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A recent NPR article addresses this issue, and was raised following an opinion column written by NAU senior lecturer Robyn Martin. (possibly a pseudonym for BobP ?)

https://www.hcn.org/articles/a-call-for ... ones-alone
http://www.npr.org/2015/08/05/429597208 ... -southwest

Money Quote

"Yes, I have knocked a few down, sure," she says, adding that she considers the cairns "pointless reminders of human ego."

Interesting to note that this topic is more widespread than just here on HAZ.
(Previously discussed in a HAZ Forum Thread on LNT Ethics.)

@big_load
Why yes they do.

@MtnBart01
You don't think you should bring out the big guns?

The Eagle wrote:You don't think you should bring out the big guns?

There you go. You can even have a Pro League! :worthy:

MtnBart01 wrote:@big_load
Why yes they do.

Besides cairns, what kind of stuff did they have?

@big_load
Mrs. MtnBart got a painting and some other things for the house. It's more of a local festival where the artists actually man or woman their booths. Photography, jewely, paintings sculpture, and evidently cairns. Although I think I read about the guy who did the cairns being ticketed a while back when he did it.

MtnBart01 wrote:Although I think I read about the guy who did the cairns being ticketed a while back when he did it.

Because he was stoned?

@The Eagle
Now he's got another reason besides the pumpkin loop to visit.

MtnBart01 wrote:Would it be frowned on if I threw rocks at these?

Just knock them down with drones.

It looks like an army of creek demons rising up against the kayakers.

Target(s) acquired
[ photo ]

@Patrick L

So here is the article or an article about the rock balancer. I'm pretty sure he did the cairns in fountain creek, but he had the issues in Boulder.
http www dailycamera com/news/boulder/ci_28213966/boulder-has-not-declared-rock-stacking-illegal-city

I myself would have tons-o-fun if I used a high power rifle like an FN-FAL .308. But then there would be those that frowned on that also.

It's all about context for me. I hike in a lot of areas where trails are infrequently used and maintained, and a cairn or two at a creek crossing or switchback or just plain vague point can be immensely helpful for some people. Other times I see 30 cairns along a 1/4 mile stretch of a 4 foot wide highway of a trail, and find those utterly obnoxious (and my boot often comes in contact with some of those).

jonathanpatt wrote:and my boot often comes in contact with some of those.

Yay, a discretionary cairn-kicker!

AZ Wandering Bear wrote:.....From NAU writing for NPR? So is this a case of the stoned talking about the stacked?

it's better to pack them out... then, they cannot be reset...

To cairn, or not to cairn . . .
We've all seen the "cairn every 1/4 mile" situation, or even the fiberglass sign post every quarter mile, and I think a little judicious rearrangement is called for.

But to remove them all is a concern. Not everyone is as navigationally gifted as we might be at the moment, even us at another moment or location, so some reassurance that we are where we want to be is a good thing. And in a rescue situation it could be life-or-death.

Sredfield wrote:But to remove them all is a concern. Not everyone is as navigationally gifted as we might be at the moment, even us at another moment or location, so some reassurance that we are where we want to be is a good thing. And in a rescue situation it could be life-or-death.

I agree with this and if I'm in a duck-kicking mood, I don't kick ducks that I see are helpful. I usually don't stop to kick ducks, anyway.

Interestingly, there are a number of conversations and things available online on this topic. I googled "cairns ducks hiking." This one is interesting because it gives some context and history to the current discussion: http://cholla.mmto.org/hiking/cairns.html

Stacking stones ‘not allowed’ in Texas: This is why rock cairns are prohibited at Lone Star State parks, authorities say

https://www.click2houston.com/news/loca ... ities-say/