UKC

Should now defunct trig points be removed as they fall into disrepair over the coming decades? They serve no purpose for cartography now.

In reply to Removed User:


No...
http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=638910

In reply to Removed User:

Adopt them.

In reply to Removed User:

No but a charitable organisation should take responsibility for them going forward - the OS is on a very poor financial footing as it is. It's maintaining both the 1:50k and 1:25k loss leading mapping scales for the benefit of walkers so a network of useless trig points is asking too much. A charity might even be able to reinstate and restore some.

In reply to Removed User:

Interesting article on the BBC Website: -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-36036561

In reply to Tom F Harding:

I have to admit that I'd let most of them rot and/or remove them. Strange and unnecessary lumps of urban style concrete don't really belong on a mountain in my mind.

In reply to Monk:

Yes, agreed. Ideally remove the lot.

In reply to Monk:

I wouldn't be against their removal either but its the letting them rot part that is causing some of the issues - as I understand the OS has responsibility for them so if while in the process of rotting one fell over injuring someone they would be held in some way responsible. The cost of a program of removal would be huge, expensive and pretty unpopular. Who would pay for it? Again maybe a charitable organisation could take over the ownership of them and carry the work out, be that; restoration, maintenance or removal.

In reply to Tom F Harding:

By that logic, should we sue the Pope if Hadrian's Wall is not removed soon

In reply to Removed User:

Slightly of topic, but is there a record set for the greatest number of people standing on a trig point simultaneously? (Photographic evidence needed!)

In reply to Mark Kemball:
an inverted human pyramid would be the best approach.

In reply to Removed User:

I think they are part of our history. Its amazing the way the country was surveyed and mapped and I think it would be a shame if they were all removed.

In reply to Removed User:


base mounts for mini wind turbines?

In reply to summo:


With in built usb chargers obviously, 'tis the 21st century after all.

In reply to marsbar:


I agree, they contributed to the most comprehensive and accurate mapping in the world at the time, a part of history and something of a memorial to those involved. Admittedly most are unsightly lumps of concrete in beautiful places but they all contribute to our country's history, as do other historical man made constructions - they don't all have to be grand to be worth preserving.

In reply to Sharp:


4/5g, free wifi, for people's selfies.

In reply to Tom F Harding:


In one small sentence you sum up the whole idiotic arse-covering elfin safety obsession in the country. How likely is it that a trig pillar could become detached from its base unnoticed by anybody who leaned on it and become unstable enough to topple over and crush somebody's toes?

In reply to Removed User:

If trigs were removed in fairly short order - not very likely - then there could well be navigation problems arising, given that they'd still be shown on maps that people would be using for years to come. This would probably create problems both for lowland walkers and also on the bigger hills - eg I've come across several people who have been puzzled in cloud by the absence of a trig that was shown on their map and which they'd been aiming towards.

It's only a few years since I last met someone who was scratching their head looking for the Schiehallion one, and that's been gone something close to 30 years. It would be interesting to know what the rescue teams reckoned about trig removal - I seem to recall some comment a few years ago when this came up before, and whichever team it was wasn't keen, as it might create extra work for them.

In reply to marsbar:


would agree, there are plenty other constructions on the hills, just south of haweswater there are towers used as guides (not sure how), when a pipe was tunnelled underground South from the reservoir to take water to Manchester. Abandoned shooting butts, huts, big stone sheepfolds, ruined buildings etc.. it's part of the mountains cultural history and if stuff isn't dangerous to people or hazardous to the environment it should be left. The hills as they are now are engineered by man anyway, so removing some bits of history isn't really restoring them to their natural condition.

In reply to Monk:


It is for similar reasons I suggest we take to Stonehenge with lump hammers - unnecessary stone constructions that don't belong in a open land...

In reply to Shani:

How would I know it's time for lunch, I'd get very hungry if they were missing.It's like visiting an old friend definitely better than stopping at a Summit cairn smelling of p..S.

In reply to Mark Kemball:

There's something reassuring and traditional in UK hillwalking that makes a trig point a reassuring sight, but I'd not be averse to them disappearing. I'd probably rather they stayed though. Strange to think this way really, as I hate all the crosses, plinths, clutter etc on foreign summits, but have never once resented a lump of ugly concrete!




No evidence, as it was in the days before phone cameras, but we managed 9 on one as students. This was on the way to the pub, on the way back it was more like 3.

In reply to Removed User:

Cost a fortune to remove them. Either leave them alone or tip them on their side and let them erode naturally or maintain them. I personally wouldn't like to see them go.

R

In reply to rossn:

Munro baggers of a certain age will be only too aware that trigs are good at disappearing.

In reply to Removed User:

I'm surprised that the O.S. has not thought of marketing/licensing scaled facsimiles of the trig point plate- There is presumably a ready market . I'd imagine it would be a simple matter to reproduce the details of the 'missing' ones.
There are all those people who propose marriage next to one, the'final hill' list tickers, the hill we put dad's ashes on, the 'I climbed Ben Nevis' etc.

I suppose a plaque sails close to the territory of people who collect nameplates off old trains. But t'd be a bit more classy than those oversized letter spelling 'LOVE' that acquaintances have on their shelves.

In reply to Removed User:

They are mounts for a theodolite, so if you are into dark skies Astronomy how about CNC machining an adapter mount for a telescope? Should be an easy exercise and encourage some good walks (or even extreme Astronomy if you climb up a route to get to the trig point!)

In reply to Removed User:


No. If we touch any the aliens will invade within a couple of years.

In reply to Removed User:

No they should be preserved as monuments to an incredible feat of accurate surveying long before the development of modern electronic survey aids.

Same with Stonehenge, the surveyors managed to position that with incredible accuracy to catch the Solstice sun.

In reply to abseil:

will there be a cutscene with a rambler throwing a walking stick up into the air above the trig point?

In reply to ultrabumbly:


Only if there's a movie. But I think the aliens, when they arrive, may single the movie makers out for special treatment so they should be very careful.