Cairn-making is a surprisingly meditative exercise that can bring people closer to the earth. You can make a traditional rock pile or a creative stack to help you focus on balance, permanence and harmony.
Various cultures have used cairns for many purposes throughout history. They were used to mark a route or indicate a food source. In North America cairns served as burial grounds for Native American tribes. This practice was known as the inukshuk.
The word cairn derives from a Gaelic word that means “heaps or heaps of stones”. It is usually built as 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 are used by many people, but they are most commonly used by hikers. They can be used to guide hikers back to the trailhead after a tough day of hiking, or to aid them in finding their way in remote areas of wilderness.
A well-placed, properly-marked cairn may save lives by guiding a group of lost hikers. Some people believe that cairns violate Leave No Trace principles and are not a part of nature.
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