Irian glaciers cleaned up

Irian glaciers cleaned up

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: A 20 member clean-up team of PT Freeport Indonesia has removed some 800 kilograms of refuse from the Carstenz and Meren glaciers at the top of the Jayawijaya mountains.

PT Freeport, which operates a giant mining company near one of the world's last remaining equatorial glaciers, said yesterday the team found everything from home-made crampons, gloves and plastic bags to poles.

The materials had accumulated over the years, discarded by climbers and natives who use trails to travel between villages on opposite sides of the mountains.

The Carstenz and Meren glaciers have long been great attractions to mountaineers from both Indonesia and abroad. (pan)