Does everone think that building a fire in the evening helps keep you warm. Or would you be better off just eating supper and off to a warm sleeping bag. I personaly feel that a fire only really helps when its around 50 anything colder and its a waste of time effort and wood.
Frog
Good question. As a novice hiker back in 2001 a good fire helped more mentally than anything else, it’s amazing wht it can do for the spirit if you’re alone at camp and you can hear things in the woods.
As far as staying warm goes, thats tricky. I would assume that most people who hike in cold weather are prepared for it. I’ve hiked and camped out in 10* weather and the last thing on my mind was fire, just getting into bed and eating were top priority to retain the warmth generated by hiking.
If it was bitterly cold and i had all the right gear (down everything) then i may start a fire to warm the heart if i was in a protected spot and out of the wind/snow etc.
I was recently working on building a hoophouse structure here in Maine and the wind took the daily temps to around -25. A good wood fire definately saved my feet and hands on those days.
Cheers
Cheers
On my sobo hike of the PCT, hiking thru the Sierra’s in early Oct. I def had a fire every nite until i reach Mammoth for my town stop. The days were perfect in the low 70’s but once the sun dropped it was more like in the 30’s and low 20’s. With an occasional snow flurry that came thru at Sonora Pass. I needed a fire to stay warm.> It wasn’t like i wanted to have one just for the sake of it.
:cheers
JJ
yeah, fires are great all the time. heck, in the Smokies they were necessary. everyone gathers around the fire and you can dry out your clothes. fires are underutilized in the summer, but a small one with some green twigs will smoke the mosquitos away.
0101
Why go to the forest, build a fire, destroying habitat for a wide range of animals and interrupting the natural cycle of nutrients to the soil from decomposing duff, branches and understory just to make yourself warm? Get in your sleeping bag and Leave No Trace by not building a fire ring and leaving a charred mess for the next visitors to see!
Leave No Trace
Every long distance hiker should practice LNT and minimal impact. There is such thing as a LNT fire it inolves burying the ashes and coals in low organic containing soil or sand. Minimal impact consists of never burning sticks larger that the diameter of you forearm, never take down a standing dead tree. Don’t take the same trail back and forth while collecting firewood, that will cause trail braiding. Only camp in impacted sites. Camp on durable surfaces (rock/dirt vs. duff/grasses) Be aware of your altitude when considering a fire because high altitude trees grow at a fraction of what lower elevation trees grow. Familiarize yourself with the proper proceedures to put a fire out in highwinds in a dry area. If people see you practicing these techniques you will be admired, guaranteed! Take responsibility for your wilderness actions and everyone will benefit. While on the LNT topic, what is with the stories in everyones journals about washing clothes,especially socks in water sources? If I catch anyone doing that when I stroll up to a source thirsty I will give them a hard time and I hope others will agree.
Ohioan
Of cours this in dun while cowboy camping who wouldn’t? On the PCT, I would only camp at impacted sites. There were only a had full of times I’d cowboy…only on my huge mile days, a 40 mile day in Oregon, but other than that all of fires where at campsites.
I completely agree with you Ohioan…I’d be pretty pist walking into camp and someone is washing there nasty clothes in the water. Excuse me Sir, May I use some of your Water? Probably wouldn’t work but worth a shoot!
JJ
I usually don’t build a fire in any weather, but during the winter, when it’s cold and dark by 5 or 6 PM, and if their are other people around, it allows some socializing and thus shortens what can be a VERY long night. Fires have their place if used and built responsibly.
One additional advantage, it gives us a chance to practice our seldom used fire-building skills - good insurance if you spend much time in the backcountry. You never know when that skill could become a true life-saver.
Lyle
Frog, Read my short story “To Build a Fire” - then make up your mind if one is needed at 50 degrees. Jack
Jack London
The idea of “leave no trace” is a good one, but as for fires, the ones you build should be at designated spots ie; shelters and such. Not only does the fire warm you before bed time, but you can use it to dry things out. Fires also allow people the time to just talk and be. You can learn so much about people by sitting around a fire. Not to mention the teamwork envolved in dragging deadfall for hundreds of yards
Virginian
geez, as a simple question about a fire and get a lecture by the Leave No Trace people.
0101
Here’s my take on fires.
It takes too much time to gather the wood. Most wood burns fast, meaning you have to gather enough to keep it going once lit.
Fire is fine, but wood smoke gives me a headache. Invariably, the wind blows the smoke in my face wherever I am.
I like to see the stars, which is hard to do while staring at a bright fire.
Otherwise, fires are fine.
Dust
The hike wouldn’t be the same without a fire. I love having a campfire every single night if possible. We cooked on them, dried and warmed our socks, and talked for hours each night around them. Morning fires were common on cold mornings. Leave no trace doesn’t mean don’t use the fire ring. There’s a huge man made structure every 10 miles on the trail…
LPasso