Campfires

“Campfires attract attention. If I'm in the woods, it's usually because I'm running from the man. Fast and light until the heat's off-that's my philosophy.”

“A campfire adds so much! There's usually plenty of used fire rings to choose from so the environmental impact shouldn't be an issue. I read a trail guide recently that recommended you "enjoy the light of a candle lantern" instead of a fire. That makes me gag just thinking about it!”

“I love a fire and will have one wherever its allowed. I won't go to places where fires aren't allowed in the winter.

Once a friend and I ignored a 'no open fires' sign at the trailhead as we thought we were deep enough in to avoid 'the man'. The site we stayed at had not one, but three fire rings so we didn't think we'd do any harm. About 7 am we awoke to a ranger greeting us with a "good morning!" The !$%& must've started out before dawn to make it to our location. When he asked if we'd had a fire we said no at first until he stepped over to feel the warm rocks so we fessed up. We said we thought no open fires meant we had to use a fire ring, putting on our best stupid expresions. I guess we put enough doubt in his mind so he let us off with a warning. Said the fine was $75 so we were lucky.”

“When the still sea conspires an armor
And her sullen and aborted
Currents breed tiny monsters,
True sailing is dead.
Awkward instant
And the first animal is jettisoned
Legs furiously pumping
Their stiff green gallop,
And heads bob up
Poise
Delicate
Pause
Consent
In mute nostril agony
Carefully refined
And sealed over.”

“Hey, Alphapackrat!
Always great to see another "Adirondacker" here at TT. I'm with you on leaving wood - Most of the time people leave green stuff that they hacked down and think they are doing someone a favor.

The tradition started back in the 19th century in the 'dacks when fire was the only source of warmth and methof of cooking. Much more esential than it is today.”

“Where do you live Violin? Sounds like out west. Here in the eastern half fires are usually allowed anytime unless there's an unusual drought.”

“Camp fires get a big NONO!!!!
you burn down the trees.!!
why do you think they make stoves?????????”

“steve-
I live in New Jersey but hike mostly in New England.

No fires on the AT in NJ. In Vermont and New Hampshire, fires aren't allowed near treeline (where I like to be).

The incident I described above happened on the AT in NJ. I agree with the rule as the area gets so heavily used (and often by pigs) it would get trashed pretty quick. I've seen sites that are nearly entirely covered by charcoal because people decide *that* fire ring is in the wrong place, let's put *ours* there- not too inviting.”

“Stoves are bad.

Stoves are made from a strip mined mineral and consume fossil fuels. If you use a stove somewhere there is a toxic waste pit with your name on it.

Campfires consume natural locally produced material and recycle the product back into the soil to become more forest.”

“Here in the SW fires are pretty much banned everywhere, besides there isn't much to burn.”

“Yeah!
FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!!!”

“Late last night, when we were all in bed,
Mrs. O'Leary put a lantern in her shed.
Her cow kicked it over, winked her eye and said,
"It'll be a hot time in the old town, Tonight."
Fire, Fire, Fire!!!”

“I love a campfire. It is damn hard on nylon though, every little spark leaves a hole somewhere. Consequently I only build fires when it is cold and there is no wind.”

“I heat with wood at home 7 months a year or more. Don't need it on the trail. I have to agree with the others that say there isn't enough time while bp'ing.

Let me rephrase that - there are more important things for me to do while bp'ing.”

“I think Brair Rabbit would be bord out of his mind on a BPing trip if not for a campfire.”

“The only good fire is on that consumes a few hundred thousand acres of old growth and endangered specie habitat.”

“Gordon
Why didn't you just say, "Somebody b!tch slap me"? You got balls man.”