As we’ve seen in the post on visual pollution, access to crags have been closed due to the negative influence that humans have on the environment. Climbing etiquette in indoor climbing gyms and outdoor climbing areas are vastly different. While it might be appropriate to cheer each other on or yell in frustration after slipping off a hold in climbing gyms, the same should not be done when climbing in outdoor spaces. The introduction of anthropogenic sounds to otherwise untouched landscapes poses a great threat to wildlife in these areas. A study on the environmental pollution caused by mountaineering activities found that noises made by humans can induce anxiety in wildlife and cause them to alter their behaviour which has been associated with the loss of offspring during breeding seasons and population decline (Apollo, 2021). The study also suggested that climbing activities could result in even greater levels of noise pollution due to the climbing commands shouted by rock climbers. In outdoor landscapes, rock climbers typically tend to shout loudly to ensure their belayers are able to hear them despite being separated by large distances and terrain.
Access to outdoor climbing spaces has been limited due to poor behaviour of rock climbers in waste generation and contribution to noise pollution. In order to continue appreciating the beauty of nature through this sport, rock climbers need to ensure that nature is respected when entering these sensitive areas.
References
Apollo, M. (2021). Environmental Pollution Causes by Mountaineering Activity. In Environmental Impacts of Mountaineering (pp. 45-59). Springer, Cham.
