Campfires suck.

[born2roam]

Think most have been said already about a fire.

I voted 'always' because there was no alternative that suited better.

I have camped out before WITHOUT a fire, sometimes due to fire regulations (it just happened e.g. Sweden, Australia), other times to try myself out. And yes sometimes that is ok.

Burning holes in clothing and other stuff..... learn to built a proper fire. I have spend winter survival training in Sweden with just a fire, a fire reflector, some spruce boughs for a bed (yeah no hammock that's why it was survival), and a Sea2Summit sylnylon poncho/tarp..... even with spruce and pine: no holes...

Woodsmoke? Tastes differ and you can always air out or wash your clothes to get rid of that smell. I personally love it but the 'Secretary of Finance' in the house hates it.....

A fire for cooking, staying warm, staying clear of bugs, yarning (story telling), bush telly, thinking and staring (if you're all by your lonesome ), psychological aid against the bogeyman etc.

I do built a small 'indian' fire most of the time. Just an old saying we learned long time ago: Indian builts a fire to warm himself, whiteman build a fire to warm the sky

Wether it is true or not it says enough for me, saves me energy collecting wood, saves me harvesting too much from the woods, I can sit closer to the fire, quicker to manage, but a longer learning curve (managing small fires takes a bit more time to learn).

Made many a fire and romanticizing a fire is easy to do. Not always sensible or possible to make a fire. So rules etc in mind: Fuel Your Own Fire

Grtz Johan

[fourdog]

Fire is a gift. When used properly, in the right location. I find no adverse
impact to nature. Nature is not a prestine place as in a picture.
It's place of constent change with birth, growth, decline and yes decay.

1 acre of forest will provide 1 cord of fuel wood forever.
Wood is gift and with fire it has warmed me inside and out.
In adverse situations it has protected me as well as friends from injury
as well as death.

I have and will still camp without fire. I have spent many a cold and or wet
miserble night in the woods. I have spent more wonderfull nights and days
in the woods with fire then without it.

I am now old now and my body tells me that.
I will use the gift of wood and fire to cook my food, warm my soul.
Mother nature gave me those gifts to harvest and use.
For that I am humbled and gratfull !

fourdog

www.fourdog.com

[Jakerock]

Respect to your beliefs, but I like a campfire if it is appropriate / allowed.

[edit]... there is some "indian saying" about 'white man fires'...

definitely not an accurate quote:
"Our people build a fire to keep warm, white man builds a fire to keep the sky warm"

[Refreshing]

Thanks guys! Yesterday I wanted to know why or why not you use fires. After reading through 16 pages of opinions I now understand fully! Thanks!

Refreshing

[Redoleary]

I was once quite anti-fire, I always carried a stove and saw no need for one. I think I was influenced by the poor fire practices of those who came before me to a particular location, ie: large live trees being chopped down and left for dead when they realize it won't burn and giant logs left half burnt, all manner of trash left behind etc. Then when I got my wood burning stoves I found a new love for fire. I also like a small cook fire, sans stove, and that gives me a chance to finish burning the charred wood the last guy left and pick out his garbage. I think my previous aversion to fires was also a function of not wanting dirty pots and to smell like smoke. However, if you embrace the soot and the smell it'll set you free. Now anyplace I go I can be warm and well fed and not depend on my stove. Appropriate and responsible fires are virtually LNT. In all my backcountry travel I don't think I've ever seen a fire scar that I thought was some ancient fire ring from a lunch break some indian took centuries ago (unless indians had tinfoil and beer cans back then ).
Having the skill and knowledge to start a fire in any condition should be mandatory for backcountry campers, HAVING a fire everyplace you stop should not.

[wisenber]

Some members have responded saying that they feel connected to the past when gathering or using a fire. I wonder how many people from the past would have gladly given up a camp fire for more efficient heat or cooking systems? I see campfires as a utility and I don't see the value in making it for anything other reason than that. If you need one then build one and if you don't then don't. Romancing the idea of a campfire seems unnecessary.

I do like the idea of using fire for rocket stoves, chimney boilers, and stoves. When it comes to burning biomas efficient and utility should be key. Campfires aren't as efficient and seem to waste more than they give.

Were that to be the case, romancing the idea of a well made knife or other tools is unnecessary. For that matter, the actual trip into the wilderness is not necessary unless it is part of your job or you commute to work via multi-day hikes in the forest. If all one needed is a walk, that could more efficiently be delivered by making a pedestrian effort through one's neighborhood.

[Str1der]

While I certainly respect your oppinions...

Campfires used by backpackers/campers probably contribute less than a 1/100th of a percent or less of all CO2 emmisions and are pretty much negligible on that front.

I have never had a fire destroy my gear as long as you keep it a safe distance away and watch for sparks.

The point about over-harvesting wood can be a legitimate problem on well used trails, but I'm not sure it negatively impacts the forest so much as it can leave a camper out in the cold if he counted on fire and couldn't find much fuel. This is almost never a problem off the well-beaten path.

You won't find me camping without a campfire. I will have one even in warm weather as I consider it part of the camping experience.

[waddy]

I fear you have been drinking too much of the cool-aid. Keep an open mind and enjoy your camping, while learning along the way about how nature REALLY works.

[eflat7]

Fire is a gift. When used properly, in the right location. I find no adverse
impact to nature. Nature is not a prestine place as in a picture.
It's place of constent change with birth, growth, decline and yes decay.

1 acre of forest will provide 1 cord of fuel wood forever.
Wood is gift and with fire it has warmed me inside and out.
In adverse situations it has protected me as well as friends from injury
as well as death.

I have and will still camp without fire. I have spent many a cold and or wet
miserble night in the woods. I have spent more wonderfull nights and days
in the woods with fire then without it.

I am now old now and my body tells me that.
I will use the gift of wood and fire to cook my food, warm my soul.
Mother nature gave me those gifts to harvest and use.
For that I am humbled and gratfull !

fourdog

www.fourdog.com

I enjoyed reading your post.

[ImSoConfused]

There's a certain romanticism and earthiness to a well tended camp fire.

It soothes and feeds part of the soul; it's a component of being in the outdoors away from the madness and insanity most of us have to endure.

On trips where a a fire was not permitted, I've missed and longed for the serenity the campfire offers. It draws in those on the perimeter and encourages an intimate kind of companionship, even when conversation is minimal, that is not available elsewhere, .