Cairn building is a surprisingly meditative http://cairnspotter.com/generated-post-2 experience that can bring you closer with the earth and community. Making a traditional or creative rock cairn can help you take your mind away from the daily grind and focus on permanence and balance.
Throughout history, cairns were used by different cultures for a wide range of purposes. They could have been built to mark a path, indicate a food supply, or warn of danger. In North America, Native American peoples also used cairns as burial sites, a practice called inukshuk.
The word cairn is derived from a Gaelic phrase that means “heaps of stones”. They are typically built in the shape of a hill. They range from small rock sculptures up to large manmade hills of stones. Some are similar to kistvaens, dolmens and earthworks but built with stone instead.
Cairns serve many purposes, and are particularly useful to hikers. Cairns are used to guide hikers from the trailhead to their starting point after a long and tiring day of hiking. They can also be used to help them find a way through remote wilderness areas.
A well-placed trail cairn is a lifesaver and can guide stranded hikers or those who have difficulty finding their way. However, some people argue that cairns are not a natural part of the environment and are in violation of Leave No Trace principles.