We campfire almost every night, not a huge one, just enough to toast the hotdogs and marshmallows. For us it's a good way to chat over the fun we've had during the day and laugh about stuff silly things we've done.
I will say we've camped near people who burn all day and use it for their trash as well, that really takes the enjoyment out of being outside.
Also it's a great way to meet our "neighbors", we've had quite a few people come and enjoy our fire as we all chat about were we've been and what we've seen.
Here in the NorthEast they're asking people to use local wood to keep the spread of the beetle (who's name I can't remember). So we either buy local or at the CG. Most CGs ask you to not scavenge wood from the sites.
We use a small piece of starter log to start the fire, no fumes and it goes quick. We buy them at WalMart
Hubby, Wife, 16yo twins boys, 5yo boy, 2 yo girl
'04 Chevy crew cab 8ft bed
'07 Prowler 32ft bh
At least one campfire every trip. It's a bit of a pain around here as I cannot haul my own but have to purchase within 50 miles of the park. The hosts usually sell about six to seven moderate pieces of wood for six bucks. If you explore around the surrounding countryside you might be able to get a better deal.
I enjoy all aspects of the campfire, splitting off kindling, preparing the pit, building the start fire, feeding the fire and cooking on it, and watching it die down to embers. I do cheat and use some easy starting sticks but have been known to bypass that and whittle some shavings.
I'm really looking forward to moving down to south of Atlanta. I'm pretty sure we'll be able to buy a good lot of wood at home and haul what we need for a quarter of the cost up here in the near frozen north.
2007 Chevy Silverado extended cab, 5.3L, Z85 - 2008 Starcraft Travel Star 27RBH - Equal-i-zer To Infinity, and Beyond! - Our Campsites (Bing Maps)
We have fires a little less than we used to. The kids are getting older, so we aren't always at the campground for the whole weekend... I look for day trips now to do while we are camping.
We don't usually have a fire Friday night... setup and making dinner usually will take us late into the evening.
Saturday night we will usually have a fire. We LOVE the smell of woodsmoke! I do understand that some don't.
We tried "cooking" over the fire years ago, but found that using campstoves and grills was just easier.
We almost always start a fire using newspaper and kindling made of lumber - usually cut up and CLEAN pallet wood (DON'T burn just any pallets, you have to know where they come from, some nasty stuff can be transported on pallets!!).
Picture a 40ish gallon sized garbage can filled with wood... we usually use about 1 1/2 of those for a campfire for an evening. I put larger pieces in the bottom, with smaller on top. We usually bring our own firewood, but have bought bundles at campgrounds. Usually the campground bundles are either green and wet so the fire is almost impossible to light, or so dry that the fire only lasts about an hour.
I rarely will allow a fire to be lit in the morning or during the day - I am a firm believer in not leaving fires unattended. If someone wants to light a campfire at my campsite during the day, then they are responsible to see that it is supervised at all times.
We NEVER light a fire on the morning that we are leaving. When we leave a campsite, the fire ring is cold and has no garbage in it. We have arrived at a campsite with a garbage-filled fire ring too often for me to leave one for the next camper.
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2008 F-250 CrewCab 5.4L,
2004 21' Forest River Surveyor
We winter in South Florida, and for the like of me I can't understand why people want to cozy up to a blazing fire on a 80 degree night!
Many evenings when we would like to be sitting under the stars, we have been driven into the trailer because of a neighbors smoky fire.
JackL
not many places in South Florida that allow open wood fires...
as many evenings are not 80*...
You evidently don't go far enough south !
And unless there is a forest fire danger they allow burning in the fire rings whenever you want to.
We have at least one campfire every trip if permitted. I get wood from the host or local store as convenient. I usually just use one bundle. I make some kindling with an ax and light it with one match(usually). The wood goes on fairly quick and burns down to coals for making smores. Then we turn in. I enjoy sitting out with the fire but the girls head in. So if my fire is burning down bring some wood and a beer and we can sit out and chat for a bit.
Have a fire for Dinner always, Breakfast most times and Lunch occasionally. We do most all cooking on the Campfire with a Grate or Dutch oven. Always bring our own wood, Lit by Newspaper, Kindling from old fence boards. Bring One width of the truck bed of firewood for each trip, always bring several pieces back. Have always loved to sit around the fire in the evening and morning to warm up on cool mornings and even make coffee over the fire, Rarely use stove in the Camper. Wont camp somewhere I can't have a camp fire. That's just me though, your experience may be different.
Dan, Ret Navy CPO
Minnie The Wife Extraordinare
Chris Our Son the Genius
3 Dogs 1 Dumb , 1 Fat and Stubborn, and 1 new and Adorable
2005 Jazz 2550RL 5er
2003 Dodge Quad Cab Long Bed Cummins 6 shooter
We will have them in the fall and less frequent in the spring. They are not required but are pleasant when chilling outside in the evening. We usually just purchase some firewood.
The time around the campfire is THE most important part of the camping experience for me. In fact, I will rarely stay at campgrounds that don't allow campfires. In Southern California, it can be challenging to find campgrounds that allow them, but I usually can. If cool enough, I will have both an evening fire and a morning fire. I don't mind the smoky clothes. The company, stories and laughter around the fire creates the best memories.
Maintcpo wrote: Have a fire for Dinner always, Breakfast most times and Lunch occasionally. We do most all cooking on the Campfire with a Grate or Dutch oven. Always bring our own wood, Lit by Newspaper, Kindling from old fence boards. Bring One width of the truck bed of firewood for each trip, always bring several pieces back. Have always loved to sit around the fire in the evening and morning to warm up on cool mornings and even make coffee over the fire, Rarely use stove in the Camper. Wont camp somewhere I can't have a camp fire. That's just me though, your experience may be different.
same here i use lint from the dryer saved all year as a starter
Wrace wrote: For those of you who are campers, how important is the campfire to your camping experience?
How often do you have a campfire? Each morning and each night? If you are at the site all day, do you maintain the fire all day (maybe temp dependent?)?
Do you haul your own wood, purchase at the campground, or gather at the campsite and surrounding location?
For a typical Friday to Sunday camping trip (two nights and two mornings) about how much wood do you usually go through? How big is the stack that is used during the weekend?
What is your favorite method of lighting the campfire?
Kindling, newspaper, and match or propane torch?
Big chunks of wood, lighter fluid, and road flares?
Other?
I try to have a fire each night and sometime in the morning when cooking outside and the temp is chilly.
I bring my own where allowed and purchase local when it is not
2 feet high x 5feet long x 18 inches wide
Pine cones are my preffered lighting method due to availability
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