This Way
Photos taken October 2002 during a week long backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. I became obsessed with the rock cairns. The proportions and balance and colors were stunning.
I think I need to go back some time and take pictures of all of them and write a coffee table book The Rock Cairns of the Grand Canyon. I’m sure everyone would want one.
Posted by Lisa in: Images
Thanks for naming these rocks! I saw them in Iceland and I found them fascinating but had no idea that they had a name, now I can Google and find out more. I loved seeing them and wondering about the people who put them there.
Here in the southwestern US they are generally used to mark the path of a trail. That’s what they are used for in the Grand Canyon – it’s hard to mark a trail across rock so they mark the trail with piles of rock – usually 3 rocks but sometimes more.
Some of the hiking paths up in the mountains above tree line have huge rock cairns – 5′ or more tall – so you can see them from the previous marker so you know which direction to go.
Traditionally rock cairns are more of a monument or memorial.
I’ll buy your book!
We had to cancel our trip to the GC because we were moving. I’m just dying to get down there.
The genesis of these rock cairns are from the far north of North America in the Canadian tundra. They are actually called inukshuks. The ingenious Inuit people who survived in an amazingly hostile environment created these as land marks. The tundra seems to be a featurless landscape to the displaced southeners but not to the older inuit. They were a nomatic people who understood that snow and blizzards changed the landscapes quickly and could lead to death. So they created Inukshuks to guide them to hunting grounds, and fishing places.
I have a great respect for these people after living with them for 5 years. They are generally gentle people who are now lost in a westernized world that they have been forced into. Thier iglus are an amazing work of engineering!
Shawna from Yellowknife
Shawna – thank you so much for the information. Fascinating – I will definitely do some research on this.
Lisa,
I have some wonderful pictures of rock cairns that I took when we were in NM at Ghost Ranch and I went to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert one afternoon at the recommendation of my cousin who lives in NM. It was the scariest drive I ever encountered on the one lane road, but well worth it in the end. I have used the photos in a few small quilts I made.
Mary
I remember you talking about that car trip Mary, but it sounds like it was definitely worth it!