Cairns, the word that comes from the Scottish Gaelic for stone man, can conjure up images of faith and the purpose of spiritual journeys. In the backcountry, making cairns is a popular pastime and it’s not difficult to understand why people are drawn to these sweet little stones that are shaped like children’s building blocks. A hiker with aching shoulders and black fly flies buzzing in her ears will attempt to choose a rock that has the perfect mix of flatness as well as tilt, width and depth. After a few near misses (one that’s too big, another that’s too small) the shrewd will select one that’s set perfectly in place, and the subsequent layer of the cairn is complete.
Many people don’t realize that cairn building can cause environmental harm particularly when it is constructed near water sources. When rocks are removed from the shore of a pond or lake, it degrades the ecosystem and degrades the habitat of microorganisms that support the entire food chain. These rocks can also be carried away from the edge of a river, pond or lake by http://cairnspotter.com/what-is-cairn-making/ erosion, and end up in areas where they may harm wildlife or humans.
This is why the practice of constructing cairns should be avoided in areas where there are endangered or rare mammals, amphibians or reptiles or plants and flowers that need moisture that is held in the rocks. If you build a stone cairn on private land, this may violate federal and state regulations protecting the natural resources of the land. It could result in fines and even arrest.