Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Originally Posted By OregonMouse
An item we often have to do without out here in the West….
Actually, I enjoy watching it get dark and the stars come out, something you don't see while sitting around a fire.
Me too OM. I do love campfires too. All my kids grew up making "Smores" around campfires and still get together with their school age friends and have them. It is a Ozarky thing. People have backyard parties where the main attraction is a bonfire. We'll have one too. It's a good way to get rid of all the deadfall in the yard and pasture and a good excuse for family and friends to get together.
But, I still love sleeping on the ground with no campfire and no tent and gazing at the sky. I've still never seen as many stars as I did while camping in Sequoia NP and I do miss that. That view would certainly make a difference if the choice were available.
This time of year here there's so much humidity in the air that even on clear nights you don't see near as much as you can out West. Even so, people that come from the city where the light pollution is strong are amazed by the stars and night sky here, so it's still better than a lot of places
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
I called the Mohawk office of the Plumas NF, no campfires in CG's that do not have a host as of July 1. I am going car camping a couple nights, taking an old Optimus 22B, 8, Coleman 502 stoves couple Coleman lanterns, 242C and a 200A. Duane
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
About a year ago, some of the group I do trips with, stayed at a CG along Lake Tahoe the night before a bp trip into Desolation. The morning we were packing up, a FS employee/vendor/host came by, asked which site we had used, he was checking to make sure the fires were out. I had dumped water and stirred ours like it is supposed to be done. I go off of the FS definition of an established CG, where there are picnic tables, sites numbered, metal fire pits/bbq's and maybe fees. Duane
Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Originally Posted By OregonMouse
Meaning the poor campground host has to run around putting out everyone's campfires?
He'd probably be busy this weekend. It seems to be the big one for knuckleheads everywhere.
I don't think you could start a full blown forest fire here right now, but there's been times when it was pretty dry and crunchy and it's a bit scary because there's always a few small wildfires when that happens.
The guy we bought our place from liked to burn leaves and was sternly told by the fire dept to never start another fire here again. Most all are started by the land owner where they got out of control fast enough for the fire fighters to be called in. They generally make pretty fast work of it, but generally you can't even compare how fast they grow and spread to out West.
Fireworks are legal here too, and you can buy some pretty big rockets at the stands that appear everywhere this time of year. That can be a little scary. My poor dogs sure hate it.
The latest craze for the 4th are those "Sky Lanterns". They are pretty, but people can be pretty stupid with those too. However, when that happens they are very likely to be told to stop by locals who know better. I got to witness that a couple years ago when it was an obvious risk. There were people on a few boats setting them off and they got it from all sides. People were honking horns and yelling at them. They got the message. They won't be much of a problem this year though, it's cool and green and the ground is still wet under the mulch.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
Well, I told some fellow campers Thursday evening, that there was a campfire ban. They went ahead anyway, they planned on cooking over the fire, no stove. Friday afternoon, the FS came by, posting signs, went thru the small CG, telling folks no campfires. The three guys next to me went ahead again anyway, too lazy to drive home and get a stove. They lived closer than I did. Hour round trip maybe for them. I had three stoves, did not offer even my small Coleman 502 for them to use. Duane
Registered: 09/18/13
Posts: 42
Loc: Central Michigan
I pout like a baby when we hike areas that don't allow fires. It is as important to me as my boots and food. I love the smell, the sound and the warmth.
I love campfires when I camp. They remind me of my childhood. The only exception is if I am hiking long distances by the end of the day I am usually too tired to try to build a fire and end up curling up in my tent.
Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
We had a family bonfire party last night. I've been stacking deadfall from around our yard over the Summer and cleaned up some more this past week. It was a good one
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I am sure you wouldn't have done this on a windy night during a drought, or during the (sometimes) several months' dry seasons we have out here in the NW! The fire appears to be going straight up (i.e., it's not windy) and you have plenty of people to help should it start getting away.
We have bonfires like that at my youngest son's beach house on the Washington coast. Only when fire danger is low, though.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Of course you assume correctly
It really was a perfect night for it. There was no wind at all that night or the next couple days and everything is still pretty damp from some rain we had a few days previous.
The burros were out there with us too. They were too funny, kept making the rounds looking for snacks and some petting. My grandson, who's 6 now, and his little sister, who's about 18 months were here. He hasn't ever been interested in the burros, but she just fell in love with them and couldn't get enough.
I used to be proud of my ability to get a fire started any time anywhere, but now never do it when I'm solo. Too much trouble and too many potential problems. Sometimes it's fun in a group. I have an occasional hiking/canoeing partner who carries an axe and a saw. Together they weigh more than my pack. Not for me. best, jcp
Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
I'm more of stick fire kinda guy myself. If I can't easily break it I don't burn it. I do small fires when I'm solo, but JPete, you know you can't stop some of these Ozarkers from building giant campfires. I don't even try anymore when I'm with a group. Everyone looks at me like I'm from CA if I try to extoll the virtues of small stick fires.
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