by Eric Fies, Leave No Trace Master Educator
These lands are full of stories, but most are just folklore, myth, and legend. However, what you are about to hear is the absolute truth—and I am dead serious when I tell you that this is no laughing matter, because your very lives might depend on this. It was a night just like this when some campers went missing not far from here. All that was found were the shredded remains of their tent and bits and pieces of bloody sleeping bags. No one really knows exactly what happened to them. Most say it was a bear, but they are wrong. There is something far more sinister and dangerous roaming these hills….
Cue loud, startling pop from campfire and dramatic flight of sparks into the cool night air.
There is something captivating and mystical about a campfire. The warm glow of the embers and crackle of the wood seem to rouse our imaginations and unite us with the most ancient elements of the human condition. For some, building a campfire was a rite of passage fondly experienced between parent and child, scoutmaster and scout. For others, campfires are an essential element of the outdoor experience. Whatever your motivation, most agree the sight of a poorly cleaned campsite and fire ring truly ruins the outing for everyone and has profound long-term impacts on the environment.
Leave No Trace Principle #5, Minimize Campfire Impacts, is designed not to eliminate your camping ambiance but, instead, raise your awareness of low-impact fire-building techniques and get you to think about camp stoves. Lightweight, efficient camp stoves are truly the best way to Leave No Trace and give you the added benefit of operating in almost any weather. Another obvious advantage of using a camp stove is the lack of reliance on firewood for fuel, saving you time and energy and removing the frustration of finding dry materials on those wet days.
If you are intent on building a campfire, first assess the skills within your group to build a campfire that will Leave No Trace. Consider the fire danger for the time of year and location you have selected, carefully think about the vulnerability and recoverability of the local ecosystem, and remember that alpine and desert areas require considerable time to regenerate. Next, evaluate what materials are available to build your fire and the potential damage to the environment (and to the experiences of others) that collecting fuels and constructing your fire will have.
Where possible, use existing fire rings to build your fire and keep it as small as possible to avoid depleting wood supplies while minimizing the risk of losing control. Remember not to throw garbage into the fire and allow firewood to burn completely to ash. Put fires out with water, carefully ensuring there is no chance of a flare up. Do not rely on dirt to put out the fire, as hot coals can remain for some time.
When there is no existing fire ring, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics recommends the construction of a mound fire. To build this fire, collect some soil, sand, or gravel from an already disturbed source, such as the root hole of a toppled tree. Lay a ground cloth on the fire site, and spread the soil into a circular, flat-topped mound at least 3 to 5 inches thick to insulate the ground below from the heat of the fire. The ground cloth is important only in that it makes cleaning up the fire much easier. The circumference of the mound should be larger than the size of the fire to allow for the spreading of coals. Build your fire atop the mound, and keep it small and manageable. After cleaning up the campfire, return the soil to its original location and return the fire site to its natural state. The advantage of the mound fire is that it can be built on flat, exposed rock or on an organic surface such as grass.
Use the 4 D’s of firewood collection: Dead—Down—Distant—Dinky. Use only dead wood that is down on the ground, distant from your camp, and smaller than the size of your forearm. If you plan to bring your own firewood, check local rules and transportation regulations first. Invasive species are a real problem and can devastate forests. Remember, your desire to have a campfire should not outweigh the importance of the flora and fauna that live and rely on the wood you are collecting for fuel. Felling trees and stripping branches is unsightly and unacceptable. Do not reduce the real estate and food available to living things that require them to flourish.
There is indeed something far more sinister and dangerous roaming the countryside. It is the uninformed hiker and the horrors this person can perpetrate against nature. Embrace Leave No Trace and get yourself a lightweight and efficient camp stove. To add some artistically dramatic effect to your tall tales and ghost stories under those starry skies, try using a battery-powered or candle lantern or a red-lens filter over your flashlight or headlamp. Remember, Bigfoot is the master of Leave No Trace; he is always watching and has a soft spot for good stewards of the environment. “What about everyone else?” you ask. Well, grab a flashlight and let me tell you a story. It was night just like this….
Explore responsibly!
Look me up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/eric.fies.7 and visit www.explorenorthstar.com to learn more!
Note: The member-driven Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches people how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Any copyrighted information has been reprinted with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.