Citation

Alexandrowicz Z. Episodes J. Int. Geosci. 2017; 40(1): 63-69.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, International Union of Geological Sciences, Publisher Geological Society of Korea)

DOI

10.18814/epiiugs/2017/v40i1/017009

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aim of the article is the proof of the small resistance of Carpathian sandstone tors on the activity of climbers. The threats to rock sites, and the damage caused by climbing, particularly to their natural relief, have only occasionally been recorded and studied. In this paper, the issue was considered regarding protected tors made of the thick-bedded sandstone-conglomerate complexes occurring in the Outer (Flysch) Polish Carpathians. Carpathian tors,particularly those which are small in size with walls that feature diversified morphology, have become particularly frequent sites for bouldering. The assessment of the effects of rock climbing was based on the author's earlier research concerning the preservation and origin of sandstone tors, thermo-humidity regime of their surfaces, as well as the creation and transformation of the weathering crust.

Rock climbing activities result not only in the damage and destruction of micro-relief of tors, but they also speed up and disturb the course of natural weathering processes by forcing the exfoliation of the crust and intensifying the granular disintegration of sandstones. Irrespective of the protection status of natural rock forms, various kinds of climbing on them should be considered unethical, in the same way as painting graffiti or drilling to take samples. Within the promoted idea of geoethical education, a wide range of current and forecasted threats to the values of natural geological heritage should be considered.

Language: en