What? No Campfire?

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Details: Created on Thursday, 21 April 2011 04:35; Published on Thursday, 21 April 2011 04:35; Written by Abe Connally

According to the daily report for Big Bend, there are red flags for fire danger in the region, leading to some restrictions. There is no smoking in Chisos Basin and Panther Junction, charcoal burn ban in effect park wide, except for a few choice areas. Only day hiking (no overnight) is allowed for Chisos mountain trails, and Window Trail is closed.

no-fire These restrictions are made for out safety, and they certainly seem like a good idea with the Chisos Mountains area register under Extreme Fire Danger, and other areas in High Danger.

So, if you want to play it safe, it's best to be prepared to camp with not fire. I know, I know, that's one of the great things about camping in the first place. Sitting around the fire, telling stories and cooking up some scrumptious grub. But it is possible to cook on the trail without a fire. Here are some meal ideas that fit well with any safety restrictions.

Take along tuna and tortillas. They are easy to carry because they take up little space, and they save without refrigeration.
Rations packs. Of course, MRE's weren't designed to be delicious, but they are healthy and they provide enough calories to keep you going.
Many hiking-food companies have food with a heat pack, so you can boil water without a fire or electricity.
Trail mix, with beef jerky and cheese. These are more tasty and healthy snacks that don't need fire.

So, with a little preparation, you can certainly have a great time camping without any campfire at all. Fire safety saves lives, and the authorities wouldn't set restrictions unless they saw it as necessary. Besides, no fire allows you to see the stars at night with a lot more clarity.

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