what are Cairns?

“I know they are used to mark trails in some areas, but I also know that I have seen them out in the middle of nowhere. The ones put in the middle of nowhere, I beleive, are used by the sheepherders. They place them on the high spots (i.e ridges, hills, etc) to fool the wolves, coyotes, and other predators into thinking that the cairn is actually the sheepherder. That way the sheepherder doesn't have to sit on that ridge or hill protecting the sheep.”

“HogOnIce, I think the term "trail ducks" is a corruption of "trail ducts." I found this reference to ducts:

"...The trail is marked by rock ducts (piles of rock along the trail path). Watch for these ducts to keep you on course and note where the trail intersects with the off highway vehicle route, for this is the only trail off the ridge. "

Duct is from the Latin root word ductare or something like that, as in aquaduct, viaduct, air duct, conduct, induct, etc, with meanings relating to leading, guiding, etc.”

“well I suspect the corrupted name has taken over in terms of common usage - I was only able to find one match on Google for trail ducts (a backpacking course outline I think) whereas there were a few more for trail ducks even after removing all the usages such as "the trail ducks under". One of the Google entries was a rather interesting discussion about how to translate the term "trail ducks" into German.”

“I haven't a cairn in the world!”

“I think they are cool.


8)”

“

or...
”

“That's cool. Although I would hate to follow the 2nd and 3rd signs in stone what if the cairn just fell over!”

“that third one on the top row of the first picture on the right looks like a pile of turds :O”

“Hey...that pile of turds is an important warning.”

“yo - put up your ducks - trail ducks that is”

“LOL @ Buddur, I was thinking the same thing”

“I think I saw a turd warning today. LOL

This does bring up another question I have....

As you all know Roam Around and hiked today. We came up to two white painted trail marks.

We both thought this means a "trail intersection" is coming up. (not sure if I wrote it correct..."trail intersection"...ya know where two trails cross each other, that's what I mean)

I have heard this from various people.

Last week I hiked with Scorch and Maple and they both said it means "change of directions". I am confused....

can someone please explain??”

“Two markers means the trail makes a turn.”

“Yeah Gem - you'll turn in the direction of the top mark - if the top mark is to the left of the bottom mark, you'll turn left.”

“it actually can mean either - best interpretation is "look around carefully for the trail" this can be a intersection or a change of direction or some other cause that may result in one losing the trail if they don't look carefully. The note that Violin supplied is a fairly common variation originated by Ed Garvey and as such is mostly seen in areas close to the AT. blazes”

“Thanks! :)”

“Carin-An alien that gives a #&%!$!
Gem you commin to linville?”

“Ya call THAT a dog?”

“Most the above techniques are quite un-LNT. Doing this kinda stuff in the backcountry - especially within designated wilderness areas - would be considered taboo by today's standards.

I've heard tell of some wilderni going completely blazeless/signless, but have yet to find one.

I did a workhike with the Friendly Ranger in '01 where we built cairns to lead bikers and hikers across several parks (meadows) along a new trail. We built a two mile bypass connector thingy to reroute a trail so's to allow the old section to rehab. We did blazes on trees where possible, if needed. We used the axe bit of a Pulaski to make the distinctive candle-looking blaze in the treebark. We chopped clean to the fleshy (cambrian?) layers of the tree.

We grubbed water bars, sawed/chopped blowdowns, and did a small amount of benching, too.

Even still, we were careful to keep all disturbances to a minimum. We did such a good job at that, that finding the trail was a bit difficult. Sara said that the trail would become more visible with use. I said "oh".


BTW -
The chart above reminds me of the hobo signs/symbols from during the Depression era - prolly still used.

They'd use certain symbols to direct folks to water, friendly homes, etc. They would also warn of dangerous dogs, towns, etc. You could find the signs along railroad tracks, on fences, hwy signs, etc.

I'm done, etc.”

“In this part of the country folks that are lost build rock cairns to pass the time--they lead to nowhere.”

“are what women have...they grow horizontal to the earth, out of the female chest area...

hahahaha...

I'm BAAAAAACK!!!!!

did you all miss me????? did ya did ya???”

“no”

“jerber, if I don't come for an overnighter, I'll prolly be there for a day hike. I am kinda pushing it lately, hubby not too happy me being gone all the time :)”