Thread: Campfire Etiquette

Originally Posted by 123rover50

Along the lines of the Camping Rubbish thread, the thing that really bugs me these days is where I come across a convoy of vehicles parked up for the night and they have dragged up a bunch of logs and are sitting around a huge fire shouting at each other because its too hot to get close.
Its too big to cook on so they use the gas stove anyway.

Gotta keep the beer warm somehow, Keith.

When I go I carry a little brai and a small foldup fire pit thing. Little bit of charcoal that I take with me and I can cook and sit for hours with bugger all smoke to fight with. Don't need anything else, and if it's too cold I go to bed.

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Have seen plenty of this, massive fires, embers flying off into the bush and not a care given.
Then there is a huge pile of ash and half burnt wood left behind making good campsites unusable.

Like Tins we carry a small firs bit and carry our own wood. You really don't need much.

-sigh- It's the same everywhere mate.

We don't have large stretches of bush and yet most europeans escape into scandinavia to get their fix. Sooo as that goes... I have seen camp site/spot after camp site close in the lower half of Sweden because of, you know... -insert expletive here-

I bring a snow peak fire pit on which we make our food and enjoy a nice fire afterwards. The size limits the fire automatically and it usually burns up reasonably well, though not as well as a ground fire. In any case I have very little ash and coal left and the advantage of the raised fire is: a. at also warms your feet b. in the morning everything is cold as so I can throw the occasional large lump of coal with my firewood and toss the ash evenly around the forest floor so that it may be recycled.

What is it about "humans" and that weird behaviour!?

-P

We hate those that have loud music going.

Quietness is one of the reasons we love camping.

In fact,we always hunt around for a spot as far away from others as we can,and hope no one turns up late at night,and camps next to us.

And the reason we use a RTT,we can get into places where there will be no vans or camper trailers.

We were in a 4by club for a long time but the behaviour of some of the members and the president even, was deplorable. He would burn plastic rubbish on his 'personal' cooking fire regardless of others downwind. Light a fire right next to others tents because he had a disability, although many of us would have been willing to help him if necessary.
Other campers go bush and then rejoice in loud music and pretty lights everywhere plus a big fire.
We rarely bother now, fed up with the sheer selfishness of so many with the 'you've gotta have a fire' and music attitude.
AlanH.

Last time we were in the Kimberley we were camped at Windjana Gorge, there was a large group around one of the concrete fire pits with a huge bonfire going and their kids all dancing around the place playing with burning sticks! Camped in about 20 acres of slashed dry grass, every vehicle undoubtedly like us carrying massive amounts of petrol or diesel. I think the same mob had the music blaring too. I have come to understand that the reason people act like idiots, is because they are idiots. Nothing you can do.
The trip we have just completed, due to the time of year there was a campfire ban almost everywhere we went, we were quite ok with it although we do like to have a cooking fire and a billy on.

I was camped in the Little Desert a few years ago and there were some people who had a big fire going all the time, including during the day - turned out that they'd popped into the National Park to chainsaw some timber to feed it.

Hi, we sometimes have a small fire at lunchtime to cook or bbq, and boil a 10L billy for showers. It is easier to be alone that time of day, even near a road, so you don't need to put up the shower tent to avoid frightening any children.
Cheers