Brynhildur Ólafsdóttir, a tour guide, tells The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that tourists need to learn how to behave in nature, and to take all trash with them, including their toilet paper.
“At some popular destinations, you see toilet paper all over the place. Even along popular hiking trails like Laugavegurinn [between Þórsmörk nature reserve and the Landmannalaugar region in the central highlands] and Fimmvörðuháls”. She adds that such mementos of other hikers’ visits threaten to seriously undermine the quality of the experiences of others who come to view pristine and untouched natural wonders.
Take everything with you!
“If you leave the trail you are likely to find toilet paper in every hole and under every rock. And then it blows around in the wind.” The reason, she points out, is that the summer is short and the elements fail to break down the paper. “It doesn‘t just disappear like that. Even if it gets wet, and then covered with snow, you still have remains a year later. And it’s getting to be a real nuisance in many places.”
Brynhildur urges all hikers and travellers to carry small bags with them so that they can take toilet paper with them. She points out that tourists should never leave anything behind – not even food remains.
Nobody goes hiking to explore a trail of toilet paper
“It makes no difference if your trash is biological. The person arriving after you does not want to see banana-peels or spaghetti or apple-cores, it‘s no fun to visit a natural wonder only to be greeted by the remainder of your lunch.”
We at Iceland Insider second that opinion and urge all visitors to remember that the first rule of travelling is that you leave everything in the same condition you found it, ensuring that you don‘t spoil the experience for those who come after you.
Brynhildur Ólafsdóttir, a tour guide, tells The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that tourists need to learn how to behave in nature, and to take all trash with them, including their toilet paper.
“At some popular destinations, you see toilet paper all over the place. Even along popular hiking trails like Laugavegurinn [between Þórsmörk nature reserve and the Landmannalaugar region in the central highlands] and Fimmvörðuháls”. She adds that such mementos of other hikers’ visits threaten to seriously undermine the quality of the experiences of others who come to view pristine and untouched natural wonders.
Take everything with you!
“If you leave the trail you are likely to find toilet paper in every hole and under every rock. And then it blows around in the wind.” The reason, she points out, is that the summer is short and the elements fail to break down the paper. “It doesn‘t just disappear like that. Even if it gets wet, and then covered with snow, you still have remains a year later. And it’s getting to be a real nuisance in many places.”
Brynhildur urges all hikers and travellers to carry small bags with them so that they can take toilet paper with them. She points out that tourists should never leave anything behind – not even food remains.
Nobody goes hiking to explore a trail of toilet paper
“It makes no difference if your trash is biological. The person arriving after you does not want to see banana-peels or spaghetti or apple-cores, it‘s no fun to visit a natural wonder only to be greeted by the remainder of your lunch.”
We at Iceland Insider second that opinion and urge all visitors to remember that the first rule of travelling is that you leave everything in the same condition you found it, ensuring that you don‘t spoil the experience for those who come after you.
