The word cairn is derived from the Scottish Gaelic meaning stone man. It may conjure images of faith, purpose and an experience of spirituality. In the backcountry, cairn building is a popular pastime, and it’s easy to understand why people feel attracted to these adorable piles of flat rocks that are balanced as child’s building blocks. A hiker suffering from stiff shoulders and black fly flies buzzing in her ears will attempt to choose a rock that has the right mix of flatness as well as tilt, width and depth. After a few missed opportunities (one too bulgy, one too small) An experienced person will select http://cairnspotter.com/data-room-software-keeps-growing-but-no-one-company-is-dominating the one which is perfect to fit. The second layer of the Cairn is now complete.

What many don’t realize is that cairn making can have an adverse environmental impact, especially when it’s done near water sources. When rocks are removed from the edge of in a lake, river, or pond, they disturb the ecosystem and degrade the habitat for microorganisms which are the backbone of the food chain. In addition these rocks can be carried away due to erosion and transported to places where they could inflict harm on wildlife or humans.

Cairns should not be constructed in areas that contain rare or endangered reptiles, mammals amphibians, reptiles, or flowers or where the water is trapped under the rocks. If you construct your cairn in private land, it may violate state and federal regulations protecting the land’s natural resources. This could result in fines or even a detention.