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It is important to respect the mountain environment and to be mindful of issues of environmental conservation as well as the concerns of landowners, local residents, and the owners and custodians of the mountain huts we use. That is why it is so important to first read about the area where you want to go, and only then organize various types of activities. It is also important not to forget about the environment, buy custom essay online to read about the damage caused to nature by thrown garbage and felling of trees, hunting animals.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides a good guide on issues of appropriate behaviour and is well worth a look, however much of this is common sense. The MCofS has also prepared a good booklet "Minimal Impact Mountaineering Advice" and several other useful resources. Some of the main issues are also discussed below. Deer Stalking and HillphonesAn issue of particular relevance to hillwalkers and mountaineers in Scotland which may seem less immediately obvious is that of deer stalking. Many landowners manage this activity on their estates, and whilst you do have the legal "right to roam" the concerns of landowners should be considered, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code mentioned above. This means taking reasonable steps to minimise your impact on their activities whilst on their land.The hillphones service is a way of finding out when stalking will be happening in each area so you can try and plan your routes to avoid potential disturbance. Many car parks used by hillwalkers also have noticeboards or signs maintained by the local estate with similar information for the immediate area. On deer stalking, The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says: "Deer management can take place during many months of the year but the most sensitive time is the stag stalking season (usually from 1 July to 20 October, but with most stalking taking place from August onwards). During this season, you can help to minimise disturbance by taking reasonable steps to find out where stalking is taking place (such as by using the Hillphones service where one is available) and by taking account of advice on alternative routes. Avoid crossing land where stalking is taking place. Stalking does not normally take place on Sundays."Camping in the Wild
When camping in the wilderness you should be aware of your responsibilities as summarised in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code mentioned above. Wild camping is described in the code as "lightweight, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place".Always "leave no trace":
Staying in Bothies
When staying in bothies, follow the "bothy code", i.e.:
Snowholing and Winter ActivitiesWhen involved in winter mountaineering and climbing, it is inevitable that at some point you will have to respond to a call of nature. It is important to consider that any human waste left within the snow pack will remain there until the spring thaw when it will make an unpleasant return, re-appearing out of the melting snow and possibly polluting streams and posing health risks to others. This is of particular concern in popular winter climbing areas which see a large number of visitors concentrated in a relatively small area throughout the winter months. It is also more of a problem if you go snowholing as it is more likely that calls of nature will arise whilst you are on the mountain.To prevent these problems the Cairngorm Poo Project has been set up to provide a convenient way of disposing of your waste during the winter months when burying in the ground is not feasable. Visit the project website for more details. SummaryBe aware of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and enjoy the mountain environment responsibly. Remember that your actions reflect on the club as a whole, and bringing the club into disrepute is a diciplinary offence punishable by loss of membership (see club constitution). |
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