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The Environmental Impact of Cairn Making
- October 7, 2023
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Uncategorized
The word cairn, from the Scottish Gaelic for stone man, can conjure up images of faith and motivation, of a spiritual journey. In the backcountry, cairn-making is a popular trend, and it’s easy to see why people are attracted by these sweet little piles of flat rocks that are balanced as child’s building blocks. A hiker suffering from stiff shoulders and black fly flies buzzing in her ears will attempt to pick a stone with the perfect blend of flatness, tilt, width and depth. After a few near-misses (one too big, one too small) The solitary will pick the stone that fits perfectly into place. The second layer of the Cairn is now complete.
Many people don’t realize that cairn building can create negative environmental impacts particularly when it is constructed near water sources. When rocks are removed from the edge of the shores of a lake, river or pond, they disrupt the ecosystem and destroy the microorganisms’ habitats that support the entire food-chain. Additionally the rocks could be transported through erosion to areas in which they could cause harm to wildlife or humans.
To avoid this, the practice of cairn making is not recommended in areas that have endangered or rare reptiles, amphibians, mammals or plants and flowers that require water that is trapped under the rocks. If you build an cairn on private property it could violate federal and state regulations that protect the natural resources of the land and could result in fines or even arrest.