Cairns, the word that comes from the Scottish Gaelic for stone man is a symbol of faith and motivation, of spiritual journeys. In the backcountry, making cairns is a popular pastime, and it’s easy to see why people are attracted by these sweet little stacks of flat rocks which are positioned like child’s building blocks. A hiker suffering from stiff shoulders and black flying flies buzzing her ears will attempt to select a stone with the perfect blend of flatness width, tilt, and depth. After a few close misses (one that’s too wide and another that’s too small) the shrewd will pick the one that sets perfectly in the spot, and then the second layer of the cairn becomes complete.
Many people are unaware that cairn construction can cause environmental harm particularly when it is constructed near water sources. When rocks are removed from the shore of a river, pond http://cairnspotter.com/generated-post-3/ or lake, it erodes the ecosystem and ruins the habitat of microorganisms that feed the food chain. These rocks can also be carried away from the edges of a pond, river or lake due to erosion. They can end up in areas where they may harm humans or wildlife.
Cairn building should be avoided in areas that contain rare or endangered mammals, reptiles amphibians, reptiles, or flowers, or where the moisture is buried beneath the rocks. If you construct the cairn on private property it could be in violation of the federal and state laws protecting the natural resources of the land. It could result in fines or even arrest.