Pit Fires - Why You Should Not Use Them

 Pit Fires are a craze on YouTube which drives me nuts for the following reason.

How it is done and why it should not be used:

A vertical pit is dug into the ground to a depth of a foot or more. An angled hole is then dug beside the main hole and intersects the main pit at the bottom. 

This provides air to the fire which will be stoked in the main pit. The setup provides for a very efficient fire which is relatively smokeless; however, there is a major issue with this technique being used in forests. 

Forest floors are comprised of a layer of humus which is extremely combustible. A fire lit within this layer poses a major threat because of its ability to spread unseen for hours.  

I have witnessed this kind of fire spread and it is scary to say the least. 

The fire had traveled at least 20 feet from it's origin to where I was walking - bare foot. 

When I scraped the ground with a stick, flames erupted and then mass panic ensued. 

Luckily, there was a pressurized water source nearby which was used to extinguish the fire. 

Had I not discovered the fire - by happenstance - the forest would have erupted in flame. All of this was the fault of myself and my fellow campers. 

We were; at the time, novices and had no idea that our actions could have had serious consequences. 

I produced this video with the hope that fellow campers will opt for one of the alternatives shown or devise another which will be safe for them and the forest in which they choose to camp.

Wander and Wonder.
 

Breakfast In The Woods | Perfect Start To A New Day

Taking a break alongside a babbling forest stream and enjoying the company the wilderness. 

Hope you enjoy. 

Rob. 

Thoughts about camp food and other things.

 When packing for a hiking or canoe tripping adventure, you have to keep the weight of your gear to a minimum. The heaviest of items will be your food. 

I ponder this and other camping thoughts as I test out a new food discovered in a supermarket isle. 

Happy Wandering!

How to tame campfire smoke

 Once the tents are set and the gear is organized, Campers gravitate to the fire pit and spend hours contemplating life while staring into the flames. It is a beautiful sight. 

The smoke eventually finds you, targets you, and the game is on. You and your friends end up running around the fire pit trying to get away from the smoke. So much for the tranquility.   

If you make a few simple changes to the pit, the fire will burn efficiently and smoke will take a back seat to your ringside seat. 

This is my go-to technique for creating an efficient and safe wood burning fire pit. 

R.G.W. 

  

A simple shelter for a night in the winter woods.

A winter night spent in the woods can be a very unsettling if one is unprepared. The cold hands of winter seep into your body and your civilized mind begins to fight against the intrusion. 

I have seen many shelters erected for the purpose of winter camping and most have their disadvantages.

The Quinzee is a snow-hut which takes huge amounts of energy to build and sleeping in it is akin to sleeping in an ice box. 

Brush shelters take a lot of time to construct and scar the land for years after you have moved on.    

The shelter depicted in this video is so simple it can be erected in the dead of night in about ten minutes. A fire will take about twenty minutes to set up and light. Within thirty minutes you will be relaxing within your warm shelter watching the fire's light flickering off the trees. 

It is very important to control your energy when traversing the winter woods. If you perspire, you will create a dangerous condition which could lead to hypothermia. 

This shelter takes very little energy to create and you will not sweat erecting it. Once a fire is going, the shelter's temperature will climb to many degrees above freezing. 

With a good supply of firewood and a good sleeping pad and bag, you will be able to fall asleep to the sounds of crackling wood and the call of the owls.