camping= fire, why?

When I backpack I don't usually have a fire. Too much work gatering deadfall for anything more than a small cook fire and since I am usually lazy and use a canister stove I don't do that.

But when I car camp it isn't camping without the evening fire. I think it is part of the getting back to nature feel of camping. From the smell, the heat, the fiddling to get the fire just perfect is all to me connected with the feeling I am looking for when I explore in nature.

I think it is a call back to simpler (albeit far more difficult) times when fire was a sorce of life. A connection to earth that is expressed by a chemical reaction. The fire as it dances on the logs is like a primitive television that hypnotizes you as it slowly gets darker and quieter around you. A fire, a beer and a cool summer evening away from modern life is a perfect escape.

There is so much emotion tied into it from child hood camping trips with families to High School and College bonfires on the outskirts of town. To being freezing cold on a backpack trip and struggling to get the wet wood lit for that little bit of hope that tomorrow will be an enjoyable day. The smell of smoke is associated with all of those memories and smell is definately a memory trigger.

Does all of that justify 100 fires in a small area, probably not, but I would say having a fire is definately ingrained in my camping experience and I think that the memories of camping especially as a child would be less intense (or memorable) without them

In the last five years and 500+ miles of High Sierra backpacking, we've had exactly ONE fire. Of course, fires are prohibited above certain elevations in the Sierra…

I understand how scouts want to teach the kids to light a fire–that is a valuable outdoor skill. But to keep the fires burning all day, and breathing that smoke, is nuts.

Even worse, I'll bet that none of those fires was propery extinguished each night before the scouts went to bed…and wouldn't THAT make a nice headline: BSA Camp starts forest fire!

I am continually amazed at how stupid people are about fires and wind.

To understand it, you need to view the 1981 movie, Quest For Fire.

–B.G.–

As someone who cooks almost exclusively over an open wood fire and has often kept a fire going all night long for warmth, I agree with you.
When you make enough fires, they lose their charm and I don't make one just for making one. I usually make one to cook at to keep warm during the evenings, but don't really need one for entertainment. I also find it kind of funny when I see people around a campfire using stoves.
After a long day in the summer I will often eat cold and fall asleep. In the summer there almost isn't enough darkness to get enough sleep when you are exhausted. In the winter though with the short days it provides comfort for relaxing in the dark.
Many people, especially bushcrafters, get really upset if you can't have a fire. But for me it's more of an inconvenience that I have to carry a stove and fuel, I don't have a source of warmth for the evenings and have to carry extra clothing, and I end up limited on my cooking methods. Fires definitley have a trancing and calming effect that people love, that's why they are so popular. But for me it's more about making my camp more comfortable or keeping warm at night. If I don't need to do those things, I won't do anything more than just cooking.

The fires day and night is why when I see boy scouts on the trail I tack on an extra 10 miles to my day's hike just in case. I cannot STAND the all-day/all-night fires. I seriously think it's a fear of things that go bump in the night well-drowned out by a macho cave-man fantasy of man the hunter.

Couple weeks ago we were dayhiking in the Sespe. It was a gorgeous 80-something degrees. We came upon a couple of guys camping in the heat of the day sitting next to their fire. I just do not understand it.

Campfires are still synched with the woodcraft method of camping, if you have never come across a full blown timber trail camp with chairs lashed together and a cruiser axe leaning in the corner, maybe a cord and half of firewood stacked in a pyramid I can send you in the right direction.I've have fought this fight for years here in the northwest, people just can't divorce the campfire from the camping.
I returned home from an out of town trip late one summer to find a couple of goofbugs camped across from my house near Mission Ridge ski resort with a campfire blazing, I think they borrowed the wood from my woodpile, it was July, dry as a snake's sneeze,the fire sign down at the fire station was pointed to the red zone, and 95 degrees.
Think about the concept of smores or marshmallows sans campfire.
Myths are hard to break, every SUV out there is named after some mountain image or Native American tribe including my Forester.[Trailblazer, Mountaineer, Pathfinder,and my favorite currently, the Avalanche.]Every TV ad for same shows the vehicle conquering some unimaginable terrain.
On some primal level we connect the fire mythos with camping and unless there is a chance of larger fire starting I would mostly avoid confronting fire builders, they get very defensive of their thermal conflagrations.

The only excuse that is good is that they need smoke to ward off the mosquito population.

–B.G.–

Diane is right-on. She must have been lurking in the shadows of one of my ceremonies.

It's indeed an ancient man ritual, involving a secret handshake, the letting of blood, sacred oaths, the celebration of the hunt, rites of passage, feeling VERY MANLY, dancing and chanting, and the sacrifice of virgins (when available).

But sometimes men have also been known to have fires because little children like s'mores, roasted wieners, and stories into the night.

More like "Lord of the Flies"

putting them out correctly when untended is definitely something that should be taught. I was taught in boy scouts and by my parents the whole drowned, stir, drowned whatever.

we were camping while climb at red river gorge this spring and the college age folks next to us built or re-stoked a fire in the morning.. left it full flames when they left for the day. we helped them out and emptied their water jugs on it until it was dead.
(they also had one tent swamp due to setting up in a hole, one tent flip due to poor staking, one tent have the fly just draped over the top.. it was a &*&^ show)

basically that is the age where they should be learning to do things correctly… poor job by the leaders.

I agree with Greg. Car camping campfires are great. It's nice to just sit around the fire and zone out. Wilderness television, I've heard it called. Anyone else?

But when hiking/backpacking, I can't stand campfires. Almost hate them, actually. They're usually a waste of what dead wood is around a campsite (established campsites tend to be picked clean by people wanting campfire fuel), the smoke gets in my eyes and always seems to migrate into my tent, and, most annoyingly for me, makes my clothes and gear smell like rancid smoke. I hate the smell of smoke in my clothes, especially the more expensive stuff like down jackets.

I led a bunch of backpacking and canoeing trips this summer for high school kids whose idea of camping always included fires, but we had no fires on any of these trips. Lo and behold, the kids were perfectly happy just hanging out around camp with each other without the distraction of a campfire. They never even mentioned wanting to have one. Kind of surprising.

Personally, I love a *small* campfire at night in the appropriate conditions. (I tend to pick camp spots a little off the beaten path)

An hour or so, talking around the fire. The crackling of the wood, them smell of the woodsmoke (yes, I actually enjoy that smell), the crispness in the air that is usually around when I have a campfire. Just gazing into the orange flames dancing on the woods.

It is comfort, it seems right on some level perhaps embedded deep down in the cultural DNA…and, perhaps most importantly, I just enjoy it.

FWIW, when I am solo, campfires are not even a thought.

"yes, I actually enjoy that smell"

It's not the smell of the woodsmoke that bothers me, but the smell of it once it's in your clothes. To me, there is a big difference. It somehow becomes more pungent and overpowering when it's in your clothes. And the smell transfers from your clothes and hair into your sleeping bag, and onto your pack. It just gets into everything.

I'd better not rant too much more, or you'd think I'm obsessed with campfire smell :)

Campfires are great and, when we're places where they're allowed, we love having one. Typically, this does not include the locations where we backpack.

That Cub Scout event was named "Woodsmoke"? It sounds like it was themed around campfires, campfire activities and people being in good spirits related to campfires. I predict that the fires were safely tended, with the water buckets nearby, and properly cooled/stirred at night by the adult fire tender (this is CUB Scouts), as is the norm, albeit contrary to the misconception posted above.

If you don't like campfires or would rather smell like Axe Rage (or is it Polo?) than manly smoke, stay home next time and let the outdoorsmen be. Don't you have a video game to play or something? Ho ho!

Could folks go overboard with campfires? Of course, and who hasn't seen it in campgrounds or in situations like those listed above? Sure, it happens. But that mention of Sespe has me pining for a misty afternoon, hunkered around a campfire, sipping Sespe Tea from the pot on the fire in a camp just above Devil's Gate… Fire Good.

I like the smell of wood smoke, even in my clothes.

Smell is powerful reminder.

Smell tomatoes, olive oil, onions and garlic and I think of Grandma's house on a Sunday.

Catch a whiff of decaying leaves and I think of the cool, crisp New England autumn days of my childhood. A time when the biggest concern in my life was if I'd get the Transformer I really, really, really wanted.

And when I smell woodsmoke in the old fleece jacket I wear camping? I think of being with Adrianna under the stars in the Great Sand Dunes over Thanksgiving having the place almost to ourselves.

And if wood smoke gets in my 'good' backpacking gear…so be it. I'll save the laundry detergent smell for my corporate costume of a polo and slacks. The woodsmoke in my jacket brings back the smell of mountains, trails, woods and freedom.

Of course, woodsmoke in my clothe also means I should also do a batch of laundry. :)

I'm with Paul.

If they made a cologne that smelled like campfire smoke, I'd wear it every day!

Assuming that most here have clothes,hats,socks,shoes,jackets and sleeping bags to take you below freezing….when it gets cold in the winter, do you turn on your heater or just pull out your cold weather gear?

There is a lot of environmental talk on most threads in chaff. Like, I can't believe people use the dead wood resource for a fire. Well, it takes coal to run the high amp 220volt heater in your house. Or natural gas. Or a dammed up river.

It just boggles my mind how intolerant people are towards others when they do something they don't like. All of us are doing something others may not like. I'm an advocate of LNT, but its funny to me that the same person who hates fire rings and says it "ruins their wilderness experience to see where others have been" is walking on a 1-2 feet wide trail tramped down by hundreds if not thousands before them. Well beaten paths are not a natural occurence in the wilderness excepth very small ones wild game produce. What's the difference in trail markers and a fire ring? Both are man made.

I just camped with a 9 year old boy who lives in goverment housing without a father. He told me that he wants a sleeping bag for christmas but won't be able to get one. He said he can't wait to get a job someday so he can get some camping stuff. This kid did commit some camping no-no's. But instead of making fun of him and preaching at him, I showed him the right way and explained to him gentley why you shouldn't do it. Now what if I hadn't met this kid and when he was in college decided to go out with some friends camping? He might have been one of the young people who's tents flooded, got turned upside down and left a fire unattended. Just remember, not everyone is as smart or well educated as you are. Not everyone has or has had the same opportunities as you. Not everyone has read a no trace pamphlet or book like you have. Not everyone has had someone teach or educate them about being a responsible person in the back country. So instead of turning a snob nose up at others for a lack of knowledge or responsibility. Just remember that not everyone has your same belief set and that you too were at one time ignorant and irresponsible. Let's treat others with respect. It goes a lot further in conversation than a holier than thou attitude. Just saying

I usually have a small campfire because my preferred fuel for my Ti-Tri is wood. After the water is ready, I take the pot off and keep feeding it for a while for a little ambiance. The nice thing about the Ti-Tri is you can have a small, LNT fire, when using the titanium floor. And the small sticks you use with it are everywhere so you can scoop up enough in just a few minutes. It's very nice.

I blame genetics. Thousands of years being drawn to a fire, for warmth, safety, and community.

Adam:

Have some coffee and you'll feel better. :^)

I will take exception to one of your comments: "Now what if I hadn't met this kid and when he was in college decided to go out with some friends camping? He might have been one of the young people who's tents flooded, got turned upside down and left a fire unattended."

Sorry, but given the MASSIVE amount of public education about forest fires (from Smokey the Bear in schools to those handouts every single park gives you when you arrive) I think it is disingenuous to say that without your help someone might have left a campfire unattended. Anyone who is ignorant of how to put out a fire has been willfully not paying attention for most of their lives. And yet we see this quite often in the wilderness.

There is no excuse for it, and it's is now criminally negligent in most courts.

I haven't built a campfire while backpacking in decades. To be honest, it has little to do with LNT but everything to do with convenience. I hate the fire black on pots, and that is why I used to build a fire when backpacking; to cook on. A stove is quicker and easier. Keep in mind that I hike almost exclusively solo. Campfires seem to be community/social endeavor for many folks. I hate to get smoke in my eyes and it stinks up my clothes and gear.

As some of you know, I do a lot of camping in my tent trailer. Most places we camp have fire rings (even in dispersed camping areas). But my wife and I rarely build a campfire. We find that the fire removes us from our surroundings. There is much more we can see and observe sans fire. Stars, shadows, and wildlife.

Before my kids grew up and left home, we always built a campfire when tent camping or trailer camping. It was part of our family time. Cooking hot dogs and marshmallows and spending time together. I have camped with the kids after they left home and a campfire is a "requirement." It is nostalgic for us.

One thing about a campfire in a fire ring. We are not picking up downed wood. We bring our wood from home. This is mostly scrap wood I pick up from construction sites, that would otherwise end up in a land fill. I keep a bundle of wood in our tent trailer, and Joyce and I build a campfire maybe once in every 20 trips.

Last winter I took a friend on his first ever backpacking trip. It was a snow trip. We had a very enjoyable time sitting outside in the dark talking, dressed in down with our quilts wrapped around us. Much better than a crackling, smokey, crackling campfire.

>>Just remember, not everyone is as smart or well educated as you are.

I set the bar pretty low…that may be a good thing!!! :D

My comment that was quoted above was not merely about fires being unattended. It was directed to an earlier statement some said. The person was bragging about how they used some college students water to put out the fire they left and how their tents were poorly set up.

Also, here in Alabama we do not have a Smokey campaign in the schools I'm associated with. The only way my son knows him is from the gifts and literature that were given to me for him by the nice lady at the Pinedale,WY ranger station.

i asked my 10 year old why he wanted a fire at woodsmoke. he said it was about who had the bigger, better fire – for the boys it was a competition. i saw plenty of unsafe fires and few people explaining fire safety. saw way too many sticks aflame in hand running around tents.

also

my father in law has an RV trailer at a camp ground year round. he MUST have a fire. it gives him something to do. i think that is were a lot of this need for a fire comes from, a sense of purpose. i don't think he can sit quietly in the woods and watch the darkness close. for some, i think that is torture to just sit and stare out into the wilderness. they have to be doing something, and if it's not hiking, it's cooking, and if it's not cooking, it building a fire.

i rather enjoy watching the theater that is the wilderness.