[pct-l] Fire Permit

[AsABat at 4Jeffrey.Net (AsABat)]

This service by fax is amazing given my experience yesterday getting my
annual fire permit. I went a ranger station on the San Bernardino National
Forest (which the PCT travels through from north of I10 until a bit past
Cajon Pass). I was told there that they would only issue a permit valid
until May 1. On May 1 Fire Season begins and they want people to come in
person so they can discuss the current situation with them. 

They admitted most hikers no nothing about fire permits and most people do
not get them. As for the PCTA issuing them with the thru-hike permit, I hope
they get the ability to do so. However, as it stands no, no where on the
thruhiker permit does it say it also serves as a fire permit.

The omission of alcohol stoves in the language cited does not mean you do
not need one. However, after the incidents last year, it might mean they
will be treated as a wood fire rather than as a Coleman stove, and therefore
prohibited during high fire danger. Last year when restrictions were lifted
and stoves again permitted, the permission was for stoves that were designed
with a way to turn them off. None of the homemade alcohol stoves have this
capability.

AsABat