Cairns, inukshuks or inuksuks are a pile or arrangement of rocks used to indicate a route, landmark or a summit. The word cairn originates from the Scottish Gaelic word carn. A cairn or inukshuk can be either large and elaborate or as simple as a small pile of rocks. To be effective a cairn marking a trail has to just be noticeable and obviously man-made. In the alpine areas around Whistler, above the treeline, cairns are the main method of marking a route.
In the spring and fall when snow covers alpine trails, cairns mark many routes. An inukshuk(also spelled inuksuk) is the name for a cairn used by peoples of the Arctic region of North America. Both spelling versions are pronounced nearly as they are spelled. So inukshuk is pronounced inook-shuk, and inuksuk with inook-suk. Though an inukshuk can take many forms similar to a cairn, it is usually represented by large rocks formed into a human shape. The word inukshuk literally translates from two separate Inuit words, inuk "person" and suk "substitute". The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler used the inukshuk for the logo of the games. Today you will find several giant rock inukshuks in Vancouver and Whistler at various places. In Whistler there is an impressive inukshuk, several metres high a the peak of Whistler Mountain. Another huge inukshuk sits overlooking Whistler Valley at the Roundhouse next to the Umbrella Bar. The first inukshuk that most visitors to Whistler see is the huge one on Village Gate Boulevard.
Inukshuk Near the Roundhouse
Whistler Peak Inukshuk
Inukshuk and Distant Black Tusk
Battleship Islands Cairns, Garibaldi Lake
More Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking A to Z!
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Cairns, inukshuks or inuksuks are a pile or arrangement of rocks used to indicate a route, landmark or a summit. The word cairn originates from the Scottish Gaelic word carn. A cairn or inukshuk can be either large and elaborate or as simple as a small pile of rocks. To be effective a cairn marking a trail has to just be noticeable and obviously man-made. In the alpine areas around Whistler, above the treeline, cairns are the main method of marking a route. 
Alexander Falls 
Ancient Cedars 
Black Tusk 
Blackcomb Mountain 
Cheakamus River 
Cirque Lake 
Sproatt East 
Wedgemount Lake 
January 
March 
June 
September 
