Regarding litter worldwide, I just finished The World Without Us, and the author travels to some of the worst sinkholes on the planet, like a big catch-all in the middle of the Pacific where plastic grocery bags, kids’ toys, Saran Wrap, and all sorts of rubbish from all corners of the world end up swirling around like it’s a massive toilet bowl. Except it isn’t flushing away anywhere. Sounds like your Arctic experience was similar.

Just read your post about Macchu Picchu, and I’m afraid, as with so many problems, the true answer is education–about culture, history, and respect for your planet. It’s sad because it takes so much time for education to take effect. But it’s heartening to know that litter campaigns in the US were effective enough to make it shocking when you see someone throw a fast-food bag out of their car on the freeway.

And doesn’t it make a tiny iota of difference when a responsible traveler goes there? Maybe someone will remember your sadness about the litter. When I went to Uluru in Australia, I like to think that my choice not to climb the rock made a couple people change their mind about “conquering” it (again!). You can change minds and mentalities quietly and politely, a little at a time.

I’m absolutely with you about hiking in valleys. I hate to say this, but … is it a guy thing? Where I grew up, hiking was what we did in summer, all the time. And when there were male friends included in the group, we invariably had to climb to the tops of mountains. Not that that wasn’t enjoyable, but if it was all females, we hiked to mountain saddles on focused a lot on getting to a lake we could dip in.

This question has been asked for centuries, whether men have an innate need to “defeat” nature because they’re less a part of it than women are. Who knows. Whether it’s true or not, I hope we’re getting back to a more balanced view of things. I think Hillary was one of those who had a more balanced view: use nature, but respect it and remember you’re part of it.

Why do people leave so much trash on Everest? Seems crazy to go all that way to sleep in a sea of plastic bottles.

I totally agree that Edmund Hillary should be remembered as much for the work he did in improving the lives of the Himalayan people as for climbing the mountain. I have so much respect for the way he lived his life.

I would love to go on a trek in Nepal and I would love to climb Kilimanjaro and Macchu Picchu for the views and the scenery and the culture. But generally speaking, I prefer to look at mountains by hiking in the valleys - or perhaps ski down them.

I’m fine with people who genuinely have mountaineering as a hobby and love and respect the place. But Everest has become so democratised that it’s really just a matter of money these days - and the amount of rubbish left on the mountain from various expeditions is criminal.

I totally agree that Edmund Hillary should be remembered as much for the work he did in improving the lives of the Himalayan people as for climbing the mountain. I have so much respect for the way he lived his life.