Balancing Act:
Arches National Park. I found the builder of this small desert cairn somewhat skillful and humorous; although I don't condone this type of action, I strongly agree with the park's underlying message of leaving the wilderness as you find it. The placard reads:
"Cairns are carefully placed piles of rocks built by park staff to mark trails and guide hikers. Adding to cairns or building other cairns or rock objects misguides hikers, damages soil and plants, detracts from the natural landscape. Please leave the desert as you find it."
This clever architect carefully balanced six rocks in decreasing size and weight, one on top of the other, on the signs pointed post.
Arches National Park, Utah: A desert cairn constructed on a park warning sign discouraging building cairns. Ironically, this cairn was built adjacent to one of the park's most visited natural features, 'Balanced Rock.'