Cairn making is a surprisingly meditative activity that can bring you closer to the earth and your community. You can make a traditional rock pile or a creative stack to help you focus on balance, permanence and harmony.
Cairns have been used by many cultures throughout history for a variety of purposes. They may have been used to mark out a route, to indicate food sources, or to warn people of danger. In North America cairns served as burial grounds for Native American tribes. This practice was known as the inukshuk.
The word cairn is derived from a Gaelic phrase that means “heaps of stones”. They are typically built in the shape of a hill. They can be small rock sculptures or large man-made stones hills.
Cairns are used by many people, but they are most commonly used by hikers. Cairns help hikers find their way back to the trailhead, after a hard day of hiking.
A well placed cairn could save lives and guide a group hikers who get lost or are having difficulty finding the trail. However, some people argue that cairns are not a natural part of the environment and are in violation of Leave No Trace principles.
