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Definitions of mountaineering and trekking and their waste implications
There are two main types of mountaineering: alpine
mountaineering and expedition mountaineering. Alpine
mountaineering involves climbers carrying all their
equipment and supplies with them, whereas expedition
climbing usually involves setting up a series of camps stocked
with provisions. Mountaineering can be distinguished from
trekking, which does not explicitly involve reaching the
summit of a mountain, although treks often include summits
and high-altitude passes along their route.
Expedition mountaineering is most common in higher
altitude locations such as the Himalayas or Andes and
demands considerably longer periods of time on the
mountain to allow for acclimatization. It often requires
larger loads of equipment and supplies that may involve
porters, pack animals, glacier airplanes, cooks and
multiple transfers of provision between camps (Eng,
2010; Barros, Pickering and Gudes, 2015). Both types
(alpine and expedition) have a considerable impact on
the environment; however, the longer periods and greater
resources needed for expedition style climbing, coupled
with the remoteness and lack of infrastructure at these
destinations, can mean more visible and persistent waste
problems, especially at base camps.
The literature, however, does not always differentiate
between mountaineers and trekkers, or other mountain
tourists and visitors that also use trails and base camps.
Yaks carrying expedition kit in Gokyo
Valley, Nepal.
Photo
©
iStock/fotoVoyager