Fire or no

[chrisoc]

There is nothing more relaxing in the evening than to sit by a campfire. I keep them small, and forego them if it is too windy. Some people seem to be against having a fire, but I love it.

[d.o.c]

small fires are alright i like to cook on em but usually only make them myself if its cooollllldddd out..

[Namaste]

If there's a fire ring and it's cool out I'm all for making a fire. I keep them small and usually enjoy them while sipping on some whiskey or rum before bed.

[chrisoc]

Nothing better when its cold, except maybe a mug of something warming.

[dr.rock]

Make a fire, it is nice. I would make one every night

[fredmugs]

I never make my own but always appreciate someone elses.

[general]

by gathering fire wood, fuel load is reduced in the immediate area around a campsite, thus reducing the chance of a fire getting out of control. only you can prevent forest fires.

[Jay_NJ]

If it's legal in the state then I love it! I prefer cooking on them over my alc stove if it is a small pit as it is just sort of relaxing. Sadly in NJ it is illegal so it is nice to wander over to NY for weekend trips.

[88BlueGT]

by gathering fire wood, fuel load is reduced in the immediate area around a campsite, thus reducing the chance of a fire getting out of control. only you can prevent forest fires.

Well, right... and wrong.

You are reducing the 'fuel load' AROUND the campsite BUT you are increasing your chances because your taking the 'fuel' around the camp site and dumping it right INTO camp, in the fire. PLUS, typically, when someone has a fire they start a wood collection. Where is that collection stored? Oh yea, right next to the fire!

Only you!!! can stop the forest fire you started

[88BlueGT]

If it's legal in the state then I love it! I prefer cooking on them over my alc stove if it is a small pit as it is just sort of relaxing. Sadly in NJ it is illegal so it is nice to wander over to NY for weekend trips.

You can have fires in NJ, just tell them BlueGT said so, you'll be fine

Seriously though, I've had quite a few fires in NJ and have never had a problem. The WORST thing thats going to happen is someones going to tell you to put it out and mayyyyyyyyyyybe give you a small fine.

Wonder if my PBA card will work in the woods? LOL

[hikerboy57]

although I love a fire, I always bring my stove. I just did an overnight at west Mtn shelter (NY) and was able to scavenge what twigs and branches I could find for a small fire that lasted a few hours. I had thought it was early enough in the season I would find plenty of wood, but all too often the arsas around the sites are usually pretty barrren.

[1azarus]

...i never make one myself, and when in a shelter or near one i'm always hoping that i don't get smoked to death from someone else's fire. i do like it when someone starts one... as long as they've figured out the wind direction thing first! there have been times when i've kept on walking to get away from a smokey fire. sorry if this sounds so grumpy! dogs are more predictable than fires (is that dog comment called trolling?)

[88BlueGT]

+1 fires can definitely be annoying when they are really smokey. BUT smokey fires are good for getting rid of horrible smells.

[hikerboy57]

+1 fires can definitely be annoying when they are really smokey. BUT smokey fires are good for getting rid of horrible smells.

and helps keep the bugs away too.

[general]

Well, right... and wrong.

You are reducing the 'fuel load' AROUND the campsite BUT you are increasing your chances because your taking the 'fuel' around the camp site and dumping it right INTO camp, in the fire. PLUS, typically, when someone has a fire they start a wood collection. Where is that collection stored? Oh yea, right next to the fire!

Only you!!! can stop the forest fire you started

i stop the forest fires that everyone else starts. right, wood is stored next to the fire, and there won't be another stick of wood within 50 yards of that fire ring other than that. still plenty of leaf litter but no real combustables. clear out some leaves and you've got a pretty good fire break. most forest fires are started along road sides not in fire rings.

[Panzer1]

by gathering fire wood, fuel load is reduced in the immediate area around a campsite, thus reducing the chance of a fire getting out of control. only you can prevent forest fires.

+1 yea, that makes sense.

Panzer

[Panzer1]

The only reason I don't usually start a camp fire is because by the end of the day I'm just too tried to gather and break the wood.

But if someone else wants to do the work, I'm all for it.

Sometimes in the winter I carry a small folding saw to cut wood. Its a lot easier to cut than to break wood.

Panzer

[Jay_NJ]

You can have fires in NJ, just tell them BlueGT said so, you'll be fine

Seriously though, I've had quite a few fires in NJ and have never had a problem. The WORST thing thats going to happen is someones going to tell you to put it out and mayyyyyyyyyyybe give you a small fine.

Wonder if my PBA card will work in the woods? LOL

Blue,

I agree on the fires in NJ, a lot of the shelters on the NJ-AT actually have firepits next to them that people have made (by the looks of it, they have been there for quite some time). I don't have any real problem making a smaller fire at any of these places. For convenience sake if we are with a larger (3+) group of people, NY is nice as we can make a bigger fire with no risk.

[Papa D]

it is such a shame that the general public equates camping with a fire - I do enjoy a little fire if it's cold and they are nice to sit by but i rarely actually build one - sitting by a candle or two is really great too - fires are destructive from an environmental standpoint - i've given up being a fanatic though but please realize that you rarely NEED a fire, if you build one, keep it small, drown it out and leave no trace.

[88BlueGT]

Why is it ashame? Theres nothing wrong with having a fire... besides when people leave big rings and don't practice 'LNT'.

I'd like to know why fires are bad for the environment as well. I'm not trying to be a smart a$s, looking for a serious answer.