The effort of the climb is worthwhile. Small you feel on top of the mountain, and yet in a larger context.
But now it's time for a rest and enjoying being so close to the clouds.
A few comments on the summit cross I wrote already a year ago. For some they may be new, which is why I repeat myself here:
The peaks of many Alps mountains are marked with crosses. Mostly they are made of wood or metal. As early as the 13th century, crosses were erected on passes here and there, increasingly used in the 16th century to mark alpine and communal boundaries. In the 17th century, the religious significance was added. Proper summit crosses were established from the end of the 19th century. They were also equipped with lightning conductors and measuring devices such as barometers.
Especially after the Second World War, many new crosses were erected - to commemorate the fallen or as a reward for a healthy return home from war and captivity. Many post-war soldiers were involved in their construction.
A lot of crosses are equipped with a summit book. It is always stored in a rainproof tin box. As you can see in the picture, this cross on the Bosruck summit also has such a container with a summit book. Everyone can make an entry in it. Most of the entries refer to the date of the ascent, the weather or the atmosphere during the ascent. But you can also find humorous sayings, poems and drawings in summit books.
There is also criticism from some people about these crosses. Mountaineer Reinhold Messner argues like this: Since the mountains are there for everyone, they should also be free of religious symbols. They should not be occupied by a particular worldview.
Some see in the summit cross just a symbol for the achievement of a goal, far from religious intention. And most people understand summit crosses simply as a sign that indicates: Here's the highest point, this is the summit.
____________
Ascent to mountain Bosruck, Upper Austria.
what an amazing achievement Jerome - I like the cross even though I am not particularly religious - I think they need not have a significance attached other than we made it and this is our story
I'm not at all religious but have no problem with the crosses being on the summits of mountains. Totally agree with @annied. For those who see religious significance, that's fine too. Not often you can have it both ways simultaneously. Jerome, this in another magic shot. Not only do we see the amazing clouds, but the closeup of the rocky summit with the climber enjoying a well-earned rest really captures the essence of that place and its importance.
Climbing to this height is quite an achievement!That massive cross reminds us that some poor slob had to drag that wood up there and install it as part of his job - and he may not have been an enthusiast like you.
@annied@jerome@golftragic@olenadole@777margo@gilbertwood@kjarn@onewing@elkereturns@blueberry1222@louannwarren@carolmw@taffy@seattlite@casablanca@tstb13@tonygig@haskar
Thank you very much for your feedback!
I am generally very interested in your opinion, for example about these summit crosses.
I think it's good to know the cultural-historical background, if you comment on it. But maybe you say, this is not the place for long-range discussions. Just briefly I want to indicate my position:
I do not want to refer to myself as very religious in the common sense. But when I see the wondrous orders and relationships in nature, then I can not help believing in an all-encompassing force. I think you can be very close to the Enlightenment and still recognize something that is above all else. Whether summit crosses are needed for this attitude, is another question.
My relationship with the summit crosses is conflicting. On the one hand, I appreciate it when these marks give me an orientation in the mountains. On the other hand, I tend to think that the mountains should be as free as possible from human hands. Man presumably sets more than enough signs in the cities.
@seattlite Your dad was in the 10th Mountain Division... So he fought on some of the roughest terrain in World War II. I hope he returned home healthy. May these dark days not be repeated.
@elkereturns
Thank you Elke, for your nice comment!
The poor fellow who had to tow this part up to the summit and set it up... You're right, that's certainly a drudgery. But according to reports, there are always very ambitious and confident people who do that. Usually people from local clubs set up such crosses. At https://media04.all-in.de/article/2013/07/24/2/298832_XL.jpg?1532533550 you can see such people at work. They are members of the German and Austrian Alpine Club, who bring together the material for a summit cross (2249m) in the Allgäu. A few dates:
- 1200 working hours, performed under partly unfavorable weather conditions
- 1100 kg of wood, steel and cement
@blueberry1222 Thank you, Krista, for your kind visit!
Friedrich is one of the painters I really appreciate. How he modulates the colour and creates atmospheric mood is great. His pictures are "summit crosses" in art. I just can admire him looking up.
@golftragic Yes, my friend, this is a really hard job to set up such a summit cross. You do that only voluntarily, if you have a deeper drive to do so. How am I doing: I admire the performance, but not really anymore.
What a wonderful image of the mountain peak! I always view crosses there as having reached the peak, not religiously. I like those mountain books and have signed a few myself! Did you have him pose for you like this? Such a good pose for showing relaxation after working, and those spots of red are great accents!
@golftragic Three quarters of the accidents in the mountains happen on the descent - when the fatigue increases and the attention fades (survey of the Alpine Association). The main cause of accidents is hubris. But even experienced mountaineers can meet with an accident. There remains a rest risk.
The number of mountain accidents has risen in recent years. This is because more and more people are visiting the mountains. Mountain hiking was once an activity of nerds, today it is "trend" and has been discovered by the tourism industry. But they still exist, the quiet places in the mountains...
@jerome Very interesting Jerome. I can well believe what you say, a significant minority of road accidents here occur quite close to the driver's final destination. Same thing, the attention wanders and … Seems to me that those mountains of yours are pretty serious climbs and no place for ill-prepared tourists or anyone else. There's little or no margin for error, and if some idiot comes to grief others have to risk their lives to try to rescue them. We have few mountains here in Oz, nothing like yours but the same logic applies here to our desert inland and our surf beaches.
@jyokota You also like to be in the mountains - that's nice! Which mountain is best remembered?
The person in the picture - it's a woman I do not know. I photographed her when she felt unwatched. You can ask if this is allowed.
@golftragic Thank you for your comments, dear friend!
When everyday life is as organized and controlled as it is today, many people search for freedom and liberty. Some seek after this in special natural areas - in the Alps mountains, in the Australian outback or while surfing. But there are also limits here - set by nature.
@jerome I understand very well the urge to seek freedom and liberty, like you I'm in that category too. But I was brought up to respect the ocean and the dry country. It's no co-incidence that many of the beach/rock-fishing tragedies involve migrants who can't swim (or very little) and don't understand how to recognise the dangers.
@Jerome -- these days, European laws for photographing people seem to be covered by rather restrictive privacy laws. I'm not sure you'd be in trouble, though, because you could make a case that she placed herself in a spot that is publicly photographed, an she is incidental to the peak (although we know she's what makes the whole scene work so well.). I do love the mountains, but I didn't climb one until I was 50! I hike in the Bavarian Alps, and I even leave my hiking gear in Munich so I can hike every year. Alas, Chicago does not have any mountains.
@jyokota Thank you for your reference, Junko! The question of the legal basis for pictures with persons is actually justified. There are still gray areas. In principle, photographs may be taken in public places. The display of images on which people are recognizable is not allowed if "legitimate interests" are violated. That's the case, if you -
- put sb. in a bad light.
- disclose the privacy of a person to the public.
- use the image of a person for misinterpretations.
- the picture degrades.
It would be clear if people were asked for permission beforehand. But probably many pictures would lose their meaning.
@golftragic I think we understand each other very well on this point. The limits people set (often hidden behind an administrative apparatus) can be very nonsensical. The limits of nature are not.
@jerome@jyokota It seems that the laws vary somewhat from country to country, more accurately, jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In Australia it's perfectly legal to photograph anyone, including kids, in a public place. That said, I suspect you'd be in all sorts of trouble if that image was mis-used in any way.
@golftragic@Jerome -- and as Jerome said, if he had stopped to ask permission of this person, it would no longer be the image he captured in this spontaneous way.
@jyokota@jerome Oh definitely Junko, you're quite right. The same applies even on a much simpler level. The photo of Kay I posted yesterday was shot before she'd spotted the camera. A second shot taken a minute or two later was very 'posed'.
September 8th, 2018
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I suspect most people think about the summit crosses much like you do.
Thank you very much for your feedback!
I am generally very interested in your opinion, for example about these summit crosses.
I think it's good to know the cultural-historical background, if you comment on it. But maybe you say, this is not the place for long-range discussions. Just briefly I want to indicate my position:
I do not want to refer to myself as very religious in the common sense. But when I see the wondrous orders and relationships in nature, then I can not help believing in an all-encompassing force. I think you can be very close to the Enlightenment and still recognize something that is above all else. Whether summit crosses are needed for this attitude, is another question.
My relationship with the summit crosses is conflicting. On the one hand, I appreciate it when these marks give me an orientation in the mountains. On the other hand, I tend to think that the mountains should be as free as possible from human hands. Man presumably sets more than enough signs in the cities.
Yes, it was a good day with best weather conditions for a mountain tour.
Thank you Elke, for your nice comment!
The poor fellow who had to tow this part up to the summit and set it up... You're right, that's certainly a drudgery. But according to reports, there are always very ambitious and confident people who do that. Usually people from local clubs set up such crosses. At https://media04.all-in.de/article/2013/07/24/2/298832_XL.jpg?1532533550 you can see such people at work. They are members of the German and Austrian Alpine Club, who bring together the material for a summit cross (2249m) in the Allgäu. A few dates:
- 1200 working hours, performed under partly unfavorable weather conditions
- 1100 kg of wood, steel and cement
Friedrich is one of the painters I really appreciate. How he modulates the colour and creates atmospheric mood is great. His pictures are "summit crosses" in art. I just can admire him looking up.
The number of mountain accidents has risen in recent years. This is because more and more people are visiting the mountains. Mountain hiking was once an activity of nerds, today it is "trend" and has been discovered by the tourism industry. But they still exist, the quiet places in the mountains...
The person in the picture - it's a woman I do not know. I photographed her when she felt unwatched. You can ask if this is allowed.
When everyday life is as organized and controlled as it is today, many people search for freedom and liberty. Some seek after this in special natural areas - in the Alps mountains, in the Australian outback or while surfing. But there are also limits here - set by nature.
- put sb. in a bad light.
- disclose the privacy of a person to the public.
- use the image of a person for misinterpretations.
- the picture degrades.
It would be clear if people were asked for permission beforehand. But probably many pictures would lose their meaning.