Deterioration of the wilderness

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Outdoor Education - Deterioration of the wilderness

Deterioration of the wilderness

More and more, we are beginning to see the effects of adventure activities
on the environment. In an article in the _Bendigo Advertiser_ in 1993, it
explains that there is a huge amount of waste left at the various base
campsites. Mt Everest now has 60 tonnes of garbage, around 10 to 15 tonnes
of which is at heights of more than 8,000 metres, according to the Nepal
Mountaineering Association; giving the mountain the dubious distinction of
being the world's highest dumping ground. Hillary went as far as to call
for a ban on Everest climbs for five years to "give the mountain a rest."
It's a bitter irony, but it is the very beauty of wilderness that poses one
of its greatest threats. Wilderness is the world's fastest disappearing
non-renewable resource. That makes it a rare commodity, and more and more
people want to visit what's left. It's a problem that faces wild areas
right across Australia and around the world. During the past 20 years, an
increase in adventurer numbers across Australia has led to a rapid
deterioration in the condition of walking tracks, camping areas, climbing
areas, marine areas and river areas.

Adventure experiences can lead to deterioration of wilderness areas.

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