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As I paddle thru the wilderness I sometimes run across rock cairns. They can be found along the shore, out on points where they can be seen from afar and atop highpoints - some simple cairns, some very large and elaborate forming arches or other "artistic" structures.
I know that in recent years the piling of rocks has become very popular as a form of expression for people that feel the need to do this. Please be aware, however, that these man made structures are not only inappropriate in wilderness areas but actually illegal. By definition a designated wilderness should be devoid of the signs of man's intervention as much as is practicable. Obviously the usfs places fire grates, latrines and so on in this pristine area but they keep it to a very minimum - no signs marking portages or camp sites, no benches or tables, no lamp hanging posts etc. This is for very good reason. They also discourage and even disassemble elaborate seating areas and make shift tables that people build around campfire grates when they find them because it violates the intent of the wilderness experience.
I hope anyone reading this that has built rock piles or extensively built up kitchen areas in camps will consider the consequences of these actions - you are infringing on the wilderness experience of everyone that comes behind you. If, in fact, you come across such structures it would be nice if you would contribute to the effort of keeping the wilderness wild and take down such works. I do. The usfs does. There is no reason to build cairns. When I see them I paddle over to them and put the rocks back in a way that is in keeping with the philosophy intended for this great place.
Thanks! Edited by user Wednesday, June 10, 2015 9:17:40 AM(UTC)
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While searching for a good response to this post, I ran across a great pamphlet about low-impact camping. It was written about 25 years ago, but the recommendations are still great. It was written to address all wilderness areas, not the BWCA and Minnesota specifically, so there are some things that need to be modified, aren't applicable, etc., but in all, I couldn't argue with anything he said. The audience is supposed to be "managers" that interact with visitors and can recommend practices, but I still found it very helpful and informative. Low-impact Recreational Practices for Wilderness and Backcountry by David N. Cole One that Brad was addressing: PRACTICE 30 - MINIMIZE INTENTIONAL SITE ALTERATION AND THE BUILDING OF STRUCTURES Avoid intentionally altering the campsite and building structures. Activities to avoid include moving rocks and logs, digging up vegetation, digging ditches around tents, and building such structures as tables, chairs, and hitch rails. If you do some landscaping and construction, be prepared to dismantle and camouflage it. Never leave wire and nails.
And from the Appendix - NOLS Conservation Practices:
Do not blaze trees, build cairns or leave messages in the dirt. Such markers may be confusing and they detract from other visitors' sense of discovery.
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We saw a couple of these at campsites in a recent trip. Most were on a rock near the water as if someone was trying to indicate the area was a campsite. We did not think to take them down.
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yeah that is where people commonly build them - out on the shore so they can be seen. i think it is probably not so much marking the campsites as wanting these things to be seen and "admired". the relatively recent proliferation (fad) of building these things has centered around water sites - lakeshore, rivers and so on. even if they were marking the location of a camp they are a blight on the wilderness and should be taken down. campsites are indicated on maps and the forest service would never think of using any kind of "sign" to point to them. we, as users and temporary visitors to this wild place should respect it and leave it pristine as possible for the persons that come after us. thanks for the post.
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I guess I see rock markers as a minor irritation at best. knock them over if you don't like them. Simple and easy and a quick resolve.
I get way more irritated with the canoers who leave piles of trash, garbage, cans, fish guts, and the like. Not to mention, the over sized groups on camp sites or staying illegally on undesignated sites or the groups that clog portages with their "garage sale-saunter" load and unload practices with canoes blocking things while they have lunch - Or the big "party" groups hooting and hollering drunken into the night.
Rock Cairns can easily be removed - hauling out other peoples trash can be a bigger job!
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While I do realize they are frowned upon - generally speaking, these things (rock cairns) don't bother me. I guess I kind of feel the campsites are somewhat of an exception to the true wilderness rules. The fire grates & latrines are far more detrimental to that feeling of it not being in a true wilderness. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy they are there. But, it doesn't change the fact that they are obvious signs of civilization. I try to look at canoe country like the Indians or Voyageurs; & piling up rock or logs as markers, or for a table or bench is something they would have definitely done. (Read "Lob trees in the wilderness") That in no way justifies it according to the current rules, it's just my feelings on the subject. And, as others have stated, I think there are bigger fish to fry.
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I can't remember seeing rock cairns on our Quetico trip last summer so maybe it's not such a big thing there as in the U.S. BWCA. On the other hand, maybe it just doesn't bother me much so I'd tend to line up behind TuscaroraBorealis and say that there are bigger fish to fry.
Two things really turn me off at a campsite: 1) Partially burnt plastic and foil in the fire pit, and 2) Toilet papers scattered about - especially when they are really close to the tent pads and cooking area. It never fails to amaze me that there are canoeists who happy to carry in bags and pouches filled with stuff, but seem unable or unwilling to pack the empties out. For those outdoorsy folks who love the smell of burning plastic, I can recommend some vacation spots around the Mediterranean.
I've rearranged rocks at portage and campsite landings and broken back brush on portages and I just don't feel that I've hurt anyone's wilderness experience. I've also come upon campsites with sitting arrangements around the fire pit and even on occasion picnic tables with benches (just outside of Quetico). If they are handy, I use them and wouldn't dream of destroying them.
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I wish I could remember where I found the article, but I recently read something about cairns becoming a big problem in national parks, though a bigger problem for the NPS is graffiti.
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By Googling a bit, I found this article in "High Country News". https://www.hcn.org/arti...s-leave-the-stones-aloneIn the Sierra Nevada, we were often glad to have a trail of cairns (we used to call them 'ducks') to follow. We were less glad when they were placed off route.
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In parks like Wabakimi and WCPP I have found some cairns to be useful markers of portages and/or campsites. However, I have also been annoyed when I thought I was paddling to a campsite but the cairn was just sitting by itself on a little point or a rockface. I find the inuksuks along the highways to be annoying and distracting. But I suppose the kids in those small towns have nothing better to do, so I can't be too upset.
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The Pow Wow Trail (accessed from the portage between Lake Three and Horseshoe Lake) has a number of cairns placed to mark the trail path. One day a few years ago I was sure glad they were there. I agree that simple cairns are no big deal, especially compared to trash.
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This is a pretty rational group here. Compared to leaving things brought in - trash, gear, clothing, etc. - I find the rearrangement of rocks and logs a very minor irritant. Besides, I enjoy some of the campfire construction, as long as its only the local materials.
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for those of you making the points about trash being left in the wilderness, i'm quite certain we all agree on that point. my reason for bringing up the issue of man made alterations in the wilderness (cairns) is because it is a less obvious intrusion and therefore may not be clear to all that this too is a violation of the widerness ethic. the rearranging of rocks at a portage to make life easier is not the same as building a huge cairn because you desire to impress people after you with your artistic abilities. as for elaborate built up sitting and cooking areas, it is a clear violation of the usfs/wilderness regs and for good reason. why stop with there? why not cabins, perhaps a road to drive in. now that's convenience!
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I get that "elaborate built up sitting and cooking areas" are a violation, but exceeding the speed limit in your car is also. I find neither irritating personally or taking anything from me. That said, I'd like to see the line between a campfire ring and and elaborate campfire ring in writing. I have a feeling that it's like pornography, that you'll know it when you see it, and is not a very good basis for law.
I guess I would like to see a cabin built of entirely materials found on the site. Reminds me of Richard Proenneke and One Man's Wilderness. Or a road. I saw a trail being built. They were splitting rocks into gravel by sledge hammer, laying rocks along the edge of the trail, and filling with gravel. Make it just a little wider and it could be a road. Walked across a trestle with sawn timber and nails, around the monument portage IIRC. That seems more out of place in the wilderness than an elaborate all stone fire ring. The mechanical portages with internal combustion engines - how do they belong?
I respect your view but please forgive me if I can't get too excited about a pile of rocks. And while I might have moved one or two stones in an existing fire ring over 15 years, that's about it (other than packing out a lot of garbage and man made objects and materials left by others).
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I guess when I saw this topic that my basic reaction was that if seeing a rock carin is the worst part of my day, then its been an outstanding day! While I personally have no issue with them, for instance I loved the stone chairs that I saw on Geboquonet (spelling?) lake in the BWCA I can understand the dislike. However at some point in the future, such things will become like the pictographs many people search out. I dobut anyone sees those as "grafitti", they're just something left behind by an earlier people, as will be the carins ect. that we leave behind. Never mind that it'll take a couple hundred years. For ourselves though, I would think that making sure that nothing specifically manmade is left behind is a far bigger concern, enviornmental issues and the possible decisions of logging or mining in such areas are obviously of a far bigger impact. If somebody wants to leave some piled rocks on the shore or make their seat around the fire a bit better in a way that doesn't impact the surrounding area, why not? There's too many people today just looking for a reason to be upset about something of little or no consequence, please don't let such a minor thing spoil your love for such a beautiful place.
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