The word cairn, from the Scottish Gaelic for stone man, can conjure up images of faith and purpose, of spiritual journeys. Cairn building is a popular activity in the backcountry. It’s easy to see why people are drawn by these small piles of flat stones, which are arranged as if they were blocks for children. With shoulders hurting and black flies buzzing around ears, a hiker will survey the stones before her, and then try to select one that is just the right mix of flatness and tilt as well as breadth and depth. After a few near misses (one that’s too large, another that’s too small) the shrewd will select the one that’s set perfectly in place, and the subsequent layer of the cairn will be complete.

Many people are unaware that cairn building can cause environmental harm particularly when it is done near water sources. When rocks are removed from the edges http://cairnspotter.com/what-is-cairn-making/ of a river, lake or pond, they disrupt the ecosystem and degrade the habitat for microorganisms which are the backbone of the food chain. In addition, these rocks may be carried away by erosion to places where they could inflict harm on humans or wildlife.

Cairn construction should be avoided in areas that are home to rare or endangered reptiles, mammals amphibians, plants, or other species or in areas where the moisture is trapped beneath the rocks. If you build a stone cairn on private land this may violate federal and state regulations protecting the natural resources of the land. It could result in fines and arrest.