Photo: a newly installed American Flag on the summit of the Grand Teton (credit: Andrew Reynolds)
Leaving our mark on the world is uniquely human. Other than perhaps my dog (who is also quite a fan of marking his territory), I can't think of any other species that feels so compelled to leave behind objects of remembrance. On 9-11-11, a set of US Veterans climbed the Grand Teton and left the above flag and pedestal on the summit in remembrance of veterans, the American worker, liberty, freedom and [insert your patriotic phrase here]. Good thing? Bad thing? Don't care?
To be fair, the act of leaving behind tokens on the summit of a peak isn't new. In many ways, I've come to appreciate small reminders that other people have also shared my journey to the summit of some high remote place. Even our government endorses summit markers, in the tradition of USGS benchmarks. However, what is also true is that our objects of remembrance are not natural and will, at some point, become little more than hard-to-remove junk.
So what place do summit markers have? Are we entitled to drag anything up to the top of any peak we choose or are there rules of engagement? I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this one...
The Sierra Club is famous for placing Summit Registers among many peaks in the Sierra.
Famous summit signage on top of Africa's highest point, Kilimanjaro.
A cross on top of the Matterhorn. Many peaks throughout Italy, Spain and Switzerland have similar icons.
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Steve said on September 13, 2011 at 2:46 PM
I love America, the flag and veterans, but I think that only the first ascent has the right to leave something at the summit (the benchmark aside). You can't leave open the opportunity for more people to leave installments up there. The installment should be about the history of the ascent and not an act of symbolism by random climbers. Thank GOD they didn't leave a cross up there.
DirtProof said on September 13, 2011 at 6:20 PM
I agree with Steve. We all have our deep reasons and motivations for climbing and reaching the summit is amazing in so many ways, but we can't all leave something behind to memorialize our sentiments. Keep them in your hearts and memories and respect the mountain. Leave no trace.