Quote Originally Posted by IainR View Post
Never used to be litter..there was a suggestion that one of the UK's major fell records, which is now over 20 years old, was set using wet toilet paper to mark the route across the rocks..

I reckon there were very few road runners out yesterday, a few wore compression socks though..that's always an indicator, maybe they should ban anyone with compression gear on...should be a good way of keeping these undesirables out...

Leave as little impact...cairns...eroded trods...I doubt anyone deliberately droppped any litter.

I think we have to accept route alterations to allow recovery will now happen more and more, well done to the RO for doing that yesterday. Not sure what they can do about the geronimo descent, a classic route but not sure whether they should shift to another section of bank or just keep it there so at least the damage is concentrated in one spot, maybe the local conservation body/wildife trust/NT can advise.. Some erosion on a route is inevitable...afterall as the saying goes: take only photos..leave only footprints...
Hi IanR Not condoning this practice but at least the wet toilet roll will desolve eventually unless it was Izal(showing my age now) but the gel packs wont and really look a mess along with the little bits that people bite of the top.
A lot of the erosion on the tour route is from people recceing the route and training on it before hand, the geronimo descent is quit bad and is used in the half tour as well, Last year I think the half tour organisers flagged it off to the right hand side nearer the wall, a route I use and is actually quicker especially in wet conditions. Another answer would be to reverse the route every few years. I think the first climb from Buttocks to the top of the Cart track is a cause for concern as that is used in the Tour, Half Tour, and Pendle Fell Races. But is erosion as big a problem as people make out, as you get regular natural scars especially on Pendle called brasts caused by water pressure build up in the Limestone core and becoming to strong for the sedimental grit and shale layers to contain it causing water to burst out carrying everything in its way these also look a mess one near Foxes well a few years ago but which as nearly grown over, and one in the last week under the cart track. But they do soon heal if left.