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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

 Page 1 of 2. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 23
Author
Bogong Summit Cairn...

Alex
17-Jan-2007
5:27:34 PM
I'm sure some of us have an opinion on this new addition to the Mt Bogong summit cairn:

http://forum.ski.com.au/ultimate/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=003928;p=1

andyR
17-Jan-2007
7:37:39 PM
I agree with climberman, two weeks max

brough
17-Jan-2007
9:39:32 PM
On 16th January (on the ski.com forum) Bogong wrote
>Well the Cairn has been looking pretty sick for the last few years, I was thinking about getting a group together to rebuild it. But it looks like someone has done it for us

>Don't worry about the God-Botherers, (Roman Catholic by the look of their words), the old steel pole in the cairn was constantly being struck be lightning, which is why it was so badly split. I assure you that no action is neccesary. The Weather Gods will zap that crucifix out of existence in the next few months with a well aimed lighning bolt.

>Thanks to the God-botherers for restoring the cairn. We should also be thankful that they're so ignorant of mountain weather that lightning strikes hadn't occured to them

This is great. That this "monstrosity" was erected on the summit of Mt Bogong and that it will be blasted apart by the very elements it was created in deference to.

I had always been impressed by the austerity of some religious monuments in the European Alps, with their weather ravaged charm. I think this one on Mt Bogong is a bit tacky and an eyesore, but obviously very beautiful to the people who erected it - perhaps an engineering wonder?

I find it interesting that these well meaning folk took it upon themselves to cart all that stuff up that hill and erect the monument, in an act of some value that I can't quantify, but apparently without any regard for others who will follow. Did they consult those tasked with managing the National Park, or was a higher authority consulted? Perhaps they envisaged that others may have a deeply religious experience on the summit:




I think "Bogong" has summed things up nicely with his post. In terms of practicalities, wood was clearly not the material of choice for what will ultimately be a lightning beacon. Perhaps it was the weight which determined the material of the cross, and the fact that 12 year old kids carted it up there. I also find it interesting, that the principal argument, in the written plea in the track book, is that 12 year old kids helped cart it all up there. I wonder if said kids volunteered their time for this or did so under duress?

I particularly enjoyed another post on the ski.com forum, where someone was pondering whether the cross would be a fire hazard. This is a classic example of the contrasting approach, of those who installed the cross, and those who question it's existence and ponder the practicalities of it's nature. For the former, it's a symbolic and beautiful monument of faith, that far outweighs it's humble and earthly appearance. For the latter, the object raises design, engineering and environmental issues.

With storms currently passing through that area, the new cairn's time may be dated. Will it arise again?


cheers brough

shmalec
17-Jan-2007
11:23:13 PM
if Christ created the world and is king of the universe, he doesn't need a bunch of kids to stick a cross on a hill to claim it on his behalf.

Super Saiyan
18-Jan-2007
7:40:57 AM
I think God could probably come up with a better way to say to the world "Hey, you're my bitch"

neats
18-Jan-2007
8:36:33 AM
Climbing it doesn't seem inviting anymore... but I'm sure the winds will take care of it.

ShinToe Warrior
18-Jan-2007
11:35:16 AM
with a whittling knife and some red paint, a person who was so inclined could create the "red penis" another poster on that forum alluded to. on the other hand, cleve cole hut could do with some kindling for the fireplace, and it would avoid possibility of ember attack if struck by lightning.
I think Religious Fundumentalists of all types & faiths should pull their head in. The belief that "we follow the one true God and EVERYONE else is wrong, maybe aren't even human, and will suffer for eternity" really sticks in my craw. If they just worshipped their god quietly and abstained from forcing their religion in other peoples faces, then I would be ok with them. If the product is so amazing, it needs no shonky sales reps.

nmonteith
18-Jan-2007
11:38:00 AM
On 18/01/2007 ShinToe Warrior wrote:
>If the product is so amazing, it needs
>no shonky sales reps.

That's a great line ShinToe!

cheesehead
18-Jan-2007
12:19:52 PM
I thought this one would bring you out of the (summit cairn) woodwork, ShinToe

harold
18-Jan-2007
1:45:13 PM
take a chill pill Shin Toe. Would you get so uptight if someone strung some Tibeten prayer flags on the top of a hill. I am sure they thought it was a good idea a the time and didnt think it would piss people off so much and being wood its not exactly permanent. How about each to their own, I am sure they are not trying to force you to believe anything, just expressing their own beliefs.
Bob Saki
18-Jan-2007
1:50:25 PM
I think is is the wrong thing to do but agree with harold I don't honestly think they meant to offend in any way nor to force conversion on unsuspecting high country visitors. Don't be too hard on them they just need to be made aware this can't be done.

My only fear is it could lead to further religious symbolism all over the high country, which in reality has never been a place of pilgrimage for religious followers.

Funnily enough though there have been some freezing nights in a tent in winter blowing a blizzard you wish God was there!

nmonteith
18-Jan-2007
1:58:56 PM
This is similar to the incident where the Police added a plaque to the top of Taipan to commenerate one
of their fallen members in a Himalyan expedition. It was subsequently removed when Parks Vic was
made aware of it.

ShinToe Warrior
18-Jan-2007
4:48:17 PM
On 18/01/2007 harold wrote:
>take a chill pill Shin Toe. Would you get so uptight if someone strung
>some Tibeten prayer flags on the top of a hill. I am sure they thought
>it was a good idea a the time and didnt think it would piss people off
>so much and being wood its not exactly permanent. How about each to their
>own, I am sure they are not trying to force you to believe anything, just
>expressing their own beliefs.
Harold, I am chilled. YouTube is filled with clips of people doing things that seemed like a good idea at the time.
I am referring to Religious Fundamentalists in General. Wake up, mate. Fundies are nice people UNTIL you have a dissenting opinion to theirs. Then you morph immediately into an emmissary of Satan - for all intents and purposes.
Look at the USA. A puritanical society controlled and run by Religious Fundamentalists. That's what Fundies do when given the opportunity. no thanks.

Many Fundies dont think about or consider others. they are nasty walking bundles of conditioned responses with a seige mentality .
Good thing they are generally not armed to the teeth like the American Ones.
Nutters gibbering about "doing God's work" and such, with ready access to high-powered weaponry is a very bad scene indeed.

I have never met a Buddhist (in ref to prayer flags) who wished to claim, conquer or control anything beyond their own mind & consciousness.

billk
18-Jan-2007
5:02:20 PM
On 18/01/2007 ShinToe Warrior wrote:
>I have never met a Buddhist (in ref to prayer flags) who wished to claim,
>conquer or control anything beyond their own mind & consciousness.

Agree with you totally about Christian fundamentalists but I could tell you a few stories about some nasty Buddhists. A couple of Buddhist monks have said to me that there are good and bad monks just like everyone else and it's time we Westerners had a clearer eyed view of them.

Anyhow, the weather radar is showing thunderstorm activity in the alps today so fingers crossed.

tnd
18-Jan-2007
5:03:08 PM
On 18/01/2007 ShinToe Warrior wrote:
>Buddhist

Goddamn liberal hippies. Maw! Whaurs ma shotgun?

billk
18-Jan-2007
5:05:17 PM
On 18/01/2007 tnd wrote:
>On 18/01/2007 ShinToe Warrior wrote:
>>Buddhist
>
>Goddamn liberal hippies. Maw! Whaurs ma shotgun?

I'm going to Texas soon, you've got me quaking in my boots tnd.

ShinToe Warrior
18-Jan-2007
5:10:44 PM
Billk: True, there are some evil badass buddhists around, like in Thailand, where some ex-crims have taken the vows and become monks, and some of them wacking tourists etc. I have also met some extra bitchy people who claimed to be buddhist (but stopped short of killing foreign tourists) .

ShinToe Warrior
18-Jan-2007
5:13:05 PM
On 18/01/2007 tnd wrote:
>On 18/01/2007 ShinToe Warrior wrote:
>>Buddhist
>Goddamn liberal hippies. Maw! Whaurs ma shotgun?

on the front porch, propped next to the banjo and rocking chair.

andyR
22-Jan-2007
3:52:54 PM
According to a friend of mine who was in touch with Parks today, Parks Vic are in the process of removing the cross. Didn't think it'd last two weeks, so there you go ...
kieranl
23-Jan-2007
12:44:37 PM
Now for the "Jesus saves for Eternity" signs in the Pines. Perhaps could supplement them with "and Beckham leaves Real Madrid"

 Page 1 of 2. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 23
There are 23 messages in this topic.

 

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