Standing trees, dead or alive, are home to birds and insects, so leave them intact.It should be elevated on rocks or lined with mineral soil so the heat does not scorch the ground. The pan should have at least three-inch-high sides. Metal oil drain pans and some backyard barbecue grills make effective and inexpensive fire pans. Avoid building fires next to rock outcrops where the black scars will remain for many years.ДЄ fire pan is another good alternative to a traditional campfire. Dirt may not completely extinguish the fire. Keep the fire small and burning only for the time you are using it. The best place to build a fire is within an existing fire ring in a well-placed campsite. A true Leave No Trace fire shows no evidence of having been constructed. Choose not to have a fire in areas where there is little wood at higher elevations, in heavily used areas, or in desert settings. Lessening Impacts When Campfires Are UsedД¬amp in areas where wood is abundant if building a fire. Do group members possess the skills to build a campfire that will Leave No Trace?.Does the harshness of alpine and desert growing conditions for trees and shrubs mean that the regeneration of wood sources cannot keep pace with the demand for firewood?.Is there sufficient wood so its removal will not be noticeable?.Are there administrative restrictions from the agency that manages the area?.What is the fire danger for the time of year and the location you have selected?.The most important consideration when deciding to use a fire is the potential damage to the backcountry.Stoves operate in almost any weather condition-and they Leave No Trace. They are fast, flexible and eliminate firewood availability as a concern in campsite selection. Stoves have become essential equipment for minimum-impact camping. The development of lightweight efficient camp stoves has encouraged a shift away from the traditional fire for cooking. Yet, the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of fires and an increasing demand for firewood. Some people would not think of camping without a campfire.

Stoves: The use of campfires, once a necessity for cooking and warmth, is steeped in history and tradition.

Campfires of the dead