Today is International Mountains Day so expect to see your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram filled with stunning photos of mountains and hiking adventures around the world #MountainsMatter #InternationaMountainsDay.
Woo woo, I can’t wait to see them all :).
But what is International Mountains Day? Surely it’s not all about sharing pretty photos and getting lots of likes haha!
Obviously, the gorgeous photos are great I’m not knocking that but…
International Mountains Day is about raising awareness and understanding the importance of the mountains and how our day to day actions have an impact on them.
From green mountains in Madeira to the snow-topped mountains in Nepal, they all play a part in the eco-system.
I will share why International Mountains Day is important to me but also some TOP TIPS about how you can make a difference. An informative and helpful post for you + some pretty mountain photos too hehe.
#MountainsMatter #internationmountainday
Mountain Facts + Figures
I’m starting off with some facts about out mountains that you might not know (or you might if you’re super clever)
- The mountains cover around 22% of the earth’s land surface
- They provide us with 60-80% of all the world’s freshwater – wow!
- More than half of the world’s population depend on the mountain’s ecosystem to survive
- 15-20% of tourism is due to the mountains (I’m one of these)
- Some of our most important food crops come from the mountains
Have I got your attention yet?
Are you starting to realise why mountains are such a big deal (excuse the pun!)
How is climate change affecting the mountains?
- Mountains are affected more by climate change, purely due to their shape and size, meaning they can be subject to rapid change with the climate changes
- Snow melts faster, resulting in droughts once it has all melted
- Mountain Glaciers are melting a lot faster and in some cases gone forever
- Did you know 600+ glaciers have disappeared in the last decade?
Why is International Mountains Day important to me?
As a huge hiking addict, the mountains are my go-to place when I want to relax and de-stress.
I’ve travelled around the world and seen many beautiful mountains and landscapes, the Himalayas in Nepal, the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and stunning Patagonia, including some awesome mountains in the UK. The UK mountains might be smaller but they are still amazing and deserve a shout out.
Read next: My Top 10 UK Hikes From 2018
As someone who struggles with mental health, the mountains make me feel alive and literally take my troubles away. Mainly because I’m focusing on not getting lost, a tough uphill or downhill section or I’m in awe of my surroundings.
One of the reasons I’m raising money for Mind Mental Health charity on my big hiking challenge next year. Read about the hike here, what I’m doing, how to donate and how to join the hike.
That’s why I’m supporting International Mountains Day.
What Can You Do To Support Our Mountains?
Here are a few of my tops tips and suggestions on how you can support and look after our mountains.
You can also read about more ways to be a responsible hiker here.
Be sure to share your top tips in the comments too 🙂
Buy a Re-Usable Water Bottle
I have recently started using the reusable Water-to-Go Water Bottle. A handy water bottle that you can use to drink safely directly from streams on your hike or maybe whilst you are travelling abroad.
No more plastic bottles for me (To be honest I’ve been doing this for a while).
On the plus side, it also means you can carry less water with you on your hikes!
You can order one now using my discount code BECKYTHETRAVELLER20.
Treat yourself or buy for a mountain-loving adventurer!
Leave No Trace
Does this drive anyone else insane? No, just me? Well, I can’t stand seeing rubbish when I’m out hiking. And yes, I can still see the orange peel (hidden), grrrr stops leaving your mess behind!
The worst place I found rubbish was at the top of Ben Nevis, the survival shelter was full of beer bottles and other rubbish. Just take it with you, it’s not hard. Rant over.
Anything we leave in the mountains can have an effect on the wildlife and biodiversity of the mountains. Always make sure you don’t leave food waste or any litter behind. And as an added bonus, if you are out hiking in the mountains and see some rubbish, be sure to pick it up.
Keep to the Trails
On popular mountains trails, the paths can get busy and sometimes you might be tempted to go off route. When you do this it causes damage as the area near the original paths erodes faster.
A few months ago I hiked with @RichardDuckwor5 in the Peak District on his challenge to raise money for the Mend Our Mountains campaign in the UK.
Support Local Communities in the Mountains
When visiting the mountains consider those people that live there are support them and their livelihoods.
Buy from the local shops and businesses, remember everyone that lives in the mountains has had an extra challenge to get there.
Use #MountainsMatter today
Use #MountainsMatter today and share your photos. But also understand why it’s important and think about what you can do to help.
What can you do differently to reduce your carbon footprint? Share your top tips and ideas in the comments below or on your social media posts.
- Tag me in your Instagram photos (see above post) and I will be giving you all a shoutout in my Insta Stories today (and tomorrow)
What are your thoughts on International Mountains Day? Tell me what you think in the comments below.
*Becky the Traveller participates in the Amazon Services Associates Programme, as well as other affiliate programmes. If you make a purchase through these, I earn from the qualifying links. This is at no extra cost to you. Read more here.
Great post Becky ??⛰??
Ah thank you John 🙂