Pile rocks

If you've got a spirited sense of engineering and a few hours to spare, it's great fun to make something with rocks.

Rocks are readily available in nearly every location, making them a perfect medium for experimentation.

Start by making a simple "pile of rocks." A pile isn't difficult, and anyone can do this without any training.

Think about where you're going to put your pile. This is very important and often overlooked. Look for discreet places where the pile will have more meaning.

Piles in rivers are lots of fun and can often result in lessons in hydrodynamics. Properly positioned piles may create a swimming hole, a surf wave, or other attractive water feature.

Piles placed conveniently near ambiguous trails (called cairns) can help travelers find their way.

Piles arranged in a circle around a campfire can contain the fire and provide a perfect setting for late night mountain discussions.

The larger the piles, and the more strategically placed and patterned, the more mysterious your rocks will seem.

Think of the rocks at Stonehenge - then try to build your own on a smaller or larger scale. Line up your rocks with the sunrise. Line them up with the planets, creating your own universe where you are the architect of something ancient and eternal.

When people find your pile of rocks thousands of years in the future, what will they think?