what are Cairns?

“I mean I know what the look like, but does anyone know the real meaning behind them??

I am sure they are not sure there to show you the way, or so you can drop a rock on it after your done with your AT hike.

What are they really all about.
I have no clue.”

“They are rocks that are piled to show a trail or something else that is of importance!


8)”

“i know what the look like CM, I just thought there was more behind them then showing you the way....”

“yeah there is more to them. We had to get all those rocks off the trail so we wouldn't stumble on them. Smirk...”

“I thought I was answering the question thats all.

Sniff.......8(”

“Actually they are quite cute, take a look see:

http://winnie.acsu.buffalo.edu/terrier/”

“CM, thanks... and you probably did. I was always curious.”

“Hey matey, check us out when you're down under.

http://www.cairnsinfo.com/”

“ground tits made out of rock.”

“Stik be nice!


8|”

“From Merriam-Webster online:

Main Entry: cairn
Pronunciation: 'karn, 'kern
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English (Sc) carne, from Scottish Gaelic carn; akin to Old Irish & Welsh carn cairn
Date: 15th century
: a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark

and encyclopedia.com sez:

pile of stones, usually conical in shape, raised as a landmark or a memorial. In prehistoric times it was usually erected over a burial. A barrow is sometimes called a cairn.

So now you gotta ask, is that merely a trail marker, or is somethin' buried there?

:o”

“Over 200 years ago, on the ancient Isle of Skye and in the Scottish Highlands, the ancestors of today's Cairn Terrier earned their keep routing vermin from the rock piles (called cairns) commonly found on Scottish farmland. These early terriers were highly prized and bred for their working ability, not appearance. Such characteristics as courage, tenacity and intelligence, housed in a sturdy body clad in a weather-proof coat, armed with big teeth in strong jaws, were sought generation after generation. Gradually the breeds known as the Scottish Terrier and the West Highland White evolved and were named.

The Cairn (the last to be formally named) remained the closest to the original small working terrier, bolting the fox, otter and weasel, sharing the meager fare of the crofter's household.

Today the Cairn Terrier in America is a sensible, confident little dog, independent but friendly with everyone he meets. He may be found in an apartment, suburban home, or on a farm. Alert, intelligent and long-lived, the Cairn tends to remain active and playful well into his teen year, endearing him to children. True to his heritage, the breed still has very large teeth, large feet with thick pads and strong nails (the better to dig with!), strong, muscular shoulders and rears, and a fearless tenacity that will lead him into trouble if his owners are irresponsible.”

“uhhh, let's start digging...
i thought there was more behind them.

I guess the new cairns are just there because, well because someone thought they're a cool way to show the way.

Now, what are new cairns and old cairns...

okay, I am going to take a shovel with me the next time I hike.”

“I think they were put there as markers for navigation purposes as far as I know. Don't think there's any meaning on them beyond that. It can be tough tonavigate in the scottish hills, especially if a fog comes down.”

“Cairns are to show the way to something but they do have other purposes. There are many scattered around in the Smoky mtns. I used to wonder what they pointed to etc. Some of them point to nothing for that was not their intended purpose. Some of them were just piles of rocks. In the Smokies the ground was so rocky that in order to plow and plant the rocks had to go first. Where do you put them? You don't want to simply toss them into the next field for you'll be moving them again! Some were merely piled into cairns to get them out of the way. In Winter when there was more time to fool with picking rocks , they got artistic with it and piled them up into interesting shapes or fences. It became an real skill to be able to pile them up so neatly that one can't even be removed from the pile. I was shown and told all about this by Mr. Frank Carter who leads the Smoky Mtns Senior Hikers. Cairn is a word of Scots-Irish origin. Those two countries shared a similar problem to the Smokies. Steep rocky fields. Many folks from those folks emigrated to the mtns round here. Does that help?”

“Oh, I get it. A cairn is a headstone for a terrier!”

“ground tits .... anybody for a hamburger made of......”

“yeah, all of this helps. Thanks :D Now I am happy. Kept buggin me for a while now.”

“Our planet and the STARRY CONSTELLATIONS AROUND it, form a dynamo. Parts of planet Earth come into the same position relative to certain starry constellations, OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR as long as this planet rotates.

Certain cairns are placed on this PLANET IN A WAY that their locations form patterns that is the same as patterns (constellations) formed by stars as they were positioned in the past. In other words, the CAIRN’S PATTERNS AND THE STARRY CONSTELLATIONS are congruent. 'Congruent' or 'congruence' is a mathematical expression that means having the SAME SHAPE, but different size.

In a dynamo, the surface shapes of the coil and magnets are also similar, as to keep a constant proximity relative to each other, each time they pass each other. SURE IT IS A BIT DIFFERENT from planet Earth relative to the stars, but the concept is the same. The point that I want to make here is the cyclic passing of related elements.

The cairn patterns on EARTH COME INTO THE SAME POSITION relative to the starry constellations with congruent patterns, over and over again for as long as THIS PLANET ROTATES. This causes the dynamo effect. The effect is not THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY, though, but it is the production of a certain energy. This energy is not energy that can make a lamp burn or so. It is an energy of a different type. It is rather a force.

Today, many people are FAMILIAR WITH THE ANCIENT Chinese science of Feng Shui. Basically, this science teaches us the meaning of objects and their relative position, for example in a house. Changing an object's position, such as having the desk in ANOTHER CORNER THAT FACES South instead of East, invariably causes a change in one or more life departments of the person who lives in that house and WHO SITS BEHIND THAT DESK. That person not only feels different, but also acts different, AND SO FORTH.

The geographical LOCATIONS OF THE OBJECTS, AND THEIR RELATIVE positions, and their meaning, these all cause a certain effect. And that is not ONLY TRUE for a house, but also for larger areas, such as cities, countries, and continents.

Cairns have BEEN PLACED ON Earth with similar principles in mind. Specific locations. Specific patterns. Specific shapes. A kind of Feng Shui like science has been the reasoning behind the location of those cairns.

The fact that we do not know, or have forgotten, the MEANING OF THE CAIRN PATTERNS, does not exclude that 'it works'. Yes, 'it works', which means that the cairns cause a certain effect on mankind.

In other words, civilization is subject to the EFFECT THAT IS CAUSED by the cyclic movement of cairns relative to the stars.

And it all HAS BEEN masterminded, designed and planned. Cairns are placed in very specific locations by Aliens.

Mankind has become what was laid out through cairn configurations. So, if we would remove or add certain cairns, some OVERALL HUMAN LIFE PARAMETERS will change. Thus causing change in thinking and acting.

Remember, with Feng Shui it is the same. Remove, displace or ADD A FEW OBJECTS IN YOUR HOUSE, and some thinking and acting will change. And so the cairns also have such function. And repetitive or cyclic exposure to ultra low frequencies, SUCH AS APPLIED BY MIND control activities by the Government, does have a definite effect on us. The repetitive or cyclic positioning of the CAIRNS RELATIVE to the constellations also has a definite effect on us.

Other planets also have cairns. In addition to INFLUENCING THE COURSE of human history, the MARCABIANS AND THE GREYS have been using the cairns as a telepathy antenna to COMMUNICATE TO THEIR HOME planets.”

“I mean THEY MARK the trail. FORGET what I just posted.”

“HOLY SHI! A MG POST!!!!!


8o”

“nanu nanu nanu”

“Don't let them fool you Gemini it's where the bodies are hidden.”

“Marvin Gardens = Tilt”

“As has been defined cairns are usually location markers.

I have also run across memorials on the trail as well. Usually started by close friends who lost a hiking/running/ partner and continued as a memorial to all lost friends. Whoever wants can add a stone and pay respects. These are usually piles of smaller stones.

A much better tradition that starting threads for deaths of famous people on the internet.”

“Nice explanation.... you need to post here more, not just around seasonal events (TC2, 3, 4)”

“Who is match?

One of the kids who kicked your ass in your own front yard? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You big lovable sissy.”

“Thanks for "cairn", BB. Yeah, and I need to get on the trail more, too.

I really enjoy etymology. Speak 3 languages fluently, have working knowledge of 2 others.

Haven't figured out how Pitcairn Island (pop 62) may fit into this thread. What'd they do, dig a hole and pile rocks into it? Intersting history, though. Check 'em out:

http://www.lareau.org/pitc.html



Like to cook too. Hence the TCn posts.

Peaces”

“I seem to remember some large ones at trail junctions (in Yosemite) that were used to pass on notes or messages to other hikers, kinda like a back country bulletin board.....where folks would be hiking, where campsites would be, that sort of thing. Now that I mention it, I haven't seen one of those in years.”

“This is the wuss that kicked your ass?

You are a sissy!!!”

“Nah, bacpac. Just enjoy bein' outdoors. Love to eat well when we can. And enjoy sharing knowledge....will gladly teach those willing to learn. And will gladly learn from those willing to teach.

Like I tell folks at work: If I knew what I was doing, I'd have a REAL job!”

“I dont like cairns, they are very annoying!


....I'm going to bed now I cant remain awake any longer.”

“So many people attempted to kick my a$$ and lost, I can't keep count. I don't think Match was one of them.”

“top of mt leconte in gsmnp...if we all place a stone on the pile as tradition dictates, then the top of the stack should reach above 6600'...once in a while some numbnutts comes along and tries to stand up there so that he/she can be above 6600 - then the whole thing gets flattened and we start building it up again...alas our plight continues”

“No offense intended, match.

I was begining the ritual intervention with buddha, but everyone else chickened out.”

“has it become a ritual!? About time!”

“hell, email me bacpac, we can have this discussion privtely.

jayd14@mail.com”

“Okie Dokie”

“Buddha, turn off your spam filter. All my emails are being forwarded back to me.”

“Match couldn't kick BB's ass at TC2, I think he was too drunk....


But,,,,,,I cannot recall at this time.”

“Hey bacpac, no offense taken. Chili's right though, enibriation mellows the situation. I intend to be in no state (sorry, Kentucky) to have to kick anyone's a$$ come early October (that's one of the reasons Cool Hand and Rip will be there...). But come to our camp...there will be food and drink to be shared. Teach, and you'll be taught. Be taught, and I'll tell you to relax (you're two tents!).”

“Most of the stacked rocks in middle GA were put there while clearing a field for farming. Some are centuries old, hence their existence in the woods.

When I would run across one as a kid, I thought they were ancient Indian burial sites.

Today, though, the stacks have a less mysticisical purpose.
Blazes on trees are generally preferred, but above treeline that's usually not possible. Therefore, rocks are stacked to show the way.”

“There are many reasons in many different cultures. I remember hearing that people stack rocks beside small shrines near the roadside in Spain (?), for example. Just doing a cursory web serach, it looks like there are cairns all over the world serving different purposes, from the Desert Southwest left by American Indians to those at the base of Ayers Rock placed by Aborigines.

Then there's the Great Duck Controversy.....


(but I AIN'T Marvin, LOL)”

“we just call them rock piles in arkansas......


wish we had listened to the one we passed on the trail in WY......but NOooooO00oOOoOooo, garfum wanted to go that way.....”

“In the north, the native tribes refer to them as 'inukshuk' (sp?). Different styles and shapes mean different things. For example a particular style might represent good caribou hunting in the area. A window in the middle of the pile will show the area, or direction to travel”

“Some troll put them there centuries ago ... after a few tankards of ale... because he knew that somebody in the future would post a thread on this site asking about them. Hey Gemini don`t forget your ....! what was it again tommorrow...Wasn`t something about your cat being neutered.”

“LOL, I am going to drink some german beer now over a friends house. I did not forget. :D (first time in almost 7 years, I did not forget)

but hey...it's not here yet. It's still the 27th. :D

That's some pretty interesting cairns info. Thanks yall!”

“When I think of cairns, I think of the the tall stacks of rocks usually found on the top of peaks. Maybe this is just how they are in the Western mountains. When I am hiking on a trail that is thin, intermittent, or nonexistent, I look for trail ducts, which I think are different than cairns. Trail ducts are stacks of 2, 3, or 4 rocks, to help mark and locate the trail. When lost, one person of the party can stay at the last trail duct, while others range ahead and side to side until the next trail duct is found. Another thing to look for is trail blazes carved into trees. The ones that mark trails are usually a rectangle about 3"x4", with a smaller rectangle right above it, about 3" wide by 1" high.”

“can't say I have ever heard of trail ducts ... trail ducks however are typically small cairns IMO. In searching for examples of use I cam across this link: example of use of term "trail ducks"”