| Ahhhh!!! There's really nothing like standing around a | | | | synthetic fiber of some camper coverings. Use a fire |
| blazing campfire on a cold morning, with a brisk north | | | | ring. If a metal one is not provided, you can build one |
| wind blowing in your face. First you warm the front | | | | out of stone. The latter is more aesthetically pleasing, |
| part of your body, and then you turn and scorch | | | | but both hold the ashes and keep the fire from |
| your backside. That's roughing it! This is the kind of | | | | spreading on the ground. |
| outdoor living that men enjoyed a hundred years | | | | Hopefully, you have brought all the firewood you will |
| ago, before conditioned air and filtered water. This is | | | | need for your stay. If not, in most campgrounds you |
| my kind of morning! | | | | can locate a place that will sell you all you need, if |
| Whether you are hiking, fishing, hunting or just | | | | you can afford it. Forget about trying to find leftover |
| camping, if you're going to spend the night, you have | | | | wood from previous campers. If there were campers |
| to have fire wood. While having a camp fire is not | | | | there before you arrived, they will have scavenged |
| the necessity it used to be, it is one of those | | | | any wood available. |
| experiences that make an overnight stay in the | | | | Think small when you're about to build a fire! To start |
| woods memorable. Today there are very few places | | | | the fire you need tender; small sticks, dry leaves |
| to build a campfire without being arrested for arson | | | | twisted newspaper, pine needles or anything that will |
| unless you go to state or national parks where they | | | | easily catch fire. When you have a small flickering fire, |
| have camping facilities. | | | | then it's time to gradually add larger sticks of wood. |
| There are private camping compounds but usually | | | | As the fire gets larger and hotter you can add even |
| they don't have the money to spend on upkeep that | | | | larger chunks of wood. You can lay the wood on the |
| government owned facilities enjoy. Camp grounds | | | | fire any way you like as long as there is enough air |
| can accommodate everything from enormously | | | | flow from the bottom of the coals to the top of the |
| expensive motor homes, fifth wheelers, pop-ups or | | | | fire, to keep the logs burning. |
| even pup tents.You can rough it in any manner you | | | | Building a fire is just common sense. If you have a |
| choose. | | | | small fire, add enough wood, any way you like, to |
| After you've set up the accommodations of your | | | | make it into a larger fire. After you have the larger |
| choice, unpacking all the necessary equipment for | | | | fire, add more wood if you want it bigger. |
| your stay, it's time to build a fire. First though, check | | | | Raging, blazing fires are not cool. There's too much of |
| the rules for camp fires. In dry seasons you may not | | | | a chance that a spark will glide on the wind and set |
| have the luxury of a fire. Be safe! | | | | fire to someone's tent or camper, not to mention |
| First, pick your spot. Find an area away from dry | | | | the fields and forests! Keep the fire at a reasonable |
| grass, tree limbs or other campers. It's very easy for | | | | level and have a safe, happy stay in the great |
| an errant breeze to float a spark, igniting a field of | | | | outdoors! |
| dry grass. A spark could also melt a hole in the | | | | |