Walter R. Borneman, Co-author, A Climbing Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners Colorado's alpine ecosystems support diverse and fascinating flora. Many of our alpine plant species and endemic only to Colorado, and others occur in the state in populations that are distinct from more extensive arctic distributions. These factors lend international significance to many species of Colorado's alpine flora. Due to a dramatic increase in recreational use, degradation of sub-alpine and alpine habitat, soil erosion, trail braiding and physical scarring are now occurring at numerous sites for trailhead to summit on an alarming number of Colorado's Fourteeners. A single piece of liter can kill the alpine plants it covers in 3 to 4 weeks.
Tundra can take centuries to recover from even slight disturbance.
The displacement of a rock above treeline, with freeze-thaw activity, can produce an expanding circle of erosion. Human waste and trash does not decompose easily at altitude and pollutes lakes and streams. Collecting firewood at higher elevations can rob the soil of key nutrients. Reduce physical scarring of the landscape. Preserve and protect alpine plant and wildlife habitat.