Marcus, at the risk of even more repetition. Just to clarify, my “sacrosanct” reference was to convey a need to be protected, defended and treated with respect. Mountain tops and wilderness demand this as does a personal memorial, however distasteful we may find it. That’s how I see it:)
Chris, no problem, I skim too:) Way back on this thread, Cameron said that the memorials would be removed next summer and the memorial garden at the base of the Ben would be for people who had died on the mountain. I hope I’ve got that right. I did ask what was planned for the memorials to be removed from the top but don’t remember seeing a response. You seem to have answered my question - a memorial garden in Glen Nevis sounds fine by me. I don’t know the area - I take it that these are two different memorial gardens. Not that it matters really, as long as somewhere is put aside for people’s ‘memorials’ and as Marcus said <it serves people’s needs> People will still be able to climb the mountain and say, think or feel whatever it is that fulfills them, spiritual or not.
Elaine, Cameron and I were talking about the same place. It will be in Glen Nevis near to the start of the main path up the Ben.
Here is the relevant section from the JMT website:
"Memorials: Plans for the removal of memorials from the summit in 2006 are being developed by JMT and the Nevis Partnership. A Site for Contemplation, with a semi-circular drystone bench and cairn looking over the river to the hill, has been created in a wooded spot at the foot of the Ben. No decisions have been taken as to how the Site for Contemplation may best be used for locating memorials; however it is intended to be a discreet and easy to access place, for quiet reflection and the remembrance of loved ones who had an affinity for wild places."
As the instigator of this thread can I thank all of you for your responses – and particularly those of you with differing views to my own. It's a pity, in a sense, that the subject has spread from mountaintop memorials to virtually every kind of memorial, ancient and otherwise, and to waymarking cairns, but I guess that's the nature of an open-ended forum like this one. To those of you who are concerned about what is happening on the Ben then please contact the John Muir Trust. If you approve you may want to consider joining the Trust. They need as many members as possible. If you don't approve of what they are doing, then contact them and let them know. It doesn't help venting spleen, anger or rightious indignation (however interesting the comments may be) on this forum. Do something about it! The JMT, after considerable consultation, are doing what they think is the correct thing to do as owners of the Ben Nevis summit area. I personally applaud their actions. I think this thread shows that the vast majority of you do too.
Just read all this... why not bring Hugh back as a TGO columnist! Lively debate guaranteed. (Does anyone else remember his footpath guide reviews back in the days when TGO was printed on bog paper?)
And that sixteen year old (can't recall his name right now) in this month's issue is surely a columnist for the future - well written and I'm sure we all applaud him.
And on the subject of bog paper - good to see you have now reverted to using a quality paper again.
ps, some photo captions are the wrong way round this month and a Breakout says Exmoor at the top of the page when it isn't Exmoor at all!
from the BBC (sunday): "A garden at the foot of Ben Nevis has been dedicated to the memory of all those who have died or been commemorated on the mountain. "
I agree the memorials should be removed form the Ben - the area around the weather station has become like a memorial garden - wholly inappropriate particularly as many of them don't seem to have anything to with the mountain. I'm not against memorials in principle - the airmen in the lakes etc. In this case I believe the JMT are doing the right thing (not a member so no axe to grind). I also believe destroying cairns is a pontless excercise - you may not need them but others do or is this part of the arrogant shouldn't be in the hills if you can't navigate attitude
