On Mount Denali, you wouldn’t find much waste because they take very good care of the environment. – A. Roth
I did an Interview with a mountaineer that has climbed Denali, Mount Logan and some 7000m Peaks in Pakistan. The Interview was about the cleanness of the mountains and the needed equipment.
How clean are the Mountains?
A. Roth says, that Swiss mountain areas are mostly clean and well cared for, even though climate change is making them more dangerous. Tourism, especially in places like Everest Base Camp, creates a lot of waste and has a big impact on the environment. Switzerland handles waste much better than many other regions. The author tries to do his part, by cleaning up after himself, and disposing of waste responsibly. His experiences differ from place to place; Denali is kept very clean, while in Pakistan’s base camps you can still find plenty of trash hidden under the snow. One reason for this is, that Denali has strict laws regarding rubbish, meaning that you must take all your rubbish with you when you leave.
Interview
How would you describe the condition of the trails, forests, and high-altitude areas you’ve experienced?
Through global warming, they are getting more dangerous, but here in Switzerland they are doing more to keep them safe.
What kinds of human activities do you think have the biggest impact on the
cleanliness of the mountains?
If you look at the base camp of Everest, it looks disturbing how tourism and
human activities, such as eating as if they were in a restaurant, keep many places less clean than they used to be.
How do you feel local towns and tourist spots in the Alps handle waste and
environmental care?
I think that here in Switzerland they handle it pretty well, and a lot of countries could take advice from that.
What do you do to keep the environment clean after an expedition?
For example, if I throw away a banana in the snow, it can’t really decompose, but if I place a mouldy apple in a spot where birds can eat it, that is a good example of taking care of your trash.
What experiences have you had during expeditions regarding cleanliness?
On Mount Denali, you wouldn’t find much waste because they take very good care of the environment. However, when I was in Pakistan at base camp and you dig a bit in the snow, you could find batteries or wasted food.
What gear do you need in the Mountains?
This Interview explains the key gear needed in the mountains, like crampons, an ice axe, ropes, and proper clothing. At higher altitudes, lighter equipment matters more. Weather protection is important, and the right footwear depends on the terrain. For climbing and glacier travel, technical gear such as a harness and karabiners is essential. The author has climbed mountains like Denali and Mount Logan, and faced difficult peaks in Pakistan due to bad weather.
Interview
What gear do you need in the mountains?
Crampons, an ice axe, safety rope, ice screws, and the right clothing.
How does gaining altitude affect your gear?
The higher you get, the more you have to pay attention to weight because of the altitude.
What items do you consider essential for safety when preparing for changing weather in the mountains?
Good wind and rain protection in terms of gear, but you shouldn’t be in that
position in the first place. In that environment, you need to keep an eye on
weather changes, and it would be smarter to turn back in bad weather.
How do you choose the right footwear for the type of terrain you expect to
encounter?
For normal hiking, you get trekking shoes. For high-altitude climbing, you need crampon-compatible boots. For a normal climber, crampon-compatible boots are the better choice because of changing environments. In terms of material, steel is also better than aluminium due to environmental changes.
What technical equipment do you rely on for activities like climbing,
scrambling, or glacier travel?
Of course, a rope and a harness for personal safety, as well as karabiner and ice screws for glacier climbs.
What are some of the most impressive mountains you’ve climbed?
I would say Mount Denali and Mount Logan because of the high altitude. In terms of technical difficulty, there are a few mountains in Pakistan where I couldn’t reach the summit because of bad weather.
Conclusion
This project has examined the key aspects of Mountaineering and
cleanliness about the Mountains. Overall, it can be concluded that the Interview and
working with the group was a good experience. Furthermore, the research has demonstrated that the Mountains can be treated wrong and many people don’t treat them well. Future research or further consideration could focus on cleaning organisations or certain laws to protect the environment. In summary, the topic remains highly relevant and offers important perspectives for both theory and practice.
Reflection
At the beginning of this project, I was spot on that I wanted to do something with mountain climbing, because I am already into this hobby. Considering, creating my own project or joining an already existing project, I decided to create my own just to work on my own. This was great, because I knew somebody, who already has a decent amount of knowledge in this subject. When I created my project, I posted a pitch that said that everyone who wanted to join and was interested, could join, and a few people did.
My next goal was, to have an interview about cleanliness in the mountains and mountaineering itself. So, I arranged a meeting on a Saturday at my grandparents’ house and was able to do the interview. The interview itself was very informative about international mountain climbing. This was great for me, because I also want to climb internationally one day. The same person whom I interviewed, is also the person, who gifted me a lot of mountaineering gear and some books about mountains.
Right after the interview, I had a meeting with my group, which gave me more information about the website and how it worked. Once I understood where I needed to post the knowledge that I had gained, I started writing about it so that anyone could have a piece of it. Now I have posted everything, with pictures of the mountains that were mentioned and some sources. Now I will have to prepare myself for a presentation that I am holding on the 6th of January. Until now, everything has gone pretty well and can continue going that way.
Authors
Jeremia Wanesian
Sources
Chat GPT used for Text correction
Interview about Mountaineering with A. Roth (PDF)
On-topic posts on dontwastemy.energy
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