The word”cairn” is derived from the Scottish Gaelic meaning stone man. It can conjure images of faith, purpose, and spiritual journeys. In the backcountry, cairn building is a popular pastime and it’s easy to understand why people are attracted by these sweet little piles of flat rocks which are positioned like child’s building blocks. With shoulders aching and flies that are black buzzing in ears, hikers will examine the stones around her, and then try to select one that is just the right mix of flatness and tilt along with depth and breadth. After a few near-misses (one too bulgy, one too small) An experienced person will choose the stone which is perfect to fit. The second layer of the Cairn is now complete.
Many people are unaware that cairns can cause environmental harm particularly near water sources. When rocks are removed from the edges of an ocean, a lake or pond, they alter the ecosystem and cause destruction of the habitat for microorganisms which provide the food chain. In addition the rocks could be carried away by erosion to locations that could pose a threat to http://cairnspotter.com/can-vdr-software-be-used-as-an-accounting-software/ wildlife or humans.
In light of this, the practice of building cairns should be avoided in areas where there are rare or endangered reptiles, amphibians or mammals or plants and flowers that need moisture that is held in 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.