Environmentally Responsible Camping

[TheRoadie]

Legit question here: How do you pack out campfire ashes that may still be hot? Metal container on the roof rack?

We use enough water so they're not still hot before we go to bed. By morning - quite cold. Can't imagine trying to carry hot ashes unless there's a horrible water shortage. In that case, you might try an ammo can.

 

[DaveM]

At established campgrounds, I don't see the problem. At primative sites, you should have to keep it off the ground and pack it out.

Gotta remember there's a big difference between a heavily used "primitive" site like you might find in Yosemite or Grand Canyon and one that gets far less use and has a greater recovery time.

Additionally, think of the climatic and environmental aspects of varying landscapes. Wet and rainy Pac NW forests wipe away human impact signs a lot faster than the dessert does.

Blanket statements like "At primative sites, you should have to keep it off the ground and pack it out", worry me since they seem purely authoritative and have no relation to the varying degree to which each area recovers based on a)how intensely it was used b)how frequently it is used c)how it's climate effects recovery.

My big gripe with camp fires would focus more on the number of rings you find (already addressed by the fire permit requirements that you use an existing ring whenever possible) and the intensity of the fires. Thats a hard one to regulate and it seems that along with being out doors comes a need in many to create large, hot fires that focus on the active burning of the fuel instead of small fires that focus on creating a small lasting bed of coals.

When I go camping we often cook on our fire (dutch oven) but keep the fire low. Once cooking is over we feed just enough wood to keep a small bed of coals going which provides tons of heat (since you can actually get in close to the fire). The low coals also keep the fire light down which helps you actually enjoy the surroundings, even in the dark.

 

[BLKNBLU]

At established campgrounds, I don't see the problem. At primative sites, you should have to keep it off the ground and pack it out.

Gotta remember there's a big difference between a heavily used "primitive" site like you might find in Yosemite or Grand Canyon and one that gets far less use and has a greater recovery time.

Additionally, think of the climatic and environmental aspects of varying landscapes. Wet and rainy Pac NW forests wipe away human impact signs a lot faster than the dessert does.

Blanket statements like "At primative sites, you should have to keep it off the ground and pack it out", worry me since they seem purely authoritative and have no relation to the varying degree to which each area recovers based on a)how intensely it was used b)how frequently it is used c)how it's climate effects recovery.

My big gripe with camp fires would focus more on the number of rings you find (already addressed by the fire permit requirements that you use an existing ring whenever possible) and the intensity of the fires. Thats a hard one to regulate and it seems that along with being out doors comes a need in many to create large, hot fires that focus on the active burning of the fuel instead of small fires that focus on creating a small lasting bed of coals.

When I go camping we often cook on our fire (dutch oven) but keep the fire low. Once cooking is over we feed just enough wood to keep a small bed of coals going which provides tons of heat (since you can actually get in close to the fire). The low coals also keep the fire light down which helps you actually enjoy the surroundings, even in the dark.

Good points. While I still agree with calamaridog's statement in general, you are right in pointing out the characteristic differences in various environments. This is probably true for many "rules". I was thinking about this earlier but chose not to post, but now that the gate is open... how about #1? I don't think that this is always true. Some areas get ruined because they have no opportunity to recover when the same area is used over and over and over again. The soil becomes compacted, food wastes accumulate, everyone pees and poops in the same relative area. But as mentioned, one has to ask, what kind of use, how much use, and what kind of environment. The correct answer can be very different between a five day base camp with a stationary tent, vehicle and many people vs a 1-2 person through hike with 2 people laying on a pad for 8 hours before moving on. Obviously those 2 activities are going to impact the area very differently.

 

[TheGillz]

Gotta remember there's a big difference between a heavily used "primitive" site like you might find in Yosemite or Grand Canyon and one that gets far less use and has a greater recovery time.

Additionally, think of the climatic and environmental aspects of varying landscapes. Wet and rainy Pac NW forests wipe away human impact signs a lot faster than the dessert does.

Blanket statements like "At primative sites, you should have to keep it off the ground and pack it out", worry me since they seem purely authoritative and have no relation to the varying degree to which each area recovers based on a)how intensely it was used b)how frequently it is used c)how it's climate effects recovery.

My big gripe with camp fires would focus more on the number of rings you find (already addressed by the fire permit requirements that you use an existing ring whenever possible) and the intensity of the fires. Thats a hard one to regulate and it seems that along with being out doors comes a need in many to create large, hot fires that focus on the active burning of the fuel instead of small fires that focus on creating a small lasting bed of coals.

When I go camping we often cook on our fire (dutch oven) but keep the fire low. Once cooking is over we feed just enough wood to keep a small bed of coals going which provides tons of heat (since you can actually get in close to the fire). The low coals also keep the fire light down which helps you actually enjoy the surroundings, even in the dark.

These are my thoughts exactly.

 

[H2O_Doc]

Do you mean in vehicle or on foot? I understand the vehicle thing, but not on foot. Other than being careful to not crush fragile vegetation or to fall in and have all my gear and dead body pollute the waterway. (I always try to avoid that) If there is more, I need education. Thanks.


BTW here is a link to the previously mentioned Thunder River write up,
http://www.yotatech.com/f100/grand-canyon-walkabout-127420/

Sorry; was unclear. In vehicle.

 

[James86004]

The last time we camped in the Coconino NF, we called the FS office to ask about fire restrictions. They actually wanted us to have a campfire. The forest was fairly damp, and they wanted us to burn up some of the accumulated dead and down wood while it was safe to do so. Otherwise, they were going to have to do it some other way, perhaps through a prescribed burn.

 

[DaveM]

The last time we camped in the Coconino NF, we called the FS office to ask about fire restrictions. They actually wanted us to have a campfire. The forest was fairly damp, and they wanted us to burn up some of the accumulated dead and down wood while it was safe to do so. Otherwise, they were going to have to do it some other way, perhaps through a prescribed burn.

Interesting comment, I have run into the same thing a few times in Stanislaus NF in California. I asked the rangers about wood collecting restrictions at a heavily used dispersed/primitive camp ground. They said there was a ton of dead fall in there every spring, please help yourself to as much as you like! He didn't specifically mention it as a natural fire hazard but I assume that was the idea.

 

[Co-opski]

3. Pack out what you pack in. Carry a trash bag and pick up litter left by others.

This is by far my favorite one. Every time I go into the backcountry I take some extra trash out with me. The little things do add up.

Good on ya for making the call to the NF ranger station to find the status on the fire permits. We have areas that have a lot of beetle kill and it is also encouraged to burn the dead fall.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I don't recall the last time I camped without a campfire. A nice fire in the evening is part of why I enjoy camping. I don't use the fire for cooking, just pure ambiance. :camping: Otherwise I generally follow most of those rules.

 

[IH8RDS]

I don't recall the last time I camped without a campfire. A nice fire in the evening is part of why I enjoy camping. I don't use the fire for cooking, just pure ambiance. :camping: Otherwise I generally follow most of those rules.

I'm with you MaddBaggins.

 

[Hilldweller]

The last time we camped in the Coconino NF, we called the FS office to ask about fire restrictions. They actually wanted us to have a campfire. The forest was fairly damp, and they wanted us to burn up some of the accumulated dead and down wood while it was safe to do so. Otherwise, they were going to have to do it some other way, perhaps through a prescribed burn.

That's about how it is in Georgia most of the time; we pick the forest clean.
I've had rangers stop by and bring me deadfall, thanking me for keeping a nice site.

 

[Co-opski]

I don't recall the last time I camped without a campfire. A nice fire in the evening is part of why I enjoy camping. I don't use the fire for cooking, just pure ambiance. :camping: Otherwise I generally follow most of those rules.

It is still good to check on fire bands.

My personal pet peeve is seeing multiple stone fire rings in one campsite. Use what was built or supplied there is no need to make a new ring. If it is nasty with garbage and glass clean it out. I have seen areas closed because multiple fire pits turned into the pallet burning party spot. Keep the camp small and it will repel those that want to hoop it up all night.

 

[MaddBaggins]

It is still good to check on fire bands.

My personal pet peeve is seeing multiple stone fire rings in one campsite. Use what was built or supplied there is no need to make a new ring. If it is nasty with garbage and glass clean it out. I have seen areas closed because multiple fire pits turned into the pallet burning party spot. Keep the camp small and it will repel those that want to hoop it up all night.

I can only recall 3 times I ever built a fire ring. Those were all on backpacking trips and many miles into the middle of the wilderness. No fire rings were anywhere around so we made one.

I even had fires on the El Camino Del Diablo. I have a Coleman fire pit and took along a bunch of those clean burn logs. Made for a nice little bit of a camp fire at night.

 

[Co-opski]

I can only recall 3 times I ever built a fire ring. Those were all on backpacking trips and many miles into the middle of the wilderness. No fire rings were anywhere around so we made one.

I even had fires on the El Camino Del Diablo. I have a Coleman fire pit and took along a bunch of those clean burn logs. Made for a nice little bit of a camp fire at night.

That is awsome. I know that us expo members are some of best stewards in the backcuntry.