Cairn making is a surprisingly meditative activity that can bring you closer to the earth and your community. Making a traditional rock stack or http://cairnspotter.com/data-room-software-keeps-growing-but-no-one-company-is-dominating a traditional cairn is a great way to focus on balance and permanence.
Throughout history, cairns were used by different cultures for a wide range of purposes. They may have been made to mark a route, to indicate a food source, or to warn of danger. In North America cairns served as burial grounds for Native American tribes. This practice was known as the inukshuk.
The word “cairn” comes from the Gaelic for “heap of stone”. They are usually constructed in the form a hill. The size of these man-made hills can vary from small rock carvings to large, man-made hills. Some of them are similar to kistvaens (ephemeral earthworks) and dolmens (ephemeral stoneworks).
Cairns serve many purposes, and are particularly useful to hikers. Cairns can be used by hikers to return to the trailhead at the end of a long day of hiking or to help them find their way in remote wilderness areas.
A well-placed cairn can save lives and can help guide a group of hikers who are lost or have difficulty locating their trail path. However, some people argue that cairns are not a natural part of the environment and are in violation of Leave No Trace principles.