Re: Campfires
Posted by I admit it - I burn on December 07, 2003 at 15:54:14:
In Reply to: Campfires posted by J on December 06, 2003 at 13:01:50:
One of the joys of the Death Valley back country is the freedom one feels without having a ranger breathing down your neck. The chances of seeing a ranger at night outside of the bar at Stove Pipe Wells is extremely low. While some rules are well placed to ensure protection of the countryside, such as staying on existing roads (which I interpret as existing tire tracks) and no firearms (which seem to leave their brass droppings where ever they are used) the no fire rule seems to be a little over blown. The best campsites are on flat, brush-less ground out there. Except for the graded roads and playas like the Racetrack where only a true desert hater would park her vehicle, the only places to camp are old mines and cabin sites. Since these places are already heavily impacted by human use, I don't see how a small campfire built from wood carried in with you can be a problem. Most of these that I am familiar with have a fire ring, and I use the existing spot. On the odd occasion that I end up in a location without a fire ring, I use my small bar-b-que bowl, and just burn charcoal. I carry out the ash from the charcoal in the morning and leave no trace, which is the real essence of back country etiquette in my book.