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Re: [AT-L] Campstoves vs. Campfires
Michael wrote:
snipped original post
Please accept these remarks with the respet with which they are made.
Remarks on scouts snipped
> Many people still feel that a campfire is an essential ingredient of the
> camping experience. That feeling can be a primal one (the fire keeps
> away the wild animals and the fearful darkness) and/or nostagic and
> enculturated (Mommy and Daddy always built a fire when we went camping,
> the pioneers built fires so let's do like they did).
No primal fear of animals or the dark and yes mom and dad built fires
> Or maybe they like
> to sit around a fire at night.. for no other reason than they just like > to!
Bingo ....you hit it. Unless it's raining, I'm as likely to build a fire
as not.
Snipped fear comments
>
> In regard to the enculturation of campfires, campers at all levels need
> to change their thinking and enjoy the campsite without a "big roaring
> fire".
A campfire does not have to be big to be enjoyable.
More snippage
>
> There's a peace and harmony in a cool, quiet campsite in the evening
> without the roar, smoke and sparks of a campfire. To say nothing of the
> satisfaction that can come from knowing that one is living in the
> forests and wilderness without endangering the camp and its
> surroundings.
But what happens when the evening starts at 7:00 and the day doesn't
start untill the next 7:00. For a solo hiker that can be alot of
piece and quiet.
>Campers should learn from the natural inhabitants of the
> forests and wilderness- who don't build campfires, but survive.
They also survive without all the other things we pack on our backs.
> Campfires generate much more air pollution than a well-tended,
> clean-burning campstove.
I've never met a fuel burning stove that I couldn't smell a good
distance off and personally the smell of fuel just doesn't fit into a
backcountry experience.
>The stove burns only as long as needed to > prepare food and drink, but
>the fire burns and smolders over a much > longer period and inherently
>burns "dirtier". In many natural areas> around the country (the Great
>Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park is a prime> example), the problem of air
>pollution is becoming critical, and> although campfires create a tiny portion of the total, we don't need to
> contribute campsmoke when there are options.
Anyplace that has an air pollution problem does not seem to represent
what I have come to know as the backcountry experience. Seriously..
Pennsylvania has over 2 million acres of publicly held land accessable
by over 2 thousand miles of trails and 2 thousand miles of old woods
roads. Most of the time in the woods I don't see anyone.
>
> (Aside: the Park and Forest Services should discourage developed
> campground campfires - go through Elkmont, Smokemont, and Cades Cove in
> the Great Smokies on weekend evenings and look at the total volume of
> campfire smoke generated! Whew...)
No I don't think I'd like that. With such population concentration
I might agree that fires are not appropriate.
> Also, most backcountry campsites experience the high impact of campfire
> fuel gathering. If you've seen and despaired over a typically scoured,
> picked-over and trampled campsite area, with numerous fire rings built,
> no more need be said. Many campsites are closed each year to allow site
> recovery, primarily from fuel gathering.
If this is your experience you should try going further "out"
>
> Campstoves are inexpensive, reliable, clean-burning, and low-impact.
> They do have some disadvantages, but these are far outweighed by the
> facilitation of low-impact camping.
> They heat food and liquids much more efficiently than campfires, and the
> need for warmth can easily be met by proper clothing selection.
Agreed..that's why most of my cooking is done on my stove....
my zzzip stove. The warmth I seek in a fire is for my spirit.
Also needs to be said...I don't build fire rings. I carry on my back
a cheapo lightweight 15 in. round grill (ala supermarket). I build my
fire there. No black rocks and it enforces a minimal fire.
>
> A lot of this has probably been discussed in the AT-L list prior to my
> subscribing, but it bears repeating to raise consciousness about the
> issue.
Agreed....100%
>
> Michael Vaughn
> Chattanooga, TN USA
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