Colorado Hammock Camping in Jeopardy

[Cannibal]

I realize I added to the discussion. That is the reason for my follow-up post without any quoting. I'm calling myself out on it too.

That said, let's agree to stop talking about the argumentative stuff and just focus on the safety side of the discussion.

[100milerunner]

I'd be interested in seeing a video on safe AL stove opperation.

The basics seem like common sense:
- Clear the area around the stove of flameable materials
- Place the stove on a non-combustible surface (include a foil "base" to set it on)
- Do not refuel a hot stove
- Clean up fuel spills prior to lighting the stove
- Have a snuffer at hand
- Don't turn your back on a lit stove

Is there more?

[bushcrafter]

Agreed with snubbie and cannibal.

I won't be canceling my trip. I will be finding another place to hang out there. Safety is my main concern here.

[Acer]

I love that country out there,,maybe the upside of this is getting rid of the pine beetles by burning them up,,letting nature reforest itself with lush new piney woods on the mountainsides, and be all green again,,it just takes alittle time for mother nature to work her wonders.

[Laochri]

Cannibals right guys, I wasn't trying to have the issue debated. I was just putting it out there.

[fishbait]

You'd be amazed at how many people pack up a campsite and leave a fire in the fire ring. Every trip I make to the campground where I keep my trailer, there'll still be one or two fires
smoldering in the fire pit of an empty camp site. People do need to be educated on fire safety. We can't hang if there aren't any trees.

[dakotaross]

Fire pit, what's that?

[ringtail-THFKAfood]

Loss of things is different than a human loss. Peoples lives have been altered by the wildfires. Things can be replaced. I read an article recently about Joplin Missouri’s rebuilding after the tornado. The City has made zoning and building code changes that will make that City better than before. Our human nature compels us to help people suffering a loss. Assigning blame will be helpful later with the loss of things, but does nothing to reduce the current trauma.

Recently I observed the burn patterns after the 1996 Buffalo Creek fire. Fires had been aggressively suppressed for more than a century resulting in a high fuel load. I noticed that the trees in the popular campsites survived the fire, but the surrounding areas were still barren. The popular campsite survived and are now thriving because the campers had scavenged the dead fall. The areas were saved by use. Some of our forests should be managed for their wilderness value, but most should be managed as crops.

One of the 2012 fires in Colorado was started by a Colorado Forest Service prescribed burn that got out of control. Three people died in that fire. A few years ago a prescribed burn on the south rim of the Grand Canyon got out of control. Prescribed burns are a good tool and will not be abandoned because of an accident. Power saws are involved in many industrial accidents each year, but there is no effort to ban them. How many automobile fatalities will we accept before we ban cars?

My alcohol stoves are a tool that will easily excel at any cost benefit analysis. I think my alcohol stoves are safer than either my Snow Peak or Optimus Nova. The Optimus is allowed, but I think it is less safe than a Caldera Cone.

The ban on alcohol stoves is well intended, but counterproductive.

[SnrMoment]

An MRE and some sun tea may not be so bad if that's what it takes to get out in the woods. Montana only has about 120k acres on fire now and the July 4th week is coming up. Leave your fireworks at home.

[Laochri]

July 4th week is coming up. Leave your fireworks at home.

+1

Even though Governor Hickenlooper (the Governor here in Colorado) had banned all fireworks, I have a feeling there will be incidents and arrests.