Goto Chockstone Home

  Guide
  Gallery
  Tech Tips
  Articles
  Reviews
  Dictionary
  Links
  Forum
  Search
  About

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

  Shop
Chockstone Photography
Australian Landscape Photography by Michael Boniwell
Australian Landscape Prints





Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

 Page 1 of 3. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 40 | 41 to 53
Author
Memorials / Plaques
RNM
5-Nov-2006
9:53:54 PM
So, as another plaque has been errected at Araps - maybe it's time for people to start coming up with some more constructive ways of comemorating loved ones.

There is now a plaque below Syrinx in memory of Cookie, the Policeman who made an error on that route and passed away as a consequence.

Perhaps someone who knows the man and his family/friends could talk to the family a little further down the line and suggest;

a) removing the plaque after a suitable period of time (maybe after a year?)

b) relocating it to a small rock/boulder in the area below

c) contributing to something more constructive, such as a bench seat, a picnic table for camp, money for bolt funds or track maintinance etc. This would seem a more appropriate way to comemerate a loved one, don't people think?

Everyone can understand friends and family needing to remember loved ones, and wanting to do something positive, but we need to channel that into something more appropriate than plastering plaques at the base of climbs.

Gentle words at poignent times would seem to be the best option - shame the oppertunity was missed, but perhaps a positive outcome can still be reached further down the track.
gravitychaser
6-Nov-2006
11:08:41 AM
Michael,

I think a bench seat or table or something in the close vicinity is a bloody good idea!

While I feel for the loved ones who have had someone pass away on a climb, I do think that plaques are anachronistic and distracting. Something useful to the climbing community would definately be preferred.

Jason.
paul
6-Nov-2006
11:38:41 AM
Plaques can change the nature of a climb, they can make you feel less confident when climbing by knowing what may have happened there, but they will also make you more carefull not to repeat the same mistakes that someone else may have made. The bench seat or picnic table idea sounds like a good way to be remembered but at the end of the day it is family, friends and the land management body (Parks Victoria) which make the decision.
pharmamatt
6-Nov-2006
1:42:50 PM
speaking of plaques, i was up at the cathedral ranges this weekend and on the entrance to wells cave there is a bright shiny plaque memorialising the death of three climbers on mount cook in the 1950's

brat
6-Nov-2006
3:31:25 PM
Is that retro-plaquing, or as it hasn't been plaqued before is it just a new plaque?

BigMike
6-Nov-2006
3:57:17 PM
And if a historical plaque is in bad shape, can it be replaqued, or is that the responsibility of the first plaquist?

Sabu
6-Nov-2006
5:06:45 PM
lol this is getting waay too technical!!! But yes i think a bench or chair is a very good idea, however to a limited extent, as part of being at Araps is being in the bush and i think seeing benches everywhere would start to take away from that feel.

Eduardo Slabofvic
6-Nov-2006
6:29:40 PM
I did a route in Finale (Italy) where the plaque was placed at the point where the dead persons high point.
That made me wonder.

JamesMc
7-Nov-2006
8:21:57 PM
On 6/11/2006 Matt78 wrote:
>speaking of plaques, i was up at the cathedral ranges this weekend and
>on the entrance to wells cave there is a bright shiny plaque memorialising
>the death of three climbers on mount cook in the 1950's

That plaque's been there as long as I can remember, which is about 30 years. I want mine made out of the same stuff.

JamesMc

nmonteith
7-Nov-2006
9:39:15 PM
On 6/11/2006 paul wrote:
>but at the end of the day it is family, friends and
>the land management body (Parks Victoria) which make the decision.

Don't presume Parks Vic knows about the plaque. A few years back friends of Paul Carr erected a large
memorial plaque above Taipan Wall, and then got a Herald Sun photographer to take a pic of it and the
photo ended up on the front cover of the newpaper. When i contacted the head ranger at Halls Gap he
had no idea. I told him to get the paper and ring me back. He was very suprised and got them to remove
it.
kieranl
7-Nov-2006
10:00:27 PM
Reportedly, Parks gave approval for the plaque to be placed at Tiger Wall. It would be nice to know what criteria they used for approving the request and what public notice was given.
You might have guessed that I'm against the idea of memorial plaques at crags. If plaques are going to be permitted it would be good to know what criteria have to be satisfied.

nmonteith
7-Nov-2006
10:18:19 PM
The old topic on this subject for reference
http://www.chockstone.org/Forum/Forum.asp?Action=Display&ForumID=1&MessageID=3052&Replies=1
tastybigmac
8-Nov-2006
11:14:47 AM
i think plaques are very uncool. get rid of them
gfdonc
8-Nov-2006
11:21:48 AM
A memorial windbreak around the Pines would be much appreciated after the last three days, thanks.
audtracol
8-Nov-2006
3:18:12 PM
Why not have a larger memorial plaque near the pines somewhere which can be added to each time (not very often i hope) a climber succumbs at Araps. Perhaps the date of accident, climbers details and the climb could be mentioned on the plaque. This will eliminate plaques being placed all over Araps and be a bit of food for thought for climbers heading out each morning. This also gives family and friends a place to visit and reflect.

kuu
8-Nov-2006
3:50:33 PM
On 8/11/2006 audtracol wrote:
>Why not have a larger memorial plaque near the pines somewhere which can
>be added to each time (not very often i hope) a climber succumbs at Araps.

I have not seen it but believe there is a stone wall in Mount Cook Village (N.Z.) that is used for this purpose and being in the village it would be accessible to even the less agile relatives of the deceased climber (and there can be some controls imposed as to the suitability of the plaque et cetera).

Romfrantic
8-Nov-2006
4:04:00 PM
On 8/11/2006 kuu wrote:
>On 8/11/2006 audtracol wrote:
>>Why not have a larger memorial plaque near the pines somewhere which
>can
>>be added to each time (not very often i hope) a climber succumbs at Araps.
>
>I have not seen it but believe there is a stone wall in Mount Cook Village
>(N.Z.) that is used for this purpose and being in the village it would
>be accessible to even the less agile relatives of the deceased climber
>(and there can be some controls imposed as to the suitability of the plaque
>et cetera).

Yes, that's correct Kuu....it is a stone monument along the walking track towards the Hooker Glacier, close to the campsite area.

A picture here: http://www.pbase.com/bb/image/14332489 and here: http://danny.oz.au/travel/new_zealand/p/danny-cook-memorial.jpg (from blogs on the net).
Ronny
8-Nov-2006
4:21:47 PM
On 8/11/2006 audtracol wrote:
>Why not have a larger memorial plaque near the pines somewhere which can

I was going to suggest something like this - it would seem to be a good idea. It could even be away from the pines somewhere more secluded - maybe on a boulder (one that doesn't have any problems/holds on it?) or a separate structure.
Could be almost a little 'shrine' for people to visit.

Maybe this wouldn't work at all - but it might be a good way of remebering the fallen (no pun intended) appropriately, while keeping the cliff/routes as 'natural' as possible.

James
gfdonc
8-Nov-2006
5:24:38 PM
Blech. I don't like the idea of a central "honour roll", seems too morbid to me, and not personal enough for the memory of each particular climber.

Now you've asked, is there a thread (no haven't searched, will check in a minute) or (better) can someone compile a list of the fatal accidents at Arapiles?
For example the Select guide mentions something about the scramble below the Flight Desk "having claimed at least one life" but I am unaware of details.

gfdonc
8-Nov-2006
5:34:59 PM
Ah. Found my own thread.
http://www.chockstone.org/Forum/Forum.asp?Action=DisplayTopic&ForumID=5&MessageID=1357&Replies=33&PagePos=80&Sort=LastMessage#newpost

Perhaps (read from the start) the appropriate acknowledgement is to continue what Louise has started, and put the names in the (upcoming) guidebook?


 Page 1 of 3. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 40 | 41 to 53
There are 53 messages in this topic.

 

Home | Guide | Gallery | Tech Tips | Articles | Reviews | Dictionary | Forum | Links | About | Search
Chockstone Photography | Landscape Photography Australia | Australian Landscape Photography | Landscape Photos Australia

Please read the full disclaimer before using any information contained on these pages.



Australian Panoramic | Australian Coast | Australian Mountains | Australian Countryside | Australian Waterfalls | Australian Lakes | Australian Cities | Australian Macro | Australian Wildlife
Landscape Photo | Landscape Photography | Landscape Photography Australia | Fine Art Photography | Wilderness Photography | Nature Photo | Australian Landscape Photo | Stock Photography Australia | Landscape Photos | Panoramic Photos | Panoramic Photography Australia | Australian Landscape Photography | High Country Mountain Huts | Mothers Day Gifts | Gifts for Mothers Day | Mothers Day Gift Ideas | Ideas for Mothers Day | Wedding Gift Ideas | Christmas Gift Ideas | Fathers Day Gifts | Gifts for Fathers Day | Fathers Day Gift Ideas | Ideas for Fathers Day | Landscape Prints | Landscape Poster | Limited Edition Prints | Panoramic Photo | Buy Posters | Poster Prints