what is a cairn, in the mountains

A pile of stones. Traditionally to keep wolves away from a grave.

For climbers, mountaineers and hikers, a ''cairn'' is a stacked pile of rocks which are used (often incorrectly) to mark a trail.

l have seen a people set cairns to mark what they think (incorrectly) is the trail and l have seen other people knock them down (ones correctly marking the trail) because they do not think they are needed - that is why l will look at them to help me decide the route but NEVER blindly trust them.

Good Luck

It is a pile of rocks.

Man made. As a marker of some sort.

Can be as small as a small pile left next to the side of a trail. As large as a ancient burial site cover, or even a monument.

In German a cairn is called a Steinmännchen meaning a little stone man.