As we usher in the new year, I had a goal for this group to make stewardship the prime focus. One of the ongoing issues we see in our wilderness areas is campsites and fire rings. I want to open a formal discussion on how we as lovers of these lands can move forward with a heightened ethic concerning campsites within federally designated wilderness areas. One of the focuses of wilderness ranger patrols and trail work days are naturalizing fire rings. In a perfect world, there would be no fire rings in the wilderness and the land would be natural both for the sake of a balanced ecosystem that supports biodiversity but for aesthetic reasons as well. The only way we can obtain this ideal situation is if we naturalize our campsites and practice Leave No Trace consistently and vigilantly. With a bit of forethought and a few extra minutes of our time on the day we break camp, we can keep the forest looking and being natural. I will open this discussion with the following information about campsites and campsite naturalization. First off, we can refer to the 5th principle of Leave No Trace, Minimize campfire impact. https://lnt.org/learn/principle-5 We can reconsider whether or not a campfire is necessary. A lightweight backpacking stove can be sufficient for cooking and heating water. If a campfire is desired, build it in a way that minimizes impact. Campfires should be 300 feet from lakes, streams and trails. Collect only dead and downed wood that is less than three inches in diameter. If you cant break it by hand, dont use it. Do not build a fire on exposed rock. If possible, use a fire blanket or a fire pan (like a pan used to change motor oil). Place several inches of soil in the bottom of the pan and build the fire on this. (Called a mound fire). Always use extreme caution and avoid building fires in dry or windy conditions. Please leave your comments and suggestions! I would like to generate and open a healthy discussion! Thanks!
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:00:13 +0000
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