Cairn, which is the Scottish Gaelic for stone man, can conjure up images of faith and purpose, of the spiritual journey. In the backcountry, cairn making is a popular trend and it’s simple to understand why people feel attracted to these cute little http://cairnspotter.com/what-is-cairn-making/ stacks of flat rocks that are shaped like children’s building blocks. A hiker suffering from stiff shoulders and black fly flies buzzing in her ears will attempt to pick a stone that has the perfect mix of flatness as well as tilt, width and depth. After a few close-calls (one too big, one too small), a purist will select the stone that is perfectly positioned. The second layer of the Cairn is complete.
Many people are unaware that cairns can create negative environmental impacts, especially when done near water sources. When rocks are removed from the edges of an ocean, a lake or pond, they disrupt the ecosystem and cause destruction of the habitat for microorganisms which provide the food chain. These rocks may be swept away from the edges of a river, pond or lake through erosion and end up in places in which they could harm humans or wildlife.
Cairns should not be built in areas that have rare or endangered reptiles, mammals, amphibians, or flowers or where the water is buried beneath the rocks. If you build your cairn in private land it could violate the federal and state laws protecting the natural resources of the land and could result in fines, or even arrest.
