How a Cairn Saved Me from Myself

Cedar Mesa, late afternoon. I was lost—again. Not the poetic kind, just the dumb, stubborn kind where you think you know better than the map. I’d walked past the same sun-bleached juniper twice before I noticed the cairn: a stack of rocks, nothing special, but someone had tied a faded red bandana around the top. It was ugly, obvious, and exactly what I needed. I used to think trail markers ruined the wildness. Now I know: sometimes you need a sign, even if it’s ugly, even if it means admitting you’re not as self-sufficient as you want to be. That cairn wasn’t beautiful, but it got me home. #HikingConfessions #LostAndFound #TrailTruths #Travel