[pct-l] Stove less

[Candace Frederick]

Yes, I know not all (and maybe not even very many) thru-hikers or day
hikers, or what have you, have no respect/intuition for where they are and
what could happen. However, there are enough to cause concern. My mention
of fire rings earlier was because fires are not allowed and yet I see them
all the time. None of them are near water or have a 10 foot clearance
around the. Which, to me, means that even though stoves are banned, they
will be used.

Just because you are competent enough to not start a fire with your stove,
there are probably 20+ people who aren't. Stoves can malfunction as well
and I think this is more what the worry is. Accidentally kicked or blown
over, or even leaks, or the seal isn't tight... who knows. We just have so
much fuel after hardly any rain, the forest service doesn't want to risk
it. There are lots of beginners and people who just don't care out there. I
think it's up to the experienced people to help educate and set an example
- to PCT thrus, hunters, day hikers, and whoever else will listen.


I'm sorry so many responsible people feel offended by the conversation
about our fears of fires. Like many things in life, we have to cater to the
lowest common denominator. I mean really, who would eat the silica gel
packets or use a dry cleaning plastic cover as a toy for a child. Some one
thought that was a good idea.

After all this - I hope everyone has some happy hiking this year!

On Wed, Jan 10, 2018 at 3:28 PM, Lyn Turner <thelyn at icloud.com> wrote:

> I'm absolutely with you on this, Brick.
> Candace and co: if I'm going to travel 5000 miles in order to complete my
> PCT adventure, you can be absolutely sure I'm not there to burn your house
> down. After 50 years of safe wilderness hiking, I think I can be trusted to
> make a cup of coffee on my tiny stove and manage to not set the forest on
> fire.
> Whatever...I will happily abide by what the PCTA recommends. I don't think
> I'm the worrisome wilderness hiker, though: hunters, day hikers, folks who
> don't understand LNT and random idiots are the people you might want to
> worry about.
>
> Scottish Lyn
>
> Sent from my iThing
>
>
> > On 10 Jan 2018, at 19:07, Brick Robbins <brick at brickrobbins.com> wrote:
> >
> >> On Wed, Jan 10, 2018 at 7:33 AM, Gary Schenk <gary_schenk at verizon.net>
> wrote:
> >> What do fire rings have to do with camp stoves?
> >> ************************************************************
> ******************************
> >>
> >> It's evidence that many PCT hikers cannot be trusted with fire. Like
> Candace, I see many illegal fire rings on the PCT. It's not cool.
> >>
> >> On the AT they have a communal fire every night at the shelters. When
> they come out west they continue the tradition, and why not, they don't
> know the reality of the conditions out here. Fifteen people died yesterday
> as the result of a human caused fire. With the conditions existent in the
> southern California mountains we all need to be careful. We all need to get
> the word out about fires, whether campfires or stove fires.
> >
> > I do not see how stove usage is evidence that "PCT hikers cannot be
> > trusted with fire" and I still don't see how fire rings have anything
> > to do with stoves.
> >
> > Also, as a resident of Southern California, who frequents the PCT year
> > round, not just the thru-hiker season, I can assure you that the vast
> > majority of the use the trail gets is not from thru-hikers, but from
> > weekenders, hunters and day hikers. The proximity of Angeles NF to Los
> > Angeles gives easy access city folks who have no clue about things
> > like Leave No Trace, Fire Safety or even cleaning up their own
> > garbage.
> >
> > The weekend after the opening of Deer Season here in San Diego
> > country, much of the area around the PCT is littered with fire rings,
> > spent shell casing, and empty beer cans. I avoid the backcountry on
> > Opening Day. A person just can't wear enough orange to feel
> > comfortable.
> >
> > While I support education, and "getting the word out," it will require
> > outreach to the non-hiking population, not demeaning messages telling
> > thru hikers that they can't be trusted with fire.
> >
> > IMHO.
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