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The Tundra Cairn


The Tundra Cairn
Photo Information
Copyright: Tim Epp (BillyGoat) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 247 W: 27 N: 878] (4711)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-02
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Olympus Stylus 300
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-03-07 5:52
Viewed: 1084
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In Tombstone Territorial Park, many trails and routes are marked with what are known as cairns to help guide the way. This photo is taken from Tombstone Pass looking west towards Tombstone Mtn.

Cairns (taken from Wikipedia):

Cairns, also called "ducks",[citation needed] are carefully arranged piles of stones, and are most commonly used to indicate trails in open areas, such as higher-elevation alpine areas, where no trees are available and painting on rocks is often done but either would not last or are not always easy to see. In the Presidential Range of New Hampshire's White Mountains, for example, cairns are found at ten-foot (three-meter) intervals along trails above treeline, so that hikers forced to crawl by heavy winds and occasional infamously lethal weather can find their way to safety.

Below treeline, cairns are used less frequently, often like flagging to indicate informal or unofficial paths or just their junctions with official trails. They are the least visually intrusive and most environmentally friendly blazing method. However, their construction requires sufficient stones be either available in the area or brought to the trail. They tend to get buried under snow in areas with heavy winters as well as being knocked over and scattered by animals or vandals. These drawbacks make cairns not a favored method of indicating trails.

In some parts of the world, it is traditional for walkers to add a stone to cairns as they pass. This particularly applies to summit-cairns.
Adanac, simon182, chouette has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi, I like the color and the clearness of the photo, a precious landscape. Greetings

Very nice landscape! Great compositon and POV.

Regards, Peter

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-03-07 7:07]

Hi Tim,
Well composed, beautifyl landscape with great colors and lots of drama with the threatening sky. Thanks Tim.
Rick

Interesting landscape shot.

I am intrigued by the stones and they give a great foreground aspect and compare nicely with that fantastic horizon. Good work getting it all sharp front to back.

Composition is excellent.

TFS
Simon

A breathtaking view! Beautiful landscape with nice composition. Good colors and great details. TFS!

Hi Tim,
Even if it is a human made object, I feel they fit perfectly in these kind of landscapes. I've seen the cairns in the Alps on top of a summit and the tradition was to add one as well. I like the way you use the cairn to add depth to the photo and scale. The view is really wonderful and the ominous clouds fits the photo perfectly.
TFS,
Niek

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