[Philmont] Campfires

Campfires are being eliminated from large parts of the west. I might suggest
that you just plan on not having campfires at all in the future. In many
national parks and forest service land you cannot get a backcountry permit
unless you have a stove and having a stove fail is cause to hike out, not go
to a back up of a fire.

A lot of this is because of the drought and forest fires, but most of this
is because of environmental concerns. 95% of the camping in National parks,
forests and BLM land occurs at the same place and the hunt for firewood is
decimating the land.

All fires on all river trips in the west must be in a fire pan and all ashes
must be carried out with you. No burnt wood can be left behind. Even if
fires are allowed in fire pans, the fires must be charcoal that you carry in
with you.

If you want an example of this, look at the hillsides of Nepal in the last
couple of years compared to the past. Because of the number of trekkers and
the use of firewood hillsides along some routes in Nepal are deforested
forcing the locals to move or leave the area or suffer starvation because
they cannot warm their homes or cook.

Although the BSA has a long history of campfires, and many of my fond camp
memories ring around those campfires, I do not start fires anymore other
than in a stove. (In the Front Range you can't even use your fireplace in
your house because of the air pollution..)

Start now to develop other ways to entertain youth and yourself at night.
(Don't use candles; the wax is a mess to collect the next morning.) And
never cook except on the fuel you bring with you.

Jim Moss

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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Received on Thu Jun 14 01:19:53 2007