“Stacking rocks to piss off environmentalists on TikTok.”

Hikers and environmentalists are at one another’s throats on TikTok over rock stacking and whether or not it’s dangerous to native ecosystems. Videos went from poses subsequent to rock cairns to dramatically knocking them over to exhibiting individuals stacking them simply to annoy those who knock them over.

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Now there’s a full debate afoot—is rock stacking problematic, or are individuals overreacting?

Rock cairn drama slides into TikTok

If you’re a hiker, you’ve in all probability observed rock cairns—fastidiously stacked piles of flat rocks—on the path. If you’re a hiker on TikTok, you’ve in all probability seen sluggish movement movies of individuals knocking these down.

This has been an ongoing battle for years. One video by @b0tanica gained 1.1 million views after showing in 2021 to clarify why the TikToker destroys ever cairn on sight. He defined that stacking rocks on one path populated by an endangered toad species may put extra stress on them as a result of tadpoles dwell within the puddles that collect behind every rock.

@b0tanica Rock stacking isn’t all the time nice. #toadtok #toads #rockstacking #learnontiktok #endangeredspecies ♬ Plaid – Harris Heller

While one rock cairn wouldn’t make the toad go extinct, if everybody does it, the place will the infants develop?

“As individuals, our pressure on the ecology might seem negligible, but over time, it adds up,” he mentioned.

@termitonic i like rocks! #rockstacking #leavenotrace #rocks #petoskey #yolo ♬ authentic sound – 𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖆𝖊𝖑 🇵🇷

Then, in 2022, @termitonic hit again towards the anti-cairn crowd by filming herself making one out of spite. The caption reads, “stacking rocks to piss off environmentalists on tiktok bc what are tjey [sic] gonna do??? knock it over??”

They most definitely would. Cairn-knocking movies proliferated into 2023 and past by hikers declaring that “leave no trace” just isn’t a suggestion.

@nativeplants4life #leavenotrace #hike #hiker #hiketok #hikertok #hikers #hikersoftiktok #hikergirl #hikingadventures #mountain climbing #hikingtiktok #hikingfinds #nativeplant #nativeplants #ecology #eco #wildlife #conservation #habitat #ecosystem #surroundings #nature #vegetation #habitat #plant #surroundings #ecoactivist #environmentalactivist #rock #rocktok #rocks #rockstack ♬ WORST NIGHTM4RE by Asteria – asteria

Are rock cairns dangerous for the surroundings or not?

Not all rock cairns are destined to kill the toad inhabitants. The U.S. National Park Service itself builds and punctiliously maintains them on some trails to mark the secure paths. They warn individuals to not knock them over, lest hikers turn into misplaced.

At the identical time, they cite environmental causes for asking guests to not construct their very own.

“Moving rocks disturbs the soil and makes the area more prone to erosion,” their web site warns. “Disturbing rocks also disturbs fragile vegetation and micro ecosystems.”

@nambeta004 You’ve seen them on the path, fastidiously stacked rocks balanced by creeks or cliff sides. Some individuals construct them for enjoyable. Others say they’re a part of a long-standing custom. But in recent times, rock cairns have stirred up actual controversy. Parks and Leave No Trace teams say these stacks disturb fragile ecosystems, displace wildlife, and mislead hikers off-trail. Some people suppose they’re peaceable and exquisite. Others see them as out of doors litter. So right here’s the query: Are cairns simply innocent path artwork, or a disrespectful disruption to nature? Drop your ideas under. 👇 #RockCairns #LeaveNoTrace #NatureReliance #TrailTalk #OutdoorEthics #BushcraftMindset #WildernessRespect #NatureDebate #EcoAwareness #HikingCulture ♬ authentic sound – ARMSHARK

Despite this decree from the Park Service, not all consultants come down towards rock cairns. Dedicated mountain climbing TikToker @nambeta004 revealed a video final week saying he’d appeared into the difficulty and ended up within the center.

“I’ve interviewed experts on both sides of that coin and, for me, I’m neutral,” he mentioned.

He invited his followers to provide their opinions, and so they took up the decision with gusto. Opinions typically fluctuate primarily based on expertise.

“So down here in the south stacking them actually causes massive problems with salamander populations, who like to lay their eggs under rocks,” @queerly_departed_travels identified.

“I got separated from my group on a 13 day hiking trip.. my guide hiked 4 miles back at night to find me… stacked rocks is how she found me and how we found our way back to the group,” mentioned @urfutureexw1fe.

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