7/6/2023 0 Comments Green hell campfire ash![]() ![]() Even if you are not so far from others, this illusion of remoteness can be burst by obvious and unnecessary signs of others having camped before you.Īn exception to this is when there are specified camping sites (say in a national park) where the authority that looks after the land wants people to have only one campfire area on a campsite. There is an added thrill to being in wild places when you feel they are untouched. People are lazy – especially at the end of the day – and go with the easiest option.Īn obvious fire site disturbs the sense of wilderness and exploration. Increased footfall and tent pitching in a particular area may cause more localised damage to vegetation than someone pitching camp in another, random spot. An obvious fire site is, well, obvious…Īn obvious fire site encourages others to have fires in the same place. This is a particular risk with coniferous trees. We are not only concerned about embers blowing on the wind but we should also be concerned about the remnants of a fire smouldering in the ground, within root systems of trees. When I teach bushcraft courses, people are always surprised at how much water they need to cool the ground under a relatively modest fire site. With this in mind, choose your campsite well, with water relatively close to hand if possible.Īlso think ahead – the bigger the fire you have, the more water you will need to make it safe. And this normally means dousing with water. More often than not this means making sure the fire is well and truly dead. Before leaving a campsite where we have had a fire, we must make sure that there is no risk of the fire spreading into the wider local environment after we have left. It’s not just about leaving a campsite clean and tidy, leaving making sure we leave the environment safe from our fire is paramount. Why Should We Leave No Trace Of A Fire? A smouldering fire is a threat to the environment Campfire mess on the shore of Loch Lochy, Scotland. It’s also imperative that we do our best to show others best practice. Therefore, it’s even more important that those of us that do care do our best to leave places as we find them, to avoid campers, hikers, canoeists and bushcraft and survival skills enthusiasts from getting a bad name. There is also a small minority who just don’t care. I think a lot of the time it is due to people knowing no better. In my travels, I have found many sites of campfires in a state that they needn’t have been left. In particular, if you have a campfire, it is important to ensure you leave the site safe, clean, tidy and as you would wish to find it. In leaving no trace, you show respect for the environment and respect for other visitors who may come after you. Photo: Paul Kirtley.įor me, leaving as little trace of my presence as possible is an important part of bushcraft. How not to leave a campfire - full of rubbish and half-burnt logs. ![]()
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