Cairn building can be a http://cairnspotter.com/here-are-some-interesting-facts-about-cairns/ surprisingly meditative practice that brings you closer to your community and the earth. Whether you’re making a traditional rock cairn or a creative stack of rocks, it’s a way to take your mind off the everyday and focus on balance and permanence.

Cairns have been used by many cultures throughout history for a variety of purposes. They could have been built to mark a path, indicate a food supply, or 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. They range from small rock sculptures up to large manmade hills of stones. Some are similar to kistvaens, dolmens and earthworks but built with stone instead.

Cairns can be used in many different ways by hikers. Cairns are used to guide hikers from the trailhead to their starting point after a long and tiring day of hiking. They can also be used to help them find a way through remote wilderness areas.

A well-placed Cairn can help save lives, and guide a hiker group that is lost or having trouble finding their trail. Some people claim that cairns do not belong in the environment and violate Leave No Trace principles.