The word cairn, from the Scottish Gaelic for stone man can bring up images of faith and purpose, of spiritual journeys. In the backcountry, making cairns is a trend, and it’s easy to see why people are attracted to these cute little piles of flat stones which are positioned like child’s building blocks. With shoulders aching and black flies buzzing around ears, hikers will survey the stones before her and try to choose one that is just the right balance of flatness and tilt as well as breadth and depth. After a few near misses (one that’s too large and another that’s too small) the shrewd will select the one http://cairnspotter.com/can-vdr-software-be-used-as-an-accounting-software that’s set perfectly in place, and the second layer of the cairn becomes complete.
Many people are unaware that cairn building can have a negative environmental impact particularly near water sources. When rocks are removed from the shores of in a lake, river, or pond, they disturb the ecosystem and cause destruction of the habitat for microorganisms which help to support the entire food chain. These rocks can be swept away from the edge of a river, pond or lake through erosion and end up in areas where they could inflict harm on humans or wildlife.
To avoid this, the practice of making cairns should be avoided in areas that have rare or endangered reptiles, amphibians or mammals or plants and flowers that require moisture locked under the rocks. If you build a stone cairn on private land, it could violate federal and state laws that protect the natural resources of the land. This could result in fines and even arrest.