protected area management. For assessing the risk of physical (over)load in hiking the Podgarić – Garić Town trail, heart rate method was applied to a quota sample of respondents using the Garmin Forerunner 910XT and BOSS DB–3 metronome. The degree of physical load and the associated level of general physical fitness were determined for each respondent based on the percent increase in heart rate during trail hiking. Within the research results, an optimal risk assessment matrix was selected and a »Take a Brake« scheme was developed, by which a regime for trail hiking was recommended to each respondent, based on age group and self-defined physical fitness. The regime included the type and number of resting points and the duration of the break/rest in minutes.

Keywords: protected area, visiting, risk management, physical strain, hiking trail