Cairn Early Walkthrough: From Training to Shortcut
Check basic controls and proceed through Twisted Ridge, Escarpment, Arch, and Shortcut while resupplying. Departure checks are separated by section.
Scope: Cairn main game, PC / PlayStation 5
Checked scope: Mount Kami climbing, early exploration, and supplies. Not a comprehensive list of collectible coordinates or every route. Additions planned for October 29, 2026 are listed separately from the main game.
Sources checked on: 2026-10-16
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Before departure: Controls to check in training
Trying each action in practice rather than for the first time on the mountain makes failures easier to diagnose.
- Move limbs and practice setting your feet before reaching upward.
- Try switching automatically selected limbs to manual selection.
- Shake limbs in a stable posture and compare breathing/posture displays before and after resting.
- Try placing a piton and hanging from it, checking rest and backpack access.
- Adjust settings for feedback you struggle with and make sure control prompts are readable.
Twisted Ridge → Escarpment
Follow the signpost beyond Twisted Ridge, and finish resupplying as well as climbing in the Escarpment.
Scroll horizontally to read wide tables.
| Order | Action | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Head toward the signpost and identify the next area | Water, food, and pitons held |
| 2 | Inspect around the Escarpment bivouac | Rest and restore equipment |
| 3 | Use the nearby water source | Refill before the next wall |
| 4 | Explore surrounding rocks and caves | Ingredient and recipe detours |
No entries in this table match. Shorten the search or clear the input to show all entries again.
Find the water source by looking around from near the bivouac. Do not proceed straight ahead relying only on left/right directions that change with the camera.
Escarpment supply detour
The cave above the water has the Super Honey recipe and ingredients to inspect. Check the recipe too, rather than only picking up supplies.
- Look around the water and find a line approaching the upper cave.
- Check its recipe, honey, mushrooms, and other ingredients.
- If climbing depletes you, return to the bivouac to cook and rest.
- Then continue toward The Arch. Even if skipping the detour, do not skip water and equipment checks.
This is one confirmed early detour, not a location table for every recipe.
The Arch → The Shortcut
Explore the waterfall side and use signposts/maps to choose the next climb. Check supply locations once before continuing.
Scroll horizontally to read wide tables.
| Location | What to check | How to proceed |
|---|---|---|
| Arch waterfall side | Belongings, pitons, letters, and maps | Inspect surroundings separately from the climbing line |
| Near the next signpost | Bivouac | Restore your condition before continuing |
| Small caves nearby | Water and consumables | Check entrances without passing them by |
| Shortcut | Maps and easier paths along the way | Read directions before choosing a wall |
| Around the Shortcut bivouac | Resting place and letters | Finish exploring and resupplying, then continue |
No entries in this table match. Shorten the search or clear the input to show all entries again.
Carry these checks into the next section
After the early landmarks, observation, securing yourself, and resupply remain the basics.
- Check whether pitons used in the previous section were recovered/replenished.
- If you do not know the next water source, prepare at the current supply point.
- On new rock types or ice walls, first test grip with a short movement.
Every late-game branch, collectible, and ending condition lies outside this walkthrough. No unconfirmed chapter names or invented arrival-day counts fill the gaps.
Frequently asked questions
I do not arrive after the guide's number of days
Elapsed time varies with exploration and route choice. This walkthrough sets no fixed days as arrival requirements. Proceed according to your location and supplies.
I lack ingredients for Super Honey
Check recipe ownership separately from ingredients held. Do not count on its effect while lacking materials; prepare to depart with other food and water you have.