Greetings All,
I'm not a forestry biologist and I don't play one on TV, and I very
seldom stay in a Holiday Inn Express . . .
IMHO and with all due respect to Philmont Management and the folks on
this list, even if they allowed campfires for a number of years, the
fuel load would still be extreme. When I went to Philmont as a youth
wood fires were the primary cooking method, and while the campsites were
scoured clean, the woods in between had plenty of fuel. (In fact, after
the second day, the two crewmembers assigned to fire detail would begin
collecting fire wood and putting a small bundle on folks backpacks about
a mile or so before camp. We always had enough and always left a wood
pile for the next campers.) I don't think anything short of a series of
controlled burns during the "off-season" (whenever that is) or another
forest fire will do much to reduce the overall "flammability" of the
woods at Philmont.
It is interesting too, that several years ago, during a very dry winter
and spring, Philmont did burn off most of the pasture and grasslands
surrounding Base Camp and the PTC. It did two things; 1) it invigorated
the new growth once spring did arrive and 2) it provided a buffer around
CHQ in the event of a wildfire. The brief period of allowing campfires
may help provide this small buffer around the various camps, but if a
fire crowns, it will do little good.
Happy Trails,
Roy Fisher
Fuel Load was exactly one of the reasons cited at the Advisors meeting
for allowing campfires early this year. Another reason was the wetter
than usual spring. Obviously fires were to in the fire ring only. It was
nice to again have a small fire in-camp. Friendship and fellowship was
alive and well.
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Received on Tue Aug 2 18:09:45 2005
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