Stacking rocks - why?

[Peregrine1983]

This is getting deep. Never thought I'd get into a "What is art?" conversation on Cruiser's Forum.

[Scorpius]

Many years ago (10?) somebody, going under the name "Rockstar" starting building fantastic, gravity defying piles of stones on Vancouver beaches, including English Bay, Second, and Third Beaches. He built hundreds and they were really quite incredible, impossible to match by ordinary humans.

However, the idea caught on and many, many, Vancouver people make as elaborate piles of stones as they can, on beaches, and in the forests, all over BC.

They have no meaning and generally get knocked over by the next high tide or high wind. They really are an eyesore in an area renowned for its NATURAL (not man-made) beauty.

As a local resident, who has visited Desolation Sound many, many times, I agree with you: knock them over.

[Scorpius]

Search for "rock balancing Vancouver beaches" in Google images to see the origins of this fad.

[Scorpius]

In some of the images you will see a very large "real" Inukshuk, the symbol of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic games - and which was erected for those games. At first it was surrounded by rose bushes and hedges which seemed a little out of place for an arctic image - but later these were replaced with more realistic gravel.

[SV THIRD DAY]

First World Problem/Complaint.

[letoile]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Painted rocks are graffiti.

Stacked rocks are a meditative state of being. It's a way to be fully consumed by nothing at all. And if you don't like the rocks stacked on a rocky shoreline, go for a walk and kick them over. But to call it juvenile tells me you've never tried it[emoji106]

I see these along the rivers when I paddle and when sailing on the glaciated granite islands of anchorages on Georgian Bay. They have no historic, cultural, landmark, nav aid value and the people how think they are doing something meditative, should read the biology of the Five Lined Skink (our only native lizard in Ontario, Canada.) This is a threatened species and those scattered rock the rock artists collect from the granite barrens are Skink habitat. People should think of all the implications of their actions before acting. Wouldn't the world.be a better place? Isn't the travelling in wild spaces motto, "take only pics, leave no trace???
I find it very meditative when I dismantle and scatter the rocks. I do this as soon as I see one because once one shows up every meditative rock.artist wants to create one.... The skinks be damned!

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by letoile

I see these along the rivers when I paddle and when sailing on the glaciated granite islands of anchorages on Georgian Bay. They have no historic, cultural, landmark, nav aid value and the people how think they are doing something meditative, should read the biology of the Five Lined Skink (our only native lizard in Ontario, Canada.) This is a threatened species and those scattered rock the rock artists collect from the granite barrens are Skink habitat. People should think of all the implications of their actions before acting. Wouldn't the world.be a better place? Isn't the travelling in wild spaces motto, "take only pics, leave no trace???
I find it very meditative when I dismantle and scatter the rocks. I do this as soon as I see one because once one shows up every meditative rock.artist wants to create one.... The skinks be damned!

Exactly!!!

[MidwestRefugee]

Ever think the rock stackers might not appreciate your ugly boat desecrating their otherwise breathtakingly beautiful view of the bay?


Seriously, different strokes. Get over it.

[letoile]

Not sure what you are doing on this forum if you think boats are ugly. Read my post... Glaciated granite islands...islands.. the only way there is by boat. The rock.stackers come on those ugly boats. My beef was not with the aesthetics of the rocks but the destruction of Skink habitat.
point, set��

[inspectr]

We saw lots of stone piles at North Cape in Norway this July.
The local Parks people had some signs asking visitors to refrain from moving stones as this destroyed habitats for insects and lizards, and contributed to erosion in what was a fragile environment.

As our Australian National Parks advises, "Take only photos, leave only footprints" I might also add "Tread lightly"

[boden36]

I much prefer the stackers to the throwers!

Regards,
Richard.

[Delancey]

Inukshuk means "like a person" in Inuktitut, which is the "people's" language, which is spoken by "the people" known as the Inuit.

I was privileged in my youth to to be able to travel extensively throughout Nunavut and have visited places and seen things few westerners have seen. I hunted with the people, I ate with them, I shared their joys and sorrows, and I learned what it means to endure life in one of the harshest environments inhabited by man.

There's a difference between an Inukshuk and a cairn. Inukshuk have purposes and deep significance beyond the casual cairn builder's need for self gratification.

Whenever I see a cairn defacing an otherwise pristine wilderness area I push it over and scatter the stones. Maybe if you are a cairn builder you have made your mark on a place I have already returned to nature. Don't worry, next time I pass by again I will push your pile of rocks over allowing you an opportunity to deface the wilderness yet again.

Consider me doing you a favor by making more pristine wilderness available for you to deface with your purposeless visual clutter.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Peregrine1983

Absolutely. That's what a cruising boat represents - a ticket to go where 99% of others haven't been.

Ironically the "wildest" place I've ever been on land was north of Cairns (!!!) way up on Cape York.

I hear you!

Having resided and travelled extensively in the northern parts of Cape York in the mid / late 70's I would say the "wildest" parts were the remotely populated areas while the unpopulated ares were the most pristine - not so much today but that has always been the case I guess.

[boatsail]

Originally Posted by pro67coupe

Stacking rocks is graffiti? Maybe you should invest in some self help books or something. Some skin thickening is what you need

If stacked rocks get under some people's skin I'd hate to see what loosely moderated internet forums would do.

[westwon]

I've been blessed to visit many beautiful places on this planet. Desolation sound is simply stunning, and must be visited to believe. But primeval nature it is not. The hand of man has been part of the scenery here for thousands of years. Someone building a pile of rocks is completely fine. The pile will be gone by next year. I wish all of man's creations were so temporary.

Steve