http://cairnspotter.com/generated-post-2
The word”cairn” originates from the Scottish Gaelic meaning stone man. It can conjure images of purpose, faith, and a spiritual journey. Cairn building is a very popular activity in the backcountry. It’s easy to comprehend why people are drawn to these small piles of flat stones, which are arranged like blocks for children. With shoulders aching and flies that are black buzzing in ears, a hiker will survey the stones before her and try to choose one with the right amount of flatness and tilt in depth, breadth and width. After a few missed opportunities (one too large, another too small) An experienced person will select the stone which is perfect to fit. The second layer of the Cairn is completed.
However, what a lot of people don’t realize is that cairn building can have an adverse environmental impact, particularly when it’s done near water sources. When rocks are removed from the shores of the shores of a lake, river or pond, they can disrupt the ecosystem and degrade the microorganisms’ habitats that are the backbone of the food chain. In addition that, these rocks can be transported through erosion to areas where they could inflict harm on humans or wildlife.
In light of this, the practice of making cairns should be avoided in areas with endangered or rare mammals, amphibians or reptiles or plants and flowers that require water that is trapped under the rocks. If you construct the cairn on private property it could violate state and federal regulations protecting the natural resources of the land and could result in fines or even arrest.