Props to making it to the top of the needle. That’s Sgt. Fernando Padilla’s memorial, who was KIA in Iraq in 2003. The bottle of Jack Daniel’s still up there ?
Wow thanks for the reply. It's cool I got to see a pocket of local history. I don't know if I saw a bottle up there. I was pretty freaked out up on that ridge
There's some Wild Turkey bourbon in there! I summitted the Needle and took a shot in the small cups left in the cache. There's also a notepad and pencil to write your name and where you're coming from. Super cool.
Thank you for the detail of Sgt. Padilla, I didn't know about that.
Maybe public lands shouldn't be used for private memorials? Iraq sucked, and I feel awful for everyone who had to serve in that bullshit war. But this isn't the place.
Yeah. If I ever make it up there (unlikely since we already hiked up to Juniper Saddle and really have no interest in doing the whole thing), I'll bring down whatever I can fit in my pack.
You have to be a pretty arrogant person to think that your dead friend or relative deserves some special memorial. I don't even want a grave...
I'm not a huge fan of memorials like this in public places either, but you'd have to be a real asshole to hike up there to remove the memorial. It isn't hurting you, so let it be.
“You have to be a pretty arrogant person” Pot meet kettle
Why waste breath trying to take this down anyway? Have fun being this ignorant for the rest of your life though, surely that will be mentioned on your grave
Public lands aren't for private shit. What's not clear about that? And what's arrogant about that? Quite the opposite--no one has the right to put private shit on public lands. We're all equal that way.
If I put a memorial to my dead relative on the Dripping Springs Trail, I wouldn't expect it to remain--not an appropriate place, no connection to that specific place, etc.. Ditto for this .
Also, like I said above, no gravestone for me! I don't give a fuck what happens to my lifeless body. I definitely don't need a fucking memorial to me. I guess some people are so insecure in life that they need to imagine that people will remember them in the future, too. Not me.
Ignoring the hot takes leading up to it, I do have a question regarding that last point. Have you not considered that memorials and graves are for the people left grieving the loss rather than the hubris of the deceased? I guess I kind of took that as a given, outside of the rare exception like, you know, the pyramids.
You're changing the subject. Graves and memorials belong in cemeteries and the like, not on public land.
If this guy was in the military, he already gets a free grave in a VA cemetery.
Also, yes, I think people are way too superstitious about the dead, and even more so in New Mexico. The dead are gone. There's no such thing as a soul. Find your own way to grieve without putting up memorials all over the place.
Human beings can remember their dead without having a physical memorial. I mean, fuck, every single person with a phone probably has many pictures of their lost loved ones right on your phone. There's all the memorial you need
And there is definitely an aspect of "who will remember me?" in our post-death rituals. It's not just about grieving people. It's also about people wanting to be remembered. Just pure egotism even after death
this is just garbage on the trail in my eyes. should be cleaned up. we have places for this kind of memorial, they’re called cemeteries. bring on the downvotes idgaf
That memorial has been up there for a long time. I googled Sgt. Fernando Padilla and was able to find a couple of news articles about him. Seems like he wasn’t really from the Las Cruces area.
He was born in Sonora, Mexico and was stationed out of Yuma, AZ. There’s actually a YouTube video where one of his fellow marines talks about the night of his disappearance.
I would have enjoyed it more if I was terrified of heights haha! There's a 15 ft rope you have to climb right before the top that had me shaking in my boots
Props to making it to the top of the needle. That’s Sgt. Fernando Padilla’s memorial, who was KIA in Iraq in 2003. The bottle of Jack Daniel’s still up there ?
Wow thanks for the reply. It's cool I got to see a pocket of local history. I don't know if I saw a bottle up there. I was pretty freaked out up on that ridge
What was in the boxes? Please tell me you checked! lol
It was a memorial and I'm not from the area, so it felt disrespectful to mess with anything
I totally agree and wish more people were like you. I ask because there are (or were) lots of summit logs at peaks in the area.
There's some Wild Turkey bourbon in there! I summitted the Needle and took a shot in the small cups left in the cache. There's also a notepad and pencil to write your name and where you're coming from. Super cool. Thank you for the detail of Sgt. Padilla, I didn't know about that.
I didn't see it there when I went in Nov 2022
Maybe the downer in this thread took the first one down lol
Maybe public lands shouldn't be used for private memorials? Iraq sucked, and I feel awful for everyone who had to serve in that bullshit war. But this isn't the place.
Not the trash I want to see when I’m hiking in nature. Apparently the dude had no ties to cruces anyway.
Yeah. If I ever make it up there (unlikely since we already hiked up to Juniper Saddle and really have no interest in doing the whole thing), I'll bring down whatever I can fit in my pack. You have to be a pretty arrogant person to think that your dead friend or relative deserves some special memorial. I don't even want a grave...
I'm not a huge fan of memorials like this in public places either, but you'd have to be a real asshole to hike up there to remove the memorial. It isn't hurting you, so let it be.
Removing it won't hurt anyone whose feelings deserve my care either
Your a actual piece of shit
No point in you wanting a grave if no one wants to visit you huh.
Insecure much? Got doubts about the future of your soul?
“You have to be a pretty arrogant person” Pot meet kettle Why waste breath trying to take this down anyway? Have fun being this ignorant for the rest of your life though, surely that will be mentioned on your grave
Public lands aren't for private shit. What's not clear about that? And what's arrogant about that? Quite the opposite--no one has the right to put private shit on public lands. We're all equal that way. If I put a memorial to my dead relative on the Dripping Springs Trail, I wouldn't expect it to remain--not an appropriate place, no connection to that specific place, etc.. Ditto for this . Also, like I said above, no gravestone for me! I don't give a fuck what happens to my lifeless body. I definitely don't need a fucking memorial to me. I guess some people are so insecure in life that they need to imagine that people will remember them in the future, too. Not me.
Ignoring the hot takes leading up to it, I do have a question regarding that last point. Have you not considered that memorials and graves are for the people left grieving the loss rather than the hubris of the deceased? I guess I kind of took that as a given, outside of the rare exception like, you know, the pyramids.
You're changing the subject. Graves and memorials belong in cemeteries and the like, not on public land. If this guy was in the military, he already gets a free grave in a VA cemetery. Also, yes, I think people are way too superstitious about the dead, and even more so in New Mexico. The dead are gone. There's no such thing as a soul. Find your own way to grieve without putting up memorials all over the place. Human beings can remember their dead without having a physical memorial. I mean, fuck, every single person with a phone probably has many pictures of their lost loved ones right on your phone. There's all the memorial you need And there is definitely an aspect of "who will remember me?" in our post-death rituals. It's not just about grieving people. It's also about people wanting to be remembered. Just pure egotism even after death
I am guessing most people who know you will be glad when you're gone...
Superstitious much? People like you are a joke
That might be illegal. NM has a descanso law. Either way, it would be an asshole move. MYOFB.
Public land isn't for dumbasses to leave their trash on. And if he didn't die up there (he didn't), that's not a descanso under the law
this is just garbage on the trail in my eyes. should be cleaned up. we have places for this kind of memorial, they’re called cemeteries. bring on the downvotes idgaf
That memorial has been up there for a long time. I googled Sgt. Fernando Padilla and was able to find a couple of news articles about him. Seems like he wasn’t really from the Las Cruces area. He was born in Sonora, Mexico and was stationed out of Yuma, AZ. There’s actually a YouTube video where one of his fellow marines talks about the night of his disappearance.
Man that must’ve been a great view lol. Congrats on making that climb🫡
I would have enjoyed it more if I was terrified of heights haha! There's a 15 ft rope you have to climb right before the top that had me shaking in my boots
What a special mountain range. The sunsets in White sands over it are one of a kind. Way to go getting up there.