ASO’s Tips to Camping without a Campfire
There is no better icon for camping than a campfire. After all, it’s where we prepare our food, warm up, and gather with our fellow campers. With that being said, it’s hard to imagine camping without a campfire. However, when wildfire conditions arise campfires can be just as dangerous as they are comforting and your campsite or camping area may ban campfires completely.
Even though it may seem contrary to everything you know about camping, you can camp without a campfire and the ASO Mammoth team has put together a short guide to do just that and shared it below. Check out our guide below to start planning your camping trip without a campfire, and stop by the ASO Mammoth shop before your trip for all your outdoor gear needs!
Check Your Campground’s Rules
The location and developed facilities of your campground may have a drastic effect on your options for camping without a campfire.
For example, a national forest may require anyone who is dispersed camping to not light any fires whatsoever while a developed campground nearby may allow fires but only in the provided fire pits or from gas stoves that can easily be controlled. It all depends on how high the fire danger is and what infrastructure there is to keep the campground fires from spreading. Check the specific restrictions on where you’re camping to make sure you know exactly what’s allowed and what’s not before you visit so you’re completely prepared!
Plan to Gather Around Lights
When the fire danger is extreme, campgrounds will ban any type of flames and will strictly enforce the rule.
Even if you can’t have a fire to stay warm next to, you can still have plenty of light to gather around and enjoy time outside at night if you plan properly. For example, headlamps alone won’t provide enough light for a group of people to sit together and play a game of cards, but a lantern placed in the middle of the group or hung overhead will provide perfect ambient light that doesn’t require squinting or covering your eyes every time you look at one another!
If you’re relying on electric light while camping, then remember to pack extra batteries! You should also make sure you have a backup plan if you’re relying on solar powered lights.
Stay Active to Stay Warm
Even during the summer, nights outside can chill you to the bone if you’re not prepared. Of course, the simplest way to stay warm without a fire is by bringing the right gear and clothes. Unless you’re backpacking, then err on the side of caution when it comes to warmth and pack an extra blanket or jacket for your camping trip.
Another easy way to stay warm without a fire is by staying active even after the sun goes down. What activity you use to stay warm depends on your surroundings and your experience outside, but they can be as simple as taking a walk to your camp store or as complicated as taking a moonlight hike. No matter what you choose, make sure you have the right amount of illumination so you don’t get lost along the way!
Look to the Stars for Entertainment
As much as we all love campfires, their light keeps our eyes from seeing the stars above us. In camping areas, the stars are often especially brilliant, so replace campfire activities with stargazing!
Headlamps with red light settings allow you to see without losing your night vision, so make sure you pack at least one before your night of stargazing!