halhiker wrote:A cairn is not a part of the trail but a marker for someone who does not know how to follow a trail.
Cairns are an annoyance because you can never know if the cairn is in the right place, if the person who built it knows what the hell they are doing, if they are taking you in the WRONG direction or even if they are deviating from the main trail and creating more trampling of sensitive areas.
I, too, have gone the
wrong direction on a trail only to discover a previously unknown area. I have come back different ways on several occasions and like it because I get to see different terrain.
Some people may find it presumptuous that I would not leave someone else's trail marker alone but I think it's presumptuous that those people think their way is THE way.
I don't need your stinkin' directions.
If you want to find your direction, I would recommend a map and compass (or GPS if you know how to use it).
Except to mark a summit I can think of NO use for a cairn whatsoever.
I think we're going to disagree on this one but that's OK.
You keep building those ducks and I'll keep knocking 'em down.

I at first after having read all this thought it was hog wash. But, I followed my
instinks and dug in and uncovered a new way of thinking. "The New Way" as I now call it.
You too can find it but to see it you must do a few things first.
Find a quite place. Like a sound proof room. Just you and the words.
Totally focus all your energy on yourself.
Forget about everything in the world except what YOU want.
Take everything personally no matter how ridiculous it seems.
And then it will all start becoming clear.
You will become, a member of the "New Way".
It's kinda like Road Rage but you can apply it to every day life.
Why limit it to kicking ducks that are telling you where you should go?
Those people who put those ducks are pretty damn arrogant if you ask me.
Who do they think they are anyway?
I know where to go. I've been in the area on this trail a billion times. Do they think I'm stupid? I'm not stupid.
Well yesterday I went about my day and saw things in a WHOLE NEW WAY I tell ya.
For example.
I got up and made some oatmeal. I noticed on the back was some instructions. INSTRUCTIONS???
WHO THE HELL PUT INSTRUCTIONS ON MY OATMEAL? Do they think I'm stupid? I've been eating oatmeal for 50 years. I know how to make oatmeal. What makes them think their directions are THE only way to make oatmeal?
So I drop kicked that box so hard it's all over the kitchen and dining room.
NEVER GONNA BUY THAT STUFF ANY MORE.
Then I went took a drive down the street. When I go to the corner I saw that same old street sign. ON MY CORNER. WITH THE NAME OF MY STREET!
WHO THE HELL LEFT THAT STUPID THING THERE?
I know what my street name is. I don't need a sign as a reminder.

So I drove right over the post and knocked it down. If someone else wants to find this street they can look on a map. and use a compass.
Then I got to the freeway on ramp. There is this sign there. WITH AN ARRROW!!!!!!!! LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE DAMN FREEWAY IS. So I smashed it.
Went for a hike in the front range. Been on it many times. Then I came across this sign. Said how far it was to the next camps and such. Now this really pissed me off see because I carry a map, AND A COMPASS. Ya see I already know how far it is to these places. I've been there a thousand times already. And it had arrows too. Like I don't know where to go or something. Like their saying THIS IS THE ONLY WAY! I was so mad. I wasn't prepared for this but it quickly became clear why all the other signs I've been seeing lately have ax chop marks all over them. These are fellow "NEW WAY" members who are at an advanced level. I totally understand why they would hack them to death.
I got home and my wife told me that she loved me.
Totally uncalled for. Like I don't already know. I just walked away. I'm not a wife beater, yet!
At dinner she asked me how I liked the food.
I said "I'm eatin' it aren't I?"
Can't wait to see what else is trying to tell me what to do.