The cairn controversy.

Hikers are familiar with cairns, purposefully unnatural rock piles that mark the way in areas with no trees.

But lately, cairns have been popping up in popular natural locations, not to mark the trail, but in what appears to be a celebration of nature.

In this facebook posting, a park ranger destroys a cairn in Yosemite, saying that such structures violate the “leave no trace” ethic and disturb the creatures that might live beneath the rocks.

Certainly the large cairn in the video is over the top, but I have never taken offense at the decorative cairns I have seen, although I have never seen one so huge.

What do you think? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section.

[shelleythompson-brock]

Meanwhile, Karen's appear in the wild to destroy cairns and leaves a mess behind, killing anything in the wake of her destruction.

[Matsulovesyou]

Hey, they are rocks, they're natural. I take no offense at them.

[deadeels]

I think there are many destructive ways we can leave behind signifiers that humans were somewhere, but I don’t believe cairns are very high on that list.

[bes_c]

being a karen about cairns has gotta be an inside joke

[quinnmarvin]

Cairns are so useful when in the backwoods, meany times when trail hopping I’ve almost missed the trail but was saved by seeng one! Especially when missing a trail could mean getting lost for hours, not fun

[bethlovesdogs]

I used to think they were pretty cool, but changed my mind. Not offensive, but would rather left as found- on the ground. ❤

[caughtinthevoidfloyd]

I personally dont like them but its not a huge deal