In the RoundTable sub-forum someone asked how one spends the time during the longer winter nights; i.e. it gets dark at 6 pm, etc. Someone mentioned tending the campfire and that triggered one of my phobias - of course I consider it wisdom. Other people I camp with are just keen about having a campfire. And for go-to-grounders, usually, in a "formal" camp site, the fire ring is located some distance from the intended flat tent areas. But with hammocks, sometimes the trees used (no alternatives) bring us a bit closer. I worry every time I see any ash/spark rise up from the fire. I just know it has some laser guidance system that will route it to my tarp (or tent rainfly).
Yet people camp with a fire all the time. So maybe this instance of burning hole in your tarp from something floating up from the fire is much rarer than I imagine. But "rarer" is not zero. Given how easy/quick it is to deploy a hammock setup once the length of suspension is set, if I kept the tarp in skins, and took down the hammock (keeping suspension set so I just have to rewrap around the tree) I wouldn't worry - about my gear.
One of my camping partners is so worried about Cascadia (the earthquake that will shake the PNW coast line) that she hesitates to go kayaking in the San Juans or around Vancouver Island. Cascadia might happen while she is on the water. My take is, it could - but probably (by a large margin) won't. So I'm wondering if my worry about campfires messing with the tarp is the same as her concern about Cascadia.
Of course one could move their setup further and further away. But I'm taking about usual camp distances. Like if you were 10 or 15 feet from the campfire - and kept it on the smallish side - would you be concerned?
People seem to really like campfires and I'd hate to be the wet blanket that puts the fire out if it is really not an issue.
Bookmarks