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This year, international organizations have recognized the importance of sustainable development in mountain regions. Reports of large amounts of garbage on Everest highlight the potential problems created by increasing numbers of visitors but, by balancing the creation of eco-friendly climbing parks with protecting the local environment from plastic debris, responsible tourism can be encouraged. As a climber, you’ll already have a keen appreciation of your natural surroundings but, whether you are connecting with nature while camping or choosing lower carbon transportation to reach your destination, there are several ways to ensure that your climbing trips are even more environmentally-friendly.
Here are Sustainable Climbing Trips
Cutting the Carbon Footprint of Your Road Trips
When you’re traveling with specialist gear to a remote mountain resort, driving is usually the most practical mode of transport but it isn’t always the most sustainable. Keeping your car well serviced, driving at a slower, steadier pace and carpooling with other climbers can all help to reduce the environmental impact of road trips through the mountains. Opting for an all electric car is also a better choice for the environment as it produces fewer greenhouse gasses than a conventional gas-powered car. With extended driving ranges, an electric car is suitable for longer journeys and, as well as driving a more sustainable vehicle, you can benefit from a car that is quieter and cheaper to run and maintain.
Choosing Sustainable Accommodation
The majority of tourists would like to travel more responsibly and their choice of accommodation can significantly reduce their impact on the environment. A night in a hotel produces up to ten times the amount of carbon dioxide as a stay in a caravan or on a campsite as well as generating larger amounts of food and plastic waste. While camping is already one of the most sustainable forms of temporary accommodation on vacation, by borrowing or buying secondhand equipment and keeping it well-maintained so that it lasts longer, you can ensure the carbon footprint of your trips are further reduced. In the shorter term. reducing the amount of trash you produce, separating recyclables and leaving the site as you found it will also help to protect the local environment.
Reducing Garbage at the Crag
As well as contaminating campsites, plastic debris is also affecting mountain climbs. The amount of garbage left behind by visitors to Everest every year has become a serious problem and risks damaging the local environment. The Nepali government now asks climbers to pay a deposit which is only refunded once they return with at least 18 pounds of garbage from the mountain. On any climbing or camping trip, taking reusable water bottles and cooking utensils, using biodegradable toiletry and cleaning products and making sure to bring down all of your equipment will all help to conserve delicate mountain ecosystems and keep them free of harmful debris.
By taking steps to reduce your impact on the environment, you can help to protect the ecosystems of mountain regions without having to compromise on the enjoyment of sustainable climbing trips.