It’s one of the most challenging mountains to climb in the UK.
But it seems that even Snowdon has fallen victim to Britain’s littering crisis.
Heartbreaking images show ‘waterfalls’ of litter cascading down Wales’ highest mountain, having been dumped by careless climbers.
Experts from the British Mountaineering Council carried out a litter pick on the mountain, and found some rubbish dating back 100 years.
In total, the team collected over 2,700 items of litter, including more than 800 drinks cans and 274 plastic water bottles.
It’s one of the most challenging mountains to climb in the UK. But it seems that even Snowdon has fallen victim to Britain’s littering crisis
Heartbreaking images show ‘waterfalls’ of litter cascading down Wales’ highest mountain, having been dumped by careless climbers
Every year, over 600,000 budding climbers scale Snowdon, also known as Yr Wyddfa. The mountain reaches 1,085 metres (3,560 feet) high, making it the tallest peak in Wales
Every year, over 600,000 budding climbers scale Snowdon, also known as Yr Wyddfa.
The mountain reaches 1,085 metres (3,560 feet) high, making it the tallest peak in Wales.
In the new litter pick, the team set out to assess exactly how much litter is left behind by these climbers.
Climbers strapped on abseils to access a dangerous gully below the summit and walkers cleared one of the busiest paths on the mountain.
However, the team says that despite hours of painstaking work, piles of rubbish still remain on the mountain.
Experts from the British Mountaineering Council carried out a litter pick on the mountain, and found some rubbish dating back 100 years
In total, the team collected over 2,700 items of litter, including more than 800 drinks cans and 274 plastic water bottles
Tom Carrick, BMC access and conservation officer for Wales, said: ‘I still believe this is only the start of this work.
‘We’ll look at what we can do differently in the future – and also how we can change our behaviours and attitudes about what we take into the mountains.
‘For me, the most staggering realisation was the amount of single use plastic bottles within the gullies, I look forward to working with my colleagues across Eryri to begin to find a solution to encourage the use of reusable bottles on the mountainside.’
Environmental groups have urged visitors not to take single use plastic with them on trips to the mountain and instead use reusable bottles.
Climbers strapped on abseils to access a dangerous gully below the summit and walkers cleared one of the busiest paths on the mountain
The team says that despite hours of painstaking work, piles of rubbish still remain on the mountain
Environmental groups have urged visitors not to take single use plastic with them on trips to the mountain and instead use reusable bottles
Trash Free Trails have said a Deposit Return Scheme would help cut down single use plastic waste – with reverse vending machines paying out for returned cans or bottles.
Dom Ferris, CEO of Trash Free Trails, said: ‘We know from European case studies that a DRS can eradicate a whole category of litter from our trails overnight; why are we allowing beloved hiking spots such as Snowdon to be the alternative to a reverse vending machine?’
Alec Young, project officer of Eryri National Park, said: ‘Microplastics have been found in every soil sample monitored on the most popular paths up Yr Wyddfa.
‘We see DRS playing a pivotal role in reducing litter on the mountain, and preventing harmful fragmented plastics from entering, and ruining, this fragile environment.’
