Respect the Mountain

I love the Mountains...they mean so much to me.... if i died I want my ashes spread on the Grand Motte in Tignes please..

when I go away I make sure that I look after that little part of the mountain that I am on.. There is no way I would throw away anything, coz when the snow melts there is so much crap all over the place and somebody has to then go and tidy it all up...

Thats wahy when I saw the Ski Club of Great Britain's Respect the Mountain campaign, I knew I had to get involved.

Seven steps to preserve the mountains
The aim of the campaign is to remind people to be aware of the delicate environment we live and play in and advises people to try and follow the seven steps:

• Be aware of your environmental impact as skiers and boarders
  Educate yourself about your environmental impact on the mountains, and what you can do to minimise it.         



• Do not leave litter on the slopes
  When the snow melts, the litter will still be there. Bin it or take it home. Orange peel takes up to two years to break down, and cigarette ends up to five years. If you find litter on the slopes, do the right thing - pick it up.



• Respect the natural habitat of mountain animals and plants
  If you ski through trees, you can damage them by knocking off branches and killing young shoots under the snow. Take care. Many areas are out of bounds to protect the natural habitat of animals and plants - not just for safety reasons.



• Choose a resort which uses environmentally friendly practices
  Many resorts now use bio-diesel fuel in piste-bashers, solar panels for heating, hydro-electricity/wind energy for power and a host of other initiatives. Some resorts use the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 14001 as a mark of their environmental credentials.



• Encourage tour operators to adopt green policies
  Find out if your tour operator offers train travel as an alternative to flying, if they use paper from sustainable forests for their brochures, if they use, for example, low-wattage light bulbs in their chalets and bio-degradable detergents.



• Do your bit to reduce global warming on holiday and at home
  Re-use your towels each day, re-cycle household waste and switch off electrical appliances when not in use.         



• Reduce CO2 emissions
  By flying fewer miles, or switching from air to rail, you can help reduce the volume of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. When possible, use your bike instead of your car.