[MtnGoat]

i don't mind the plaques and memorials. they get me thinking about someone who loved what I love. I can't diss that, and finding one in the woods gives me a feeling of kinship with someone I didn't know and never will.

[Quark]

I think you guys are misunderstanding the plaque on the pit toilet box. The troop leader apparently made good use of it, and it's a humorous way to say "we love you." I think it's great. I want to go out laughing, and wish to continue the laughter after I'm gone.

[Quark]

The Rid-a-Turd (Ronald, Washington) logo is an excellent plaque for those who are known for their prowess in that department. The Wizard of Ooze (outhouses at Rockport S.P.) is another one.

[Quark]

No, no, no....the guy or his ashes ain't in the toilet, it's just a plaque on the outside meant to give folks a chuckle, compliments of his memory. He's prolly tickled pink knowing folks take a pic of the plaque and post it on a website & talk about it. It's doing exactly what his loved ones meant for it to do. I like it.

[Quark]

I always thought you'd make a pretty good foot bridge over Baekos Creek.

[Opus]

[Slim]

[Dayhike Mike]

Truly, these things must be a plague in the wilderness.

[Mesahchie Mark]

No plaques for me, either. Now, a big friggin' Leninesque statue in bronze - that'd be acceptable.

[Tazz]

[sten]

I don't know. Last year while hiking we came upon a veritable cemetery of _modern_ commemorative 'plaques'. A wooden sign nailed to a tree here, a cement and antler box there, a headstone yonder; a bevy of plaques spread out over a mile or two. It never occurred to me that they marked the places of people's demises. & I don't think they did (if they did, maybe the whole area should be closed til it can be made safer ...or folks learn how to safely navigate it). It left a pretty bad impression. I'm not for any such _modern_ wilderness monuments. There are plenty of urbanized landscapes to place such commemorations. Does it make me think of their love of the outdoors? No, for me it taints 'their' 'favorite huckleberry patch' with ownership and death. Takes from me, the experience that they allegedly craved when they visited that place. It makes a claim upon the land that we have agreed to be claimless. Maybe I'm extreme, but then that cemetery was extreme as well. Let those who remain behind write their remembrances on a piece of biodegradable paper. If you find it and read it, then it is special because of it's ephemeral nature. Let them do good works in the name of their loved one and pass the spirit and love of that person on to others. Build a shelf in a school library in their name and stock it with books. Place a park bench on a well traveled (and well-appreciated) viewpoint. Sponsor a child's education. Take a hike along their favorite route, and have a picnic on their favorite viewpoint with friends. Hell, build a rock cairn that will be removed by one of the avid anti-cairn crew. & remember that the footprints of past lives are all around us. They don't need to be memorialized in cement and signs every 10 yards to be seen.

[captain jack]

Does anyone know who Brett Hall was, and why this extremely heavy chunk of marble sits up on Mount Si, in his honor?

Resize of Sigh 2006-08-16 010

[jimmymac]

[Tim and Angel]

Hahaha, just like above, I read it as plagues in the wilderness, too. Anyway, plaques in the wilderness are fine by me. Walking among a noteworthy special or historic spot is interesting to me. Sort of depends on the situation I guess. Plagues in the wilderness would be horrible. The closest thing to that are mosquitoes.(The Flying Plague). Plaque on the teeth is something I object to.

[Quark]