HikeArizona.COM

I like words, and as some of you know, I cringe when they are misspelled or mispronounced. (Not that I don't contribute my fair share to those unutterable travesties.)

Anyway, I notice two things with the younger generation of hikers, regarding rock trail markers: 1) They don't know how to pronounce "cairn," and 2) Somehow, the useful word "duck" has been disappearing from the lexicon, so now if you ask people in a hiking group if they know what a "duck" is, only the grizzled old guys who have been hiking for 50 years can give you the answer.

1. A "cairn" consists of a lot of rocks piled up to mark a trail. Usually more rocks than are necessary. A cairn also might mark the top of a peak, and could be very large, as tall as a person.

2. "Cairn" is NOT PRONOUNCED "Karen." It is not a chick's name, okay? It is NOT a two-syllable word, okay? It's a one-syllable word that rhymes with "bairn."

3. A "DUCK" is a trail marker using no more than two rocks. It is a better kind of trail marker. You can easily kick it over, too, if it seems unnecessary, and it won't hurt your foot to do so.

I would like to see the word "duck" to come back into common usage. So, I hereby announce that it is now coming back into common usage. So, please use it, and explain to others what it means.

Thank you!

The requirement is that cairns should be visible on Google Earth. (Per a two-time AZT thru-biker (with a B) and trail builder.)

Sredfield wrote:The requirement is that cairns should be visible on Google Earth. (Per a two-time AZT thru-biker (with a B) and trail builder.)

My goodness! Is that really necessary?

Do you know Pete Cowgill? He founded SAHC, along with Eber Glendening, back in 1958. He is well-known as a kicker-over of ducks and cairns. Doesn't believe in them at all.

Without a few ducks, Pt. Huitzil route in Grand Canyon would have been pretty hard to figure out.

What is not necessary is to create a "duck walk" with way too many of them.

I am guilty of using the term duck and cairn synonymously, until now, thanks HAZ. Now I know and knowing is half the battle! Would it be easier if we just started using duck decoys for ducks? And "Pink Flamingos" for karens?

azbackpackr wrote:He is well-known as a kicker-over of ducks and cairns.

so is rlrjamy
well, until he feels artsy or in need of finding his way back

Sredfield wrote:The requirement is that cairns should be visible on Google Earth. (Per a two-time AZT thru-biker (with a B) and trail builder.)

Ok, so how do you determine that whether what you are seeing is a Cairn or simply a Rock formation, from space? See comment with this photo.

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=230261