Cairn, which is the Scottish Gaelic for stone man is a symbol of faith and purpose, of spiritual journeys. In the backcountry, cairn making is a popular pastime and it’s easy to understand why what is a business model people are attracted to these adorable stacks of flat rocks that are balanced like child’s building blocks. A hiker with aching shoulders and black fly flies buzzing in her ears will attempt to find a stone that is the perfect combination of flatness width, tilt, and depth. After a few close misses (one that’s too wide or too small) the shrewd will pick the one that’s set perfectly in place, and the subsequent layer of the cairn is complete.
Many people are unaware that cairn construction can have a negative environmental impact, especially when done near water sources. When rocks are removed from the shore of a pond or lake, it degrades the ecosystem and destroys the habitat for microorganisms that support the entire food chain. In addition these rocks can be transported by erosion to locations where they could inflict harm on humans or wildlife.
Cairns should not be constructed in areas with rare or endangered reptiles, mammals amphibians, plants, or other species or where the water is trapped under the rocks. If you build a rock cairn on private property, it could be in violation of federal or state laws that protect the natural assets of the land. This could result in fines and even arrest.