Lots of possible reasons for these, but no definite answers yet. While camping out in a Northern Wisconsin Forest, I actually came across one myself, with no rhyme or reason WHY it might be there.

Located not far from a forest road, but hidden behind the foliage so not easily seen from the road. My first thought was maybe it was a marker but there by a hunter to point the way to his hunting spot, i.e. blind or maybe location of a tree stand. There are a lot of deer and bear hunters in this area. I looked around the area and found no visible game trails which I would expect to find if this was a good hunting location.

There is another possibility as to what's it's purpose may be, and I'll check that out later to see if I can find any connection. Here's some pics of what I found.

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(Edited to add)

Another thing I wanted to mention is that big bolders these rocks are stacked on top of, are NOT found all over the area. You'll go from some distance not seeing any, then find clusters of them in a small area of maybe 6-10 of these large boulders. This was the only pile of rocks I found stacked in any of these clusters I checked along about a 6 mile stretch of forest road. The rocks were in the same place for at least 3 days that I checked. Maybe there's a possibility they are moved to a different cluster to signify something... ie safe passage through this area? However to assume that we'd also have to assume that bigfoot would have also had to move each of those big boulders to a strategically placed area different enough from the other areas they are found in.

Carens? (Karens?)

Cairns, An Irish word for a pile of rocks.

People would make them as markers to let others know people have been there. We still do it, too. Just for fun! Google Inukshuks...

Vil, you beat me to it!

Another possible explanation...
Some dude jumped out of an airplane with a few million dollars, and hid the cash to come back 3 days later and retrieve it. He made that cairn so he could find it again...and beat you to it!

Actually, I have read an account (maybe a couple) where a BF was using stacked rocks to attract rodents for an easy snack. I think it was in a thread on the BFRO forum.

I've made these to mark trails or other interesting things, but not out in the middle of nowhere. Hard to say "who" did it. The question in my mind is, "why was it removed?" And, "were the rocks used to make it still there, but knocked over?"

And I also wonder if there is something worth seeing (that was marked) but you weren't able to find it. I will sometimes make two of these 5 or 10 feet apart going through what looks like thick brush; I line them up in the direction I need to go to make a shortcut, or to find something later that I might have stumbled onto (like an old unmarked mine or cave).

The most likely explanation is a human marker. But who knows?

It could mark anything, but my guess is that it's to mark the large boulder underneath so some kid on an ATV or snowmobile doesn't run into it. It could be placed by a hiker. It could mark the location of a berry patch. Or it could just be county road crew workers killing time and making art... They have to grade those forestry roads and in the process these solidified chunks of Mother Earth show up every now and then.



Rumor has it that Al Capone did stash money up there somewhere...'course he won't be coming back for it.

In all seriousness though, are you sure these rocks were stacked on top of other large rocks? In other words, are you sure the underlying rocks weren't mounds? That area is riddled with archealogical sites of ancient inhabitants. What you found could be related to that. I don't know exactly where you were so I can't check further details.

What I'm thinking is that it may be a marker for "Geocaching". I have the GPS coordinates in the car and will check those with a list of known caches that have been hidden in that forest. If they don't match up, then again, why is once again up in the air.

There were other boulders of about the same size as the boulder on the bottom strewn about the area, but none had the smaller rocks stacked on top of them. I can see your point had there been a mound under the largest boulder and under the others they could be designation of burial sites for the Native Americans from that area. That would also explain the clusters of these boulders found at different locations throughout the forest with no visible source of their origin. I can only say the ground is fairly uneven in those areas, and to say there was an actual structured mound/s that exist would be almost impossible to say for certain.

'Carn' in Irish, not 'Cairn', which is the Anglicised spelling.



Here's an interesting blog I found on the subject..... http://rockpiles.blogspot.com/

Ah yes, the large boulders strewn around with no visible source of their origin is Wisconsin Geology 101. I know you know about it! You may just never have seen it up close and personal. What you don't realize until someone points it out to you is that you're in the foothills of what was once a great mountain (over there in the UP). Then there was the great volcano that spewed all the basalt that was once lava around over there on the northeastern part of the state. Over in the area where you were was the great collision of the fault line that caused the big earthquake and flood that scattered all those huge boulders all over in the strangest places. Then came the glaciers and hence the reason for the Ice Age Trail line that you were likely very near if not on top of. The landscape up there is interesting to say the least.

I didn't think of geocaching as a possible reason for the other rocks stacked on top of the big boulder, but that is another possibility.

The Cairngorm mountains are in Northern Scotland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairngorms

There is also a Scottish breed of dog called a Cairn Terrier. They were used to route vermin (rats) from rock piles (cairns). The most famous Cairn Terrier is in a well known movie from 1939.

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Geocaching is one possibility, though I have another.

During a trip to the coast several weeks ago, I found a beautiful rock placed atop and in the middle of a large boulder. It was as if the large boulder was a pedestal for the small rock as a work of art. I got to talking with someone at the beach and she said there are groups of hikers, beachcombers, and other outdoor enthusiasts that enjoy doing this sort of thing. Creating a work of art in a most unusual spot. Since then I have looked for various works of art whenever I am out. I have even thought of doing the same thing myself. From what I understand, this art is usually benign as not to disturb nature too much.

We had a couple friends of ours tell us about horseback riding in the hills here, and coming upon an area that had mirror hung from trees and propped up against stumps. They thought is rather curious and ask the owner of the property who had no clue about the mirrors and cleaned them up. I think in that situation it might have been some kids or teens. Who knows.

Just another thought on the subject.

Redwolf

edited to add that if you Google "rock sculptures made by hikers" or similar, you will find some other really neat works of art. Some parks are really frowning on this practice though.

Yep, I ran into that a LOT along the Oregon Coast. They even have Professionals now and competitions!

http://www.teamsandtastic.com/RockStacking/

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It does seem that those who are stacking rocks as artistic expression, are putting a little more into it than stacking just a few rocks in a very stable manner.

I have thought from time to time that putting full length mirrors in areas where BF sightings frequently occur might be one way to attract them.

It seems like an interesting idea up front, but the glass could break in a storm or from an animal and cause harm.

Moregon, I know a lot of the rock piles are quite artistic, but I have seen others that are more rustic like the one in the first photo. Did you find out about the geocaching?

RW

While rafting a wild and scenic river recently one small rock field in a shoals had six or more various 5 to ten small-rock stacks on various rocks that could be clearly seen by rafts passing by. There were connecting trails down to the river, but likely it was an outfitter's overnight trip/camppatrons that set them out for others to appreciate. It was quite shocking and unexpected I might add. Too bad the first freshet would wipe them out.

This is popular in California also. My guess is someone moved there who is from California and is now stacking rocks. Lots of people have left that state and gone elsewhere.

stainless steel mirrors can get around the glass problem shouldn't prevent anything or just go regular shiny steel with a rust inhibitor ..... btw
old americaonline cd's or other surplus ones are just as shiny and show a reflection well too Every squatch that brushes/flosses it's teeth already has a cache
of them set aside probably

So far nothing. I checked at GEOCACHING.com and the closest cache they have in their files is 3.3 miles from the location where the rocks are. That's not the only Geocaching group/organization/association but I think it's one of the biggest. Wisconsin also has their own geocaching group and I don't know if locations of caches are shared between groups or if they all keep their own close to their chests.

Yah, cuz people in other places aren't creative enough to think of this on their own. It has to have started in California

Having been born here and lived here my whole life, I'm pretty much convinced that more things end in Kalifornia than begin here.

I think you may be right, after all logging has ended in that State. The list is endless of things that have ended in that State.

bolding is mine...

You do realize you were replying to norcal logger, right?

I'm a little confused... which is actually pretty good since I'm normally really confused.

With the crappy economy and bankrupt state govt and constant fires I wonder why anyone wants to live there anymore.

Of course, north of San Fran is different...

I guess I took his reply as "all logging has stopped"... in California, when, it hasn't.

I could be wrong... wouldn't be the first time, nor the last.

We live here because our governator is a super hero with big muscles... and Uma Thermond lives here... and our catsup is really, really fresh...

Knock it over, check it once in a while, and see if it gets rebuilt.....IMO

Yes I realize that. Now I am all confused also. Its all good on my end...

A previous Thread with some more information..

http://www.bigfootforums.com/index.php?sho...p;hl=rock+piles

Do you mean Kalifornia or the rock piles?

I wouldn't mind trying both.

Rock piles are something we come across in Oz too, and while in some locations they're quite interesting, generally I use their presence more as a reminder to keep my eyes peeled for tracks or other sign.

On a similar topic, I found these 2 rings last year in a location adjacent to one of my research area.

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Those look like the remnants of old bedding areas, or 'nests' to me. We found something similar here once years ago made out of palmettos.

http://www.rock-on-rock-on.com/cairns.html

This link is probably the answer.

Thanks Drew - though I couldn't see any in there made of sticks like the pics I posted?