Campfires suck.

[Refreshing]

You guys may think I am crazy but I HATE campfires. Especially in the winter (you guys are thinking -> ). Fires are a quick way to burn holes in your expensive winter jacket or your tarp. They melt important things like boots when you forget to pay attention . They make your clothes smell horrible (dont give me the "camp fires smell good" speech! After a week of sitting in a closest it smells like @$$). Finding firewood on popular trails destroys the local ecosystem and burning fires polutes the air. Plus, when I am watching the stars at night I much prefer the smell of clean crisp air vs burnt wood.

You can all call me a treehugging crazy person but I feel we have taken enough from nature and when we camp within the tiny amount of wild that is left we need to give it our full respect. Plus, when you dont rely on a fire you are forced to choose gear more wisely and listen to your body closer.

I started this thread because I want to hear your honest opinions about this. In all of my camping excursions I have found only ONE other person who agrees with me and I want to know why!

Thanks guys!

Refreshing

EDIT: I do not want to start an argument about pollution and global warming. It gets beaten to death enough. I should have said this in my initial post but there is something sooooo prestine about being in nature without a fire or electricity. No distractions from the wild. Just you, nature, and the man eating predators that are now more confident to sneak closure to you without all of the fire and lights.

EDIT AGAIN: Seriously guys! I am not calling you out for using a camp fire! It just makes ME feel better! Like RePete said,

...As for the impact of a camp fire on the enviroment. That's just silly to even consider. Probably about the same impact as cutting a penny from the national budget.

[Acer]

Starting the New Year out on a antigizing motion of emotion? Got to have a good fire so much that I even have a fire pit out in my front yard 30 ft from the front porch and next to where I occasionally hammock hang. And was just thinking about cutting alittle firewood earier today even. I am not going to agree with you on this issue as I do like the smell of a great campfire and the comradry it builds within us all when we are all together around a fire swapping stories and not spit! lol

[Desiel]

I like camp fires because it helps keep any critters away, it's warm, and I just like fire lol. I don't really go to "popular" trails to camp, I wanna be .5 to 1 mile away from the main trail if I can and you should always be able to find dead trees to burn.

[Gary_R]

For me it depends on the situation.
When out with buddy's or at a group hang I'de rather have the fire.
It makes for a good social hang out. Otherwise the sun starts going down and everyone runs for there hammocks.
If I was out alone, I would probably not make one.
But there is just something Peaceful about the flicker of the fire with the company of others. And I also like the smell..

I know several Backpackers that prefer not to make fires when there out..

[ShadowAlpha]

fire!




Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters

[SanAntoneTY]

I love fire and I do love waking up smellin of campfire or a good ol campfire breakfast no matter what people say or think you can get the smell out, and if you do pay attention and build skill you can manage not to damage gear and things of that sort plus boiling water is a plus and fire is good for mother nature in many ways.....plus you find out how much you like fire and need it a lot when your state has massive droughts and has burn bands every year in lots of places

[BearChaser]

Camp Fire, Yes.

[Fronkey]

I love campfires.

As for the smell of them. I don't mind it at all because after a long hike I guarantee you that EVERYTHING smells better than I do. Campfire smoke beats B.O. any day.

I also bring a separate pair of clothes to sleep in so I don't have to take in any bad smells when I'm trying to snooze.

If you don't like the bad smokey smell in your closet, than why don't you just wash your clothes dude?

Next, the hurting the forest thing you addressed. It's not like we are out there with axes and saws cutting down trees. We are picking up fallen lumber and broken branches off the ground to start a fire.

Finally, a campfire can be a place for warmth and camaraderie. We had an over nighter at Afton State Park a few weeks ago where it was -1F. We sat around the fire sharing stories and good food for the night and had a great time. Try doing that without a campfire.

Fronkey

[rip waverly]

i love "spittin' on a fire"

[Streetgang]

Fronkey hit it.. Fire is good. In moderation of course.