Trying to learn primitive in State and National Parks

Sender

Sender

Joined
Oct 23, 2000
Messages
174
It's not so easy.

This past summer I spent a lot of time camping (for me). Two four day trips in June, and I took off friday every week in July to go for three 'long' weekend trips.

We hit the Tetons, Arches/Canyonlands, Medicine Bow range, and Uintah range.

These were all tent camping type trips with my wife and two sons -ages 6 and 8. I'm trying to work them (and to be honest, myself) up to the point where a 7-10 day backpacking trip into someplace like the Bob Marshall Wilderness is a regular thing.

All of the parks prohibited gathering firewood and some even banned fires unless they were in a steel/concrete pit.

So if you didn't want to camp in an 'improved' site -complete with picnic bench,fire pit,porta potty, and 30 noisy neighbors in motorhomes- you're SOL as far as using fire.

My oldest son is now responsible enough to learn firemaking skills, and I would rather teach him outdoors in a 'real world' situation than in the backyard.
 
In Texas state parks fire is a no-no. Federal parks do allow fires, except in dry conditions.
At least that's the way things stood a few years ago. It's been awhile since I checked.



------------------
Joshua, aka Feneris,'Destroyer of Whisky' of the Terrible Ironic Horde
If whisky don't kill me,
I'll live 'till I die
 
My advice, move to Idaho. You can camp and build a fire just about anywhere you want. As long as you don't start a forest fire no one cares.

I just moved to Taxachusetts and I did my first trip to what they call a 'primative camp site'. It had a concrete fire pit, out house and a picnic table. Don't people do any REAL camping out here. If any of you guys are from New England I would appreciate any tips on good places to hike and camp that are really primative.
 
Josh, if you have the time,I'd recommend travelling to Maine and camping on paper company land. You can get a fire permit at any of their regional offices.
 
Josh,

There are a lot of places in N.H. that are remote and allow fires depending on the time of year. For details, I'd get a good guide book like the AMC White Mountain Guide which give good descriptions of various trails and area for hiking and camping. The book includes several topo maps of the area as well.

I'm not a fast typist so I'll paraphrase the book regarding fires. Generally permitted in National Forest except during dry conditions (when the entirw WMNF may be closed due to fire hazard), not permitted on state land except in designated areas. Permitted on private land with the owners permission.
 
Josh,

Email me and I'll get some info on good places to you. A lot of times it's a matter of being really secretive...hee hee.

I'll be doing a winter trip up to Northern Maine in January or early February to practice winter survival skills. If you're interested in joining, mention that, too.

Best,

Brian.
 
Josh,

Massachusetts does offer some limited primitive camping. In the lower southwest corner of Massachusetts is the town of Mount Washington, which has a nice official "primitive camping area" overlooking a stream containing brookies. There are at least 4 others on the web site http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/

You just have to search very hard to find them.

Mike
 
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