I want to start by saying I know what cairns are.
I’ve been hiking the Appalachian Trail and its connecting routes for eleven years. I know the difference between a navigation marker and a decorative stack. I know that unauthorized cairns are a Leave No Trace violation because they can mislead hikers.
I know all of that.
So when I say what I found on Franconia Ridge was different—I need you to understand, I don’t spook easily at a pile of rocks.
What I found on Franconia Ridge was different.
Cla