• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Aussie Authorities Beg Hikers To Stop Making Rock Towers As It’s Doing ‘More Harm Than Good’

Home> News

Published 07:41 27 Jun 2022 GMT+1

Aussie Authorities Beg Hikers To Stop Making Rock Towers As It’s Doing ‘More Harm Than Good’

Experts say rock towers can cause erosion and destroy animal habitats.

Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis

Walking groups and authorities have warned Australian hikers not to build rock towers over fears they could impact natural environments on bush trails.

Who knew a pile of stones could cause so much havoc?

While speaking to ABC News, Ranger Cathy Gatley said rock stacks or ‘cairns’ were becoming a little too frequent along the Cania Gorge National Park trail in Queensland.

"It's unsightly and unnatural," she said. 

Advert

While cairns are usually built to help hikers navigate their surroundings, rock towers that do not pose a purpose are considered ‘vandalism’.

The situation is so intense that Queenslanders can be fined up to $6,000 (USD $4,160 or £3,386).

"Most of us go to national parks to really experience that natural scenery, and just like scratching your name into a tree, rock stacks are seen as vandalism,” she said.

Queensland National Parks also stated via Facebook that cairns are ‘becoming a problem’.

Advert

However, besides vandalism, rock towers can also cause erosion and destroy animal habitats.

"The rocks help to absorb water, and they prevent runoff," Gatley continued.

"[They also] provide a habitat refuge for many plants and animals … moving the rocks, it takes away that habitat and can also make animals more open to predators because they have less places to hide.”

Head of central Queensland and Townsville Hike and Explore Groups Michael Plough told the outlet that they can also harm ‘marine creatures that live in these environments’.

Alamy

Advert

He's urged people to stop making them for personal enjoyment.

The Guardian writer Patrick Barkham advised that rock stacking goes against the number one rule of outdoor exploration.

“A forest of stacked stones destroys all sense of the wild. Stacks are an intrusion, enforcing our presence on others long after our departure. It’s an offence against the first and most important rule of wild adventuring: leave no trace,” he wrote.

Head of the volunteer-run environmental organisation, Blue Planet Society John Hourston said the issue has become extremely ‘divisive’ as many claim cairns are just an innocent pastime for explorers, as means of ‘making their mark’, according to The New Yorker.

While stone stacking has become a popular hashtag on social media, Hourston said these creations violate the ‘seclusion’ of national parks.

Advert

He said: “It struck me as a real shame, because there are very few places where you can still find solitude and seclusion, and here they were absolutely covered by the footprint of man.”

Featured Image Credit: Chris Hellier / Alamy Stock Photo. Peter Hermes Furian / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: News, Environment, Australia

Charisa Bossinakis
Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis is an Associative Journalist at LADbible. Charisa has worked across various media platforms including, print, digital, radio and podcasting while maintaining the highest regard for quality work and integrity. She also covered everything from breaking news, to pop culture, entertainment and politics and is part of the editorial team for LADbible.

X

@CBossinakis

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Girl, 9, dies after mum left her in the car whilst she went to work

    She was left unattended in the car for hours

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Incredible photo shows woman hanging on to tree before being rescued from freak flood that killed 27

    The woman had been swept 20 miles downriver before being rescued

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Man robbed bank claiming 'it was art' and filmed the whole thing

    Gonna have to try this one

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Someone made a £5000 Bitcoin investment in 2011 and has now made ridiculous profit 14 years later

    Maybe they're a time traveller who did what we all dream of

    News
  • Police beg people to stop ringing 999 to call out neighbours using hosepipes
  • Aussie Council Worker Seen Shovelling Sand During Gale Force Winds
  • Aussie Outback Festival Sets World Record For Most People Doing The Nutbush City Limits Dance
  • Army Veterans Could Soon Be Brought Into Aussie Schools To Tell Kids To Stop Vaping