It is an age-old dilemma for those intrepid souls who trek the hills and climb the mountains for days on end. What do you do with your poo?

Now help is at hand. Enter the human poop scoop.

Yesterday the Cairngorms Ranger Service launched a major campaign to tackle the problem. It is called the Cairngorm Poo Project. Not to put too fine a point on it, provision is being made, free of charge, to allow climbers and hikers to remove the physical evidence of their night in the snow by bagging their waste.

The architect of the project is Heather Morning who, having spent three seasons working in toilet-challenged Antarctica, is already an experienced "bagger".

She said: "Spending the night in a snow hole in the Cairngorms is a popular activity, whether as part of a Winter Mountain Leader Course or just for pleasure.

"Like all activities in the hills, if only a few folk are doing it then it's not a problem but with increasing numbers now enjoying the Scottish winter hills, snow hole sites are sadly becoming environmental disaster areas." The problem is leading to the visual degradation of the mountains and water contamination in the River Nethy and Loch Avon Basin. It also has significant impact on the biodiversity of the snow bed habitats and increased risk of sickness from melting and drinking contaminated snow. So something had to be done.

"We have a sewage plant here at the mountain - what could be easier than handing out a few biodegradable bags and providing access to our sewage plant to drop them in," Ms Morning said. Her message to climbers was as clear as the driven snow.

"I would encourage you to do your bit for the Cairngorms and call in at the Ranger Base for your bags, a carrying pot (a light and rigid bottle with a screw top with no chance of any leakage or smell) and pouches if you want to carry the pot externally.

"Then, when nature calls, poo in the bag, tie the top and put in the pot. On return to the car park, follow the signs to the Poo Chute'."