Some may claim that this dog isn’t balancing what one would call a cairn, but I am fairly liberal, and opportunistic, in my understanding of what constitutes a cairn. This whimsical sculpture is in downtown Walla Walla. Titled Thoughts Discovered, it is by Walla Walla artist Brad Rude.
This cairn and its accompanying pal are on the Cowiche Mountain Loop Trail in Yakima County. The bear, known officially as Big Bear, exemplifies a key aspect of cairns, that animals regularly take advantage of them as a high point to observe the surrounding territory. According to our friends, Big Bear goes on most of the hikes they take, particularly if they can offer the prospect of a chance to see what’s on The Other Side of the Mountain. Or if there are huckleberries or blueberries to find. And a cairn is a good spot for such situations when you need to get up a little higher to see.
