One selection in particular that caught my attention in @Giu_DiB 's Friday Favorites post of 13 August 2021 was that by @Smita_Patil showing a photo taken in a valley in Hunder, Ladakh and described by @AngieYC as “a unique destination in India due to its high altitude and many unusual sights”. There was a stack of rocks in Smita’s photo and in my comment I mentioned that I would create a separate post commenting on such piles of rocks and showing one of my high-altitude photos of this. It’s been a long time coming I know, but now it’s off my to-do-list
Rock piles have been constructed throughout history and by a wide variety of people in different ways and for different purposes (e.g. providing direction, marking boundaries and memorials marking the location of events). They date back to ancient times and are even mentioned in the Bible (e.g. Genesis 28:20-22 and Exodus 24). From my own experience the stack of rocks are known as cairns. The word “cairn” comes from a Scottish-Gaelic càrn (plural càirn) term meaning “heap of stones”. In Hawaii they are called “ahu”, the Inuit people in Northern Canada call them Inuksuit and Native Americans refer them as “Wa-wa-na-quas-sick” (place of many good stones).
While I have come across rock piles and even piles of stones in low altitude situations (e.g. along the Camino de Santiago (I took many photos of these and the one at Cruz De Ferro comes to mind), my first encounter with cairns, also sometimes called “trail ducks”, was at very high altitude where they are placed along a trail as way markers to guide hikers and trekkers, and let you know that you are on the right track. In this way, they guide you along the correct path or trail in cases where navigation becomes difficult and the trail may be easily lost. This happens a lot at high and very high altitude where other navigational pointers are hard to find and where extreme and brutal weather conditions (e.g. blizzards) can make it very difficult to see your way.
You have to keep in mind that these are very isolated, lonely places and at very high altitude two colors prevail but sometimes, it’s just one color; all white. There are no natural markers here. There’s no living thing, no animals, no birds, no insects, no trees or any vegetation. It’s just you and the sound of the wind and your heavy breathing as you gasp for oxygen. There are also very few safety nets to catch you when things go wrong. Blink an eye and you could walk into a blizzard or worse still fall into a crevasse so in such places and conditions, cairns are truly a Godsend. I have added one photo in this post to give you a better appreciation on what such places look like and the isolation that one would feel.
Are piles of rocks something that you see in your country and if so what are they used for?
Thanks for sharing such an interesting post and photo! I think you are right, in the history of mankind piling rocks must have been connected with activities usually linked to rituals. They remind me of the very ideas of leaving a sign or building a place, so to the concepts of communication and architecture.
I remember the rocks piled under the Cruz de Fierro in Spain, knowing that people from all over the world took them there one by one is indeed inspiring.
Thanks for sharing this post, well said God send piles of rocks, as India is rich in its culture & heritage, with God grace we have such piles of rocks in India specially in South karnataka there are many such piles of rocks. Even in Maharashtra also.
There was king Shivaji who had was very strong but when we want to attack army he would climb such fort where piles rocks he with his used throws such rocks from top the enemy couldn’t conquer them thus he save Maharashtra from Mughal.
It’s beautify the country specially the Himalayas it boon for our country.
This place seems incredible @AdamGT . Thank you so much for sharing this place and the photo. The picture is so tempting to plan a trip to Nepal soon (provided covid restrictions are relaxed).
I must say that countries around Himalaya are blessed with super scenic and unique destinations. You seem to have witnessed one of that amazing locations.
Here we call that pile of rock as ‘Stupa’- miniature of temple.
Hope you had a great time there. Looks like it was freezing cold too🥶
Can’t agree more @AdamGT … rock piles are not just stack of rocks as they signify many interesting purposes, including saving lives. Thank you for
I came across similar ones back home in Indonesia and although I didn’t know the story of it but it did attract a lot of attention and became sort of a land mark.
I only casually mentioned the Cruz de Fierro as I wanted to write a story and add a post about this special place but you are so right, it is very inspiring to know that people from all over the world carried a stone from their own home and placed it on this one pile in Spain, and it is even more inspiring to know that this has been happening for many, many centuries. No doubt my stone is there with yours Giuseppe.
Oh I so would love to see some of the piles of rock that you mention exist inSouth Karnataka and Maharashtra @RosyKohli . If you ever get a chance do come back here and add a photo.
Yes such extremely remote and isolated places like this where other than the wind and your own heavy breathing you cannot hear any noise at all, are incredible @Smita_Patil . The only indication you have that others have been where you are standing gasping for oxygen is the piles of rocks which as I have mentioned are a Godsend especially in a whiteout or blizzard! The weather conditions on the rooftop of the world can change very quickly and it becomes very perilous. I was once caught in such conditions and had to lockdown, just stay put, for 4 days. However, when the weather clears, the beauty and magic of these very unique and strange looking places is just so indescribable.
From a prolific and influential writer like you @Sophia_Cambodia , that is a great compliment. As you know, just adding a photo and not telling the story behind it just short-changes our readers. Yes it is extremely cold in such places and you just have to have the right gear. The Himalayan yak, (Bos grunniens), have the right gear!
But believe it or not, it also gets very hot when the sun is out because the atmosphere is so thin the sun’s UV rays are a lot more powerful and much more dangerous. At high altitude, UV radiation can be more than twice as intense as it is at sea level. The sun is much stronger, and can be more damaging especially to the eyes and skin. Although the photo below is only at about 3,200 m, you can see with the blue sky above, it’s hot and this Local Guide goes topless. However, as most of the highest peaks in the world are here in the Himalaya, it doesn’t take long for the sun to move behind one of those peaks and before you know it the temperature suddenly takes a big drop and all that heavy outwear goes back on.
Haha you made me laugh @Sophia_Cambodia . Yes indeed they are real. Yaks (males) and Naks (females) live at the highest altitudes in the world, even as high as 6,000m. They have very thick coats and large lungs (hence can absorb more oxygen) so well suited to high altitude and perfect transport “vehicles” (remember there are no roads up here lol). They are used to carry supplies but also to plough fields, provide milk, butter, wool for clothing, also meat, and dung for fuel.
Diesen Beitrag würde ich auf jeden Fall lesen Yak-Dung-Haufen
Vielen Dank aber auch für die ausführliche Dokumentation dieser spannenden Höhe!
Und sollte ich in unserer Region hier, jemals, einen wie auch immer gestalteten, winzigen Steinhaufen finden, dann komme ich zurück und werde ihn hier posten.
Thank You @AdamGT beatifull pic! Also in Italy and in particular in Alps, they exists. Generally the track are signed by colour White and red but sometime, in particular conditions the “ometti” are the only solution.
Det var en mycket bra berättelse som du har lagt ut. Blir imponerad av att du har varit på dessa höjder. Bilderna som du visar är talande. Det var intressant att läsa det du har skrivit.
Thank you @Raymond5 for stopping by and reading this story and for taking the time to write your nice comment I’m happy that you enjoyed the story. Having had the privilege of visiting the top of the world, I can tell you that it is a very humbling experience.
is rich in its culture & heritage, with God grace we have such piles of rocks in India specially in South karnataka there are many such piles of rocks. Even in Maharashtra also.
(provided covid restrictions are relaxed).
