CONSERVATION: What Can Climbers Do To Preserve The High Alpine Environment?‏

by Eva Eskilsson

Mountaineering itself is a celebration of nature, but when practiced by tens of thousands of climbers every summer it will inevitably cause progressive damage to the local environment.

Summer alpinism is slightly controlled by the system of huts, cable cars and helicopter rescue that provides the means for the modern way of mountaineering, but it does not ensure that the environmental impact of the visitors is minimal. It is very much in the self-interest of alpinists to save our shrinking glaciers and ensure that regulation of mountaineering stays minimal in the Alps.

The Alps have become a magnet for tourism, attracting 100 million visitors a year. For the 13 million residents of the Alps stretching over 7 countries tourism has been an economic boon. It also has contributed to congestion, pollution by motorized travel, and over-development in many areas.

For the glaciers and the extremely sensitive high alpine ecosystem, the number of human visitors has become a major threat over the last few decades. It is our responsibility and duty to lessen the severity of our impact on the alpine environment if we want to keep on enjoying the massive playground of the European Alps.

When climbing in the heavily trafficked areas of the Alps, such as the Mont Blanc mountain range and the Saas and Zermatt regions of the Swiss Alps, most people stay in mountain huts on their way to the summits. Some also bivouacs on longer routes, and some camp on the glaciers when staying in the same area for a few days. Either way there are many things we can do to minimize the impact of our visit and preserve the glaciers in these popular areas.

1. Reduce car mileage by using public transport, trains, and shared transfers. Come for a longer visit instead of many short ones, it is also better for your acclimatization.

2. Preserve the rare alpine flora and stop the erosion problems by staying on the present trails.

3. Leave no trace. Do not mark routes in any way, use maps or a GPS. And bring down all your rubbish to the valley, including food, even if there are bins in the huts!

4. Never soil the glacier with human waste. To protect water from contamination, speed up decomposition and avoid disgust to others follow these pooping practices: Try to avoid defecating on snow at all; use the toilets in the huts. In case of emergency search for rocks, on dry ground poop has a chance to decompose. If no broken rock available, dig a proper pit and bury it.

5. Keep your party size small; this reduces noise and social interaction.

6. Be responsible when choosing your routes, climbing days and partners, so to stay out of trouble and unnecessary flying for the helicopter.

Mountaineering practice will never go back to what it was in the beginning, when a few pioneers had the hills to themselves. Neither can we stop natural and cultural changes. But we can try to actively contribute to the preservation of the high Alps by minimizing our direct impact and making conscious choices. See you out there!

Eva Eskilsson writes for a small guiding company based in Chamonix Mt Blanc (http://www.mountain-spirit-guides.com). They offer guided climbing and mountaineering in the Alps and tailor made alpine climbing and mountaineering courses.